Plate 088 — Aircraft
REF: BF-AIR-088List of Military Aircraft of the United States
List of Military Aircraft of the USAF
Attack Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Bomber Cargo/Transport Cargo Helicopter Electronic Fighter Tanker Observation Orbiter Vehicle Patrol Pursuit Drone Reconnaissance Trainer Utility Vertical Take off and Landing Experimental
This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production, and operational types. Prototypes are normally prefixed with "X" and often unnamed (note that these are not the same as the experimental X-planes, which are never expected to go into production), while pre-production models are usually prefixed "Y".
Attack
Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force
- A-3 Falcon - Curtiss
- A-8 Shrike - Curtiss
- YA-10 - Curtiss
- A-12 Shrike - Curtiss
- YA-13 - Northrop
- XA-16 - Northrop
- A-17 - Northrop
- A-20 Havoc - Douglas
- A-26 Invader - Douglas
- A-33 - Northrop
- A-31/A-35 Vengeance - Vultee
Navy
- AF-2 Guardian - Grumman
- AJ-2 Savage - North American
- AM-1 Mauler - Martin
Unified system, after 1962
- A-1 Skyraider - Douglas, was AD
- A-2 Savage - North American, was AJ
- A-3 Skywarrior - Douglas
- A-4 Skyhawk - McDonnell Douglas
- A-5 Vigilante - North American
- A-6 Intruder - Grumman
- A-7 Corsair II - Vought
- A-7 Strikefighter - LTV- Vought
- AV-8 Harrier II - McDonnell-Douglas and British Aerospace
- A-9 - Northrop
- A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog - Republic
- AC-130 Spectre/Spooky - Lockheed
- AH-1 Cobra - Bell
- AH-6J Little Bird - Boeing (McDonnell-Douglas) (Hughes)
- AH-64 Apache - Boeing (McDonnell-Douglas) (Hughes)
- RAH-66 Comanche - Boeing-Sikorsky
Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW)
- S-2 Tracker - Grumman
- S-3 Viking - Lockheed
- P2V Neptune - (also P-2H) Lockheed
- P-3 Orion - Lockheed
- SC Seahawk - Curtiss
- SH-3 Sea King - Sikorsky
- SH-2 Seasprite - Kaman Aerospace
- SH-60F Sea Hawk - Sikorsky
Bomber
Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force
- XB-1 - Huff-Daland
- B-2 Condor - Curtiss
- B-3 - Keystone
- B-4 - Keystone
- B-5 - Keystone
- B-6 - Keystone
- B-7 - Douglas
- B-8 - Fokker
- B-9 - Boeing
- B-10 - Martin
- B-11 - Douglas
- B-12 - Martin, B-10 variant
- B-13 proposed B-10 variant, cancelled
- B-14 - Martin, B-10 variant
- XB-15 - Boeing
- XB-16 proposed by Martin, cancelled before any built
- B-17 Flying Fortress - Boeing
- B-18 Bolo - Douglas
- XB-19 - Douglas
- Y1B-20 - improved XB-15, cancelled
- XB-21 - North American
- XB-22 - improved B-18 proposed by Douglas, cancelled
- B-23 Dragon - Douglas
- B-24 Liberator - Consolidated
- B-25 Mitchell - North American
- B-26 Marauder Martin
- XB-27 - improved B-26 proposed by Martin, cancelled
- XB-28 Dragon - North American
- B-29 Superfortress - Boeing
- XB-30 - Lockheed proposal
- XB-31 - Douglas proposal
- B-32 Dominator - Consolidated
- B-36 - Convair
- B-45 Tornado - North American
- B-47 Stratojet - Boeing
- B-50 - Boeing
- B-52 Stratofortress - Boeing
