And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I understand the code names came about during WWII with the Japanese aircraft. Few knew the names (and probably couldn't pronounce them anyway). By giving them American (nick)names, they could be more easily identified.
The NATO names, and NATO alphabet, were chosen so that everyone in NATO could pronounce them. Every name has to be able to be pronounced properly by speakers of English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Turkish etc. Al_in_Ottawa
NATO.
ReplyDeleteCode names starts with F for fighters. B for Bombers
Mostly because NATO did not know what the Soviet Air Force called the plane.
As well as the two syllable name indicating a jet propelled aircraft.
ReplyDeleteI understand the code names came about during WWII with the Japanese aircraft. Few knew the names (and probably couldn't pronounce them anyway). By giving them American (nick)names, they could be more easily identified.
ReplyDeleteOutlandish names were chosen to ensure we wouldn’t accidentally name a combloc something a NATO member might choose.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the ID number the Israelis gave their Fishbend.
ReplyDeleteIs it too late to suggest "Fubar" for the F-35?
ReplyDeleteYes. Too late because we already call it Lightning II. NATO names are for non-NATO (Russian, Chinese) systems.
Delete~ Doctor Weasel
Well, Doc, The A-10's official name is "Thunderbolt II" but everybody calls it the "Warthog".
DeleteEvery MIG-21 flight starts with three emergencies in progress : on fire, out of fuel and I forget the third.
ReplyDelete"On fire" and "out of fuel" are self-cancelling emergencies.
DeleteThe NATO names, and NATO alphabet, were chosen so that everyone in NATO could pronounce them. Every name has to be able to be pronounced properly by speakers of English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Turkish etc.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa