When is a F-16 Falcon an F-16 Viper? I see these used interchangably, sometimes in the same article about the same plane. [?]
As far as I can tell Viper is a nickname for the f-16, it’s official name is fighting falcon.
If I’m not mistaken, a Falcon becomes a Viper when someone calls it a Viper. The pilots didn’t like the name Falcon, and as they have done throughout aviation history, they ignored the “official” nickname of the aircraft and gave it their own. Viper is not official. If someone has another story to account for this, I’d like to hear it, but this is the way I got it from friends who flew the thing, and when these three ANG guys I’m referring to transitioned to it back in the late 80s, they were calling it Viper then.
A short anecdote: One of my friends, who had been flying the F-4 in the ANG for the previous six years, called me from Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona where he was undergoing transition training to the F-16. He had made his first flight that day, and he was still high from it. The F-16 was a whole other world from the Phantom he was used to. “I swear,” he gushed, “I just kept looking for the slot where I could put more quarters in.”
TOM
A-ha! Sort of like “Thunderbolt II” vs. “Warthog”
Thanks!
I have read that the Air Defence ANG F16 A’s were called ‘Vipers’ do distinguish them from the more capable C’s.
Also , the reason it’s called ‘Fighting Falcon’ was that the chees---- sorry , the French had already bagged the ’ Falcon’.
It’s sometimes called a lawn dart, too. But the story about the pilots not liking the “official” name is true. The Air Force names it’s a/c after birds… woopee! Unlike the Navy,… Tom cat, Hornet, Hellcat, Devastator, etc. I’m partial to the Air Force… go figure… but their naming of planes sucks.
Wade
I think the most interesting naming theme in aviation history belonged to McDonnell. Think of it, they were all supernatural or even evil: Voodoo, Demon, Phantom, Banshee and others I can’t remember. The F-101 crews had various patches that corresponded to their positions. For instance, the WSO wore a patch that identified him as “Witch Doctor” and I can’t remember the pilot’s name, something like “High Priest” or some such, and I don’t recall the crew chief’s nickname, but there was a whole series and I had them, lost them in the Great Fire.
And then there was Douglas, which had “Sky” in the plane’s name somewhere: Skyhawk (shared by Cessna), Skywarrior, Skyray, Skyknight, etc.
Republic had “Thunder”: Thunderbolt, Thunderjet, Thunderchief, Thunderceptor, Thunderflash.
And the Grumman cats are obvious.
Lockheed went with a celestial theme: Starfighter, Orion, Constellation, Elektra, Starlifter, Galaxy, Tristar.
It’s a game that could go on for a long time. Anybody remember some I’ve left out?
TOM
Besides the 'Cats, I’ve always liked “Intruder” and “Prowler.”
And, I always thought the Army naming their helos after American Indians was neat.
Of course Viggen (Thunderbolt), Draken (Dragon), and Gripen (Griffen) kinda roll off the tongue if you use the Swedish terms.
Boeing had it’s sky-type names. “Strato” -fortress, -jet, -tanker, maybe some others. They also had “Fortress” names, but only 3.
According to Tom Clancy in his book, Fighter Wing, the pilots he interviewed said they named the F-16 the Viper after the fighters in the T.V. show, Battlestar Galactica.
Something else about Republic aircraft were their nicknames - they were all Hogs!
F-84 - “Groundhog” or “Superhog”
F-105 - “Ultra Hog”
A-10 - “Warthog”
(I think I’m leaving one or two out, I’ll have to check when I get home)
Izzy
- I’ve read the same thing, but from somewhere else.
You have to excuse me[:I], but I´m not familiar with the term “roll of the tongue”…Is that a good thing, or does the names sound corny[%-)] I´s so difficoult to know how your own language sounds to others. (I´m not sure how my tone in this reply will be interpret, but I´m NOT offended, only interested!)
Speaking of beatiful[;)] names of Swedish a/c I have to mention Tunnan (The Barrel), Lansen (The Lance), Tummelisa (sort of “Lisa Thumb”), and Safir (Sapphire)!
Best /Johan
“Roll off the tongue” means that they are easy to say and sound natural. They ‘roll off of the tongue’ as in “effortlessly.” They have a sort of ‘pop’ to them and they are catchy.
How about Albatross, Goose, Pidgeon, Widgeon, Catalina, Mariner, Commando, Tracer, Tracker, Willy Fudd, Hawkeye, Privateer, Coronado, Beaver, Neptune, Harrier, Trojan, Skynight, Orion, Chocktaw, Skytrain, Samaritan, Savage, Vigilante, Skywarrior, Marlin, Corsair, Scout, Triad, Jenny, Camel, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Duck, Yellow Peril, Valiant, Dauntless, Avenger, Kingfisher, Corsair, Helldiver, Skyraider, Guardian, Cougar, Tiger, Fury, Crusader, Skyray, Skylancer, Skyhawk, and as the Energizer Kritter says, “on and on and on…”
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Speaking of unofficial nicknames wasn’t the F-4 Phantom called the “Rhino” by the Navy or Marines. I remember an article called “The last of the Rhinos” and it was about F-4s. I can see the name rhino with the F-4B and Js with their crude noses, much like the F-111 nose gave it its nickname. The F-111 was never officially named by the Airforce, its nickname “Aardvark” isn’t to glamourous either and the EF-111 “Spark Vark” .
I think North American had some of the best names Mustang, Sabre, Vigilante, Fury and my favorite name Valkyrie.
Strange name link is how come Grummans F11F was named Tiger ( A Cat after all) and Northrop’s F-5E was named Tiger II, when this was named long before the Northrop-Grumman merger? Most of the “II” aircraft were by the same manufacturer.
Gee I learned something new about the Viper nickname and it makes sense to me, thanks izzy (Gee and I have this book too, you would think I would have caught it)
Johan:
ABSOLUTELY NO OFFENSE was meant. My comment was a compliment as to how the names sound using the Swedish names as opposed to the English terms/ translation.
To go along with your comment “…so difficoult to know how your own language sounds to others…” those of us in the USA sometimes forget that not everyone who reads/speaks English (or American as our UK friends call it[:D]) know all of the many slang and multiple meaning words or phrases.
And thanks for bringing up Lansen and Safir. I had forgotten about those!
Non taken[:D] of course!
I´ve heard before that people from other countrys say that we sort of “sing” when we speak.
While we´re on the subject, does someone have translations for other nations birds, like the Mig´s and Suchois?
Best /Johan
The Beriev BE-12 Nato code name Mail, is called the Tchaika or Seagull.
Guess why[:D]
back when the F-16 was in it’s fly off the name G.D. (General Dynamics{before Lockheed-Martin bought the rights) was looking to give the Lawn Dart was the Viper because of it’s speed of manuverability and it’s striking ability over most other fighters of the day, and also Northrop’s F-17 was named Cobra and G.D. wanted a name to counter the Northrop name, but the AF wanted to run with a Bird of Prey theme and Fighting Falcon was installed but the Beanie Brains that flew the LD gave it the original name during it’s FSD Stages and it stuck
How about American codenames for Japenese aircraft during WWII? Boys names for the fighters (Jack, Tony) and girls names for the bombers (Betty). I’m sure all of you out there are familiar with this but I thought I’d bring it up. : )