- B-57 - (Canberra) Martin/English Electric
- B-58 Hustler - Convair
- B-66 Destroyer - Douglas
- XB-70 Valkyrie - (semi-operational) North American
Navy
- BT-1 - Northrop
- BTD-1 Destroyer - Douglas
- MB-1 - Martin
- Curtiss SBC-4 - Curtiss
- SB2C - Curtiss
- SBD Dauntless - Douglas
- SB2U Vindicator - Vought
- TBD Devastator - Grumman
- TBF Avenger - Grumman
- TBY-2 Sea Wolf - Consolidated
- T2D - Douglas
Unified system, after 1962
- B-1 Lancer - Rockwell
- B-2 Spirit - Northrop Grumman, stealth bomber
Cargo/Transport
Old system, Army Air Corps/Force; Air Force
- C-46 Commando - Curtiss
- C-47 Skytrain - (DC-3) Douglas
- C-54 Skymaster - (DC-4) Douglas
- C-74 Globemaster - Douglas
- C-82 Packet - Fairchild
- C-97 Stratofreighter - Boeing
- C-117 Super Dakota - Douglas
- C-118 Liftmaster - (DC-6) Douglas
- C-119 Flying Boxcar - Fairchild
- C-120 Packplane - Fairchild
- C-123 Provider - Fairchild
- C-130 Hercules - Lockheed
- C-131 Samaritan - Convair
- C-133 Cargomaster - Douglas
- C-135 - Boeing 707
- C-137 - Boeing 707 including "Air Force One"
- C-140 Jetstar - Lockheed
- C-141 Starlifter - Lockheed
Navy
- R3Y Tradewind - Convair
Unified system, after 1962
- C-2 Greyhound - Grumman
- C-4 Academe - Gulfstream
- C-5 Galaxy - Lockheed
- C-7 Caribou - de Havilland Canada
- C-9 Skytrain II - Douglas DC-9
- C-11 Gulfstream II - Gulfstream
- C-12 Huron - Beech 200
- C-17 Globemaster III - Boeing
- C-20 Gulfstream III - Gulfstream
- C-21 Learjet - Learjet
- C-22 - Boeing 727
- C-23 Sherpa - Shorts 330
- C-26 Metroliner - Fairchild
- C-27 Spartan - Alenia
- C-29 - BAe
- C-31 Troopship - Fokker F.27M
- C-32 - Boeing 757
- C-38 Courier - Israeli Aircraft Industries
- C-40 Clipper - Boeing
- VC-25A "Air Force One - Boeing 747
- C-37 Gulfstream V - Gulfstream
Cargo Helicopter
- H-3 Sea King - Sikorsky
- CH-19 Chickasaw - Sikorsky
- CH-21 Shawnee - Piasecki
- CH-34 Chocktaw - Sikorsky
- CH-37 Mojave - Sikorsky
- CH-46 Sea Knight - Boeing
- CH-47 Chinook - Boeing
- CH-53 Sea Stallion - Sikorsky nicknamed "Jolly Green Giant"
- CH-54 Skycrane - Sikorsky
Electronic
- E-1 Tracer - Grumman
- E-2 Hawkeye - Grumman
- E-3 Sentry or AWACS - Boeing
- E-4 - Boeing
- E-6 Mercury - Boeing
- E-8 Joint STARS - Boeing
- E-9 - de Havilland
- E-10 - Boeing
- ES-3 Shadow - Lockheed
- EP-3 Aries - Lockheed
- EA-1 Skyraider - Douglas
- EA-3 Skywarrior - Douglas
- EA-6B Prowler - Grumman
- EC-18 Aria - Boeing
- EC-24 - McDonnell Douglas
- EC-121 Warning Star - Lockheed
- EC-130 Compass Call - Lockheed
- EC-135 Looking Glass - Boeing
- EF-111 Raven - General Dynamics
Fighter
Navy, from 1922
- Brewster F2A
- Brewster F3A - Brewster version of Corsair
- FB - Boeing
- F2B-1 - Boeing
- F3B Seahawk - Boeing
- F4B - Boeing
- F5B naval designation of Boeing XP-15
- F6B - Boeing
- F7B - Boeing
- F8B - Boeing
- FC, F2C, F3C paper designation of racers
- F4C - Curtiss
- F5C skipped
- F6C Hawk - Curtiss
- F7C Seahawk - Curtiss
- F8C Falcon - Curtiss
- F8C-2 Helldiver - Curtiss, different from F8C-1 and F8C-3
- F9C Sparrowhawk - Curtiss
