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Old 05-16-2006, 13:47 PM   #53 (permalink)
gunnut
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hello
That's true. Notice the names of all Russian and Chinese fighters start with "F", bombers with "B", helcopters with "H" and transport with "C". The only deviation is the fact that attack planes are also "F". Space planes are "S".

MiG-21 Fishbed
MiG-23, 27 Flogger
MiG-25 Foxbat
MiG-29 Fulcrum
MiG-31 Foxhound
Su-27, 30, 35, 37 Flanker
Su-32, 34 Fullback
Su-25, 39 Frogfoot
Su-24 Fencer
J-8 Finback

MiG-105 Spiral

Tu-22 Blinder
Tu-22M Backfire
Tu-160 Blackjack

An-72 Coaler
An-124 Condor
An-225 Cossack

J-10, Su-47 haven't been named yet.
There's a simple explanation for this.

These are NATO designations. It was decided to give code names to all Soviet planes to make them easier to identify and remember since it was a very secret regime and info was scarce.

F for fighter
B for bomber
C for cargo
H for helo

ONE syllable for propeller
TWO syllables for jet

Bear = propeller bomber
Fishbed = jet fighter
Colt = propeller cargo
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