- F10C Helldiver - Curtiss, modified F8C-2
- F11C Goshawk - Curtiss Hawk II or Goshawk, redesig BFC
- Curtiss F12C - Curtiss, became SBC
- F13C - Curtiss
- F14C - Curtiss contra-rotating propellors
- F15C - Curtiss jet + turboprop
- FD - Douglas
- F2D Banshee - Douglas, later redesignated F2H
- F3D Skyknight - Douglas
- F4D Skyray - Douglas
- F5D Skylancer - Douglas, semi-operational
- F6D Missileer - Douglas
- FF Fifi - biplane, first Navy fighter by Grumman
- F2F - Grumman
- F3F - Grumman
- F4F Wildcat - Grumman
- XF5F Skyrocket - Grumman twin-engine carrier-based fighter prototype
- F6F Hellcat - Grumman
- F7F Tigercat - Grumman
- F8F Bearcat - Grumman
- F9F Cougar - (Panther variant) Grumman
- F9F Panther - Grumman
- XF10F Jaguar - Grumman variable-wing prototype
- F11F Tiger - Grumman, first supersonic aircraft in Navy
- F12F - Grumman, proposed all-weather interceptor
- Eberhart FG, F2G
- Goodyear FG - Goodyear version of Corsair with fixed wings
- Goodyear F2G - proposed low-altitude Corsair
- Hall FH
- FH Phantom - McDonnell
- F2H Banshee - McDonnell, later F-2
- F3H Demon - McDonnell, later F-3
- F4H Phantom II - McDonnell, later F-4
- FJ - Berliner-Joyce
- F2J - Berliner-Joyce, P-16 in AAC
- FJ-1 Fury - North American
- FL - Loening
- FL Airabonita - Bell, USN version of P-39
- F2L Kingcobra - Bell, USN version of P-63
- General Motors FM - GM version of Wildcat
- FM Wildcat - General Motors built version of F4F
- F2M Wildcat - General Motors built version of F4F, different engine to FM
- F3M - General Motors built version of F8F
- Seversky FN
- FO Lightning - Lockheed, USN version of P-38
- FR1 Fireball - Ryan
- F2R Dark Shark - Ryan
- FT - Northrop, USN A-17 derived design
- F2T Black Widow - Northrop, USN trainer version of P-61
- FU, F2U, F3U
- F4U Corsair - Chance Vought
- XF5U - Chance Vought's "flying pancake", built but never flown
- F6U Pirate - Chance Vought
- F7U Cutlass - Chance Vought
- F8U Crusader - Chance Vought
- Lockheed FV
- F2W - Wright
- F3W Apache - Wright
- FY Pogo - Convair
- F2Y Sea Dart - Convair
Air Force, from 1948
- P-80/F-80 Shooting Star- Lockheed
- P-84/F-84 Thunderjet - Republic
- XP-85/XF-85 Goblin - McDonnell
- F-86 Sabre - North American
- XP-87/XF-87 Blackhawk - Curtiss
- XP-88/XF-88 Voodoo - Curtiss
- F-89 Scorpion - Northrop
- XF-90 - Lockheed
- XF-91 Thunderceptor - Republic
- XF-92A - Convair
- YF-93A - North American
- Lockheed F-94 - F-94C Starfire
- YF-95A - North American
- YF-96A - Republic
- F-97 Starfire - Lockheed
- Hughes XF-98 became Hughes Falcon missile
- F-99 became Bomarc missile
- F-100 Super Sabre - North American
- F-101 Voodoo - McDonnell
- F-102 Delta Dagger - Convair
- XF-103 - Republic
- F-104 Starfighter - Lockheed
- F-105 Thunderchief - Republic
- F-106 Delta Dart - Convair
- YF-107 Ultra Sabre - North American
- XF-108 Rapier - last fighter project by North American
- F-109 never used
- F-110 Spectre - became F-4C Phantom II
- F-111 Aardvark - General Dynamics
- F-112 to F-116 used for foreign aircraft eval?
- F-117 Nighthawk - Lockheed
Unified system, from 1962
- F-1 Fury - was North American FJ
- F-2 Banshee - was McDonnell F2H
- F-3 Demon - was McDonnell F3H
- F-4 Phantom II - was McDonnell-Douglas F4H
- F-5 Freedom Fighter - Northrop
- F-6 Skyray - Douglas, was F4D
- F-7 Sea Dart - was Convair F2Y
- F-8 Crusader - was Vought F8U
- F-9 Cougar - was Grumman F9F
- F-10 Skyknight - was Douglas F3D
- F-11 Tiger - was Grumman F11F
- YF-12A - Lockheed
- F-13 never assigned
- F-14 Tomcat - Grumman
- F-15 Eagle - McDonnell-Douglas
- F-16 Fighting Falcon - General Dynamics
- YF-17 Cobra - Northrop
- F/A-18 Hornet - McDonnell-Douglas
- F-19 - either unused or still classified
- F-20 Tigershark (F-5 variant) - Northrop
- F-21 Kfir - Israel Aircraft Industries
- F/A-22 Raptor - Lockheed Martin
- F-35 Joint Strike Fighter - Lockheed Martin
Tanker
- KA-2 Savage - North American
- KA-3 Skywarrior - Douglas
- KA-6 Intruder - Grumman
- KB-29 Superfortress - Boeing
- KB-47 Stratojet - Boeing
- KB-50 Superfortress - Boeing
- KC-10 Extender - McDonnell-Douglas
- KC-97 Stratotanker - Boeing
- KC-124 Globemaster II - Douglas
- KC-130 Hercules - Lockheed
- KC-135 Stratotanker - Boeing
Observation
- O-1 - Curtiss Falcon
- O-2 - Douglas
- O-31/O-43/O-46 - Douglas
- O-47 - North American
- OS2U Kingfisher - Vought
- OH-6A Cayuse
- OH-55 Kiowa - Bell
- OV-1 Mohawk - Grumman
- OV-10 Bronco - North American
- SOC Seagull - Curtiss
- SO3C - Curtiss
Orbiter Vehicle
- OV-x space shuttle
Patrol
- P2V Neptune - Lockheed
- P2Y - Consolidated
- P5Y - Consolidated
- P-3 Orion - Lockheed
- P4M Mercator - Martin
- P5M Marlin - Martin
- PBM Mariner - Martin
- PBY Catalina - Consolidated
- PB2Y Coronado - Consolidated
- PV-1 Harpoon - Lockheed, Ventura variant
- PV-1 Ventura - Lockheed
Pursuit
Pursuit Aircraft of the US Army Air Service/Corps/Force, 1918-1948. After formation of US Air Force (USAF), all "P" designations were changed to "F" while retaining number.
Initially, "PW" was used to indicate "Pursuit, Water-cooled engine".
List in numerical order of designations
- PW-8 - Curtiss
- PW-9 - Boeing, FB in navy
- P-1 Hawk - Curtiss, derived from PW-8; US Navy designation was F6C
- P-2 Hawk - Curtiss
- P-3 Hawk - Curtiss
- P-4 - Boeing
- P-5 Superhawk - Curtiss
- P-6 Hawk - Curtiss, derived from P-1
- XP-7 - Boeing
- XP-8 - Boeing
- XP-9 - Boeing
- XP-10 - Curtiss
- P-11 Hawk - Curtiss
- P-12 - Boeing, F4B in Navy
- XP-13
- XP-14 - Curtiss
- XP-15 - Boeing
- P-16 - Berliner-Joyce, F2J to Navy
- XP-17 - Curtiss
- XP-18 - Curtiss
- XP-19 - Curtiss
- YP-20 - Curtiss, derived from P-6
- XP-21 - Curtiss
- XP-22 - derived from P-6
- XP-23 - Curtiss
- YP-24 - Lockheed
- Y1P-25 - Consolidated
- P-26 - Boeing "Peashooter" monoplane
- XP-27 - Consolidated
- XP-28 - Consolidated
- F7B - Boeing, modified F7B
- P-30 - Consolidated, aka PB-2A
- XP-31 - Curtiss
- XP-32 - Boeing
- XP-33 - Consolidated
- XP-34 - Wedell-Williams
- P-35 - Seversky
- P-36 - Curtiss Model 75A, radial engine
- YP-37 - Curtiss Model 75I, in-line engine
- P-38 Lightning - Lockheed, twin-engine twin-boom
- P-39 Airacobra - Bell, engine mounted behind pilot
- P-40 - Curtiss, Tomahawk (P-40A to P-40C), Kittyhawk (P-40D to P-40M), Warhawk (P-40N to P-40Q)
- XP-41 - Seversky, derived from Seversky P-35
- XP-42 - Curtiss P-36 with experimental engine cowlings
- P-43 Lancer - Republic, derived from XP-41
- P-44 Rocket - cancelled
- P-45 designation changed to P-39C
- XP-46 - Curtiss
- P-47 Thunderbolt - Republic
- XP-48 - Douglas
- XP-49 - Lockheed, derived from P-38
- XP-50 - Grumman, derived from US Navy XF5F
- P-51 Mustang - North American, originally for export to Britain
- XP-52 - Bell, twin-boom pusher configuration, never built
- XP-53 - Curtiss P-40 with laminar-flow wing, cancelled during construction
- XP-54 - Vultee, twin-boom pusher configuration
- XP-55 Ascender - Curtiss, flying-wing configuration with pusher engine
- XP-56 - Northrop, tail-less with pusher engine, magnesium construction
- XP-57 - Tucker, cancelled before construction
- XP-58 - Lockheed, another twin-engine, twin-boom
- P-59 Airacomet - Bell, 1st American aircraft powered by jet engine
- YP-60 - Curtiss
- P-61 Black Widow - Northrop
- XP-62 - Curtiss
- P-63 Kingcobra - Bell, engine again mounted behind pilot
- P-64 - North American, intended for export, but used by USAAF as fighter trainer
- XP-65 - Grumman, derived from XP-50
- P-66 Vanguard - Vultee, intended for export, but used by USAAF as fighter trainer
- XP-67 - McDonnell
- XP-68 - Vultee
- XP-69 - Republic
- P-70 Havoc - Douglas, "Havoc" night-fighter derived from A-20
- XP-71 - Curtiss
- XP-72 - Republic
- XP-73 - mysterious Hughes project
- P-74 skipped
- P-75 Eagle - Fisher division of General Motors
- XP-76 - Bell
- XP-77 - Bell, lightweight fighter of wooden construction
- XP-78 - North American, changed to XP-51B during construction
- XP-79, Northrop
- P-80/F-80 Shooting Star - Lockheed, turbo-jet engine
- XP-81 - Convair, turbo-prop + turbo-jet engines
- P-82/F-82 Twin Mustang - North American
- XP-83 - Bell, two jet engines
Drone
- QF-102 Firebee
Reconnaissance
- RA-5 Vigilante - North American
- RF-4 Phantom II - McDonnell-Douglas
- RF-8 Crusader - Chance Vought
- RC-12 Guard Rail - Beech Aircraft
- RC-135 Rivet Joint - Boeing
- SR-71 Blackbird - Lockheed
- U-2 - Lockheed
Trainer
- AT-9 Jeep - Curtiss-Wright
- AT-21 Gunner - Fairchild
- BT-13 Valiant - Vultee
- Curtiss Jenny - Curtiss
- PT-11 - Consolidated
- PT-13 and PT-17 Kaydet - Boeing Stearman
- PT-19 - Fairchild
- PT-22 Recruit - Ryan
- SNC Falcon - Curtiss-Wright
- T-2 Buckeye - North American
- T-6 Texan - North American
- T-28 Trojan - North American
- T-29 - Convair 240
- T-33 - Lockheed nicknamed "Teebird"
- T-38 Talon - Northrop
- T-39 Sabreliner - North American
- T-43 - Boeing 737
- T-45A Goshawk - (Hawk) British Aerospace
- U-21A Ute - Beechcraft/Raytheon
Utility
- JF/J2F Duck - Grumman
- G-21 Goose - Grumman
- G-44 Widgeon - Grumman
- HU-16 Albatross - Grumman
- UH-1 Iroquois - Bell "Huey"
- H-3 Sea King - Sikorsky
- U-3 Blue Canoe - Cessna 310
- U-8 Seminole - Beechcraft Travel Air
- UH-60 Blackhawk - Sikorsky
- HH-60 Pave Hawk - Sikorsky
Vertical Take off and Landing
- V-22 Osprey - Bell, Boeing Vertol, tilt rotor aircraft
Experimental
- X-1 - Bell, first supersonic aircraft
- X-2 - Bell
- X-3 Stiletto - Douglas
- X-4 - Northrop
- X-5 - Bell
- X-6 - Convair
- X-7 - Lockheed
- X-8 to X-12 were missiles
- X-13 - Ryan VATOL
- X-14 - Bell VTOL
- X-15 - North American rocket plane
- X-16 - Bell, cancelled U-2 competitor
- X-17 experimental rocket
- X-18 - Hiller tilt-wing
- X-19, X-20, X-21?
- X-22 - Bell
- X-24 - Martin Marietta lifting body
- X-29A - Grumman forward-swept wing jet
- X-31 - Hypersonic jet or Orient Express
- X-45 - pilotless combat aircraft