List of military aircraft of the United States

This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production, and operational types. For aircraft in service, see the list of active United States military aircraft. Prototypes are normally prefixed with "X" and are often unnamed (note that these are not the same as the experimental X-planes, which are not generally expected to go into production), while pre-production models are usually prefixed with "Y".

The United States military employs a designation and naming system to provide identifications to all aircraft types. Until 1962, the United States Army, United States Air Force (formerly Army Air Force), and United States Navy all maintained separate systems. In September 1962,^[1] these were unified into a single system heavily reflecting the Air Force method. For more complete information on the workings of this system, refer to United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations.

This list does not include aircraft used by the U.S. military services prior to the establishment of a numerical designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (1909–1919). It also does not include aircraft designated under the pre-1962 United States Navy designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (naval).

A collection of NASA experimental aircraft, including (clockwise from left) the X-31, F-15 ACTIVE, SR-71, QF-106, F-16XL, X-38, Radio Controlled Mothership, and X-36.

Prior to 1919[]

Prior to 1919, all planes flown by the Army Air Service and the Navy were referred to by the designation given to them by their manufacturer. A variety of both domestic and foreign types were operated, with the latter being the primary front-line types during the First World War.

Army Air Service, 1919–1924[]

Curtiss PW-8

In September 1919, the Army Air Service decided that it needed an organized designation sequence, and adopted fifteen classifications, designated by Roman numerals. Several other unnumbered designations were added later. Each designation was assigned an abbreviation, and each design a number within that abbreviation. Variants were designated by alphabetically appending letters to the design number.

Type O: Foreign-Built Pursuit Aircraft[]

Fokker D.VII – Fokker
Fokker D.VIII – Fokker

Type I: Pursuit, water-cooled[]

PW-1 – Engineering Division
PW-2 – Loening
PW-3 – Orenco
PW-4 – Gallaudet
PW-5 – Fokker
PW-6 – Fokker
PW-7 – Fokker
PW-8 – Curtiss
PW-9 – Boeing

Type II: Pursuit, night[]

PN-1 – Curtiss

Type III: Pursuit, air-cooled[]

PA-1 – Loening

Type IV: Pursuit, ground attack, 1922[]

PG-1 – Aeromarine

Type V: Two-seat pursuit[]

TP-1 – Engineering Division

Type VI: Ground attack, 1920–1922[]

GA-1 – Boeing
GA-2 – Boeing

Type VII: Infantry liaison[]

IL-1 – Orenco

Type VIII: Night observation[]

NO-1 – Douglas
NO-2 – Douglas

Type IX: Artillery observation[]

AO-1 – Atlantic

Type X: Corps observation[]

– Engineering Division
CO-2 – Engineering Division
– Engineering Division
CO-4 – Atlantic
CO-5 – Engineering Division
CO-6 – Engineering Division
CO-7 – Boeing
CO-8 – Atlantic

Type XI: Day bombardment[]

DB-1 – Gallaudet

Type XII: Night bombardment, short range[]

NBS-1 – Martin (originally designated MB-2)
– Lowe-Willard-Fowler
NBS-3 –
NBS-4 – Curtiss

Type XIII: Night bombardment, long range[]

NBL-1 – Witteman-Lewis
NBL-2 – Martin

Type XIV: Trainer, air-cooled[]

TA-1 – Elias
TA-2 – Huff-Daland
TA-3 – Dayton-Wright Aircraft
– Engineering Division
TA-5 – Dayton-Wright Aircraft
TA-6 – Huff-Daland

Type XV: Trainer, water-cooled[]

TW-1 – Engineering Division
TW-2 – Cox-Klemin
TW-3 – Dayton-Wright Aircraft
TW-4 – Fokker
TW-5 – Huff-Daland

Ambulance, 1919–1924[]

A-1 – Cox-Klemin
A-2 – Fokker

Messenger[]

M-1 – Engineering Division/Sperry

Pursuit, special[]

PS-1 – Dayton-Wright

Racer[]

Verville-Sperry R-3

R-1 – Alfred V. Verville
R-2 – Thomas-Morse
R-3 – Verville-Sperry
R-4 – Loening
R-5 – Thomas-Morse
R-6 – Curtiss
– Engineering Division
R-8 – Curtiss

Seaplane[]

S-1 – Loening

Transport[]

T-1 – Martin
T-2 – Fokker
T-3 – Lowe-Willard-Fowler

Lighter-than-air craft[]

AC-1 — designed for "long flights and cross-country work", this was a 169 foot long, 180,000 cubic foot buoyancy craft which had one of its earliest long flights in May 1923.^[2]
RN-1 — designated "Zodiac", this was a semi-rigid dirigible, 262.5 feet long with a 360,000 cubic foot buoyancy volume.^[3]

Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces/Air Force 1924–1962[]

A-3 Falcon

Attack, 1924–1948[]

A-1 – skipped to prevent confusion with Cox-Klemin XA-1
A-2 – Douglas
A-3 Falcon – Curtiss
A-4 Falcon – Curtiss
A-5 Falcon – Curtiss
A-6 Falcon – Curtiss
A-7 – Fokker
A-8 – Curtiss
A-9 – Lockheed
A-10 Shrike – Curtiss
A-11 – Consolidated
A-12 Shrike – Curtiss
A-13 – Northrop
A-14 – Curtiss
A-15 – Martin
A-16 – Northrop
A-17 Nomad – Northrop
A-18 Shrike – Curtiss
A-19 – Vultee
A-20 Havoc – Douglas (redesignated as B-20 in 1948)

A-20 Havoc
A-21 – Stearman
A-22 – Martin (assigned but none served with AAF)
A-23 Baltimore – Martin
A-24 Banshee – Douglas (redesignated as F-24 in 1948)
A-25 Shrike – Curtiss
A-26 Invader – Douglas (redesignated as B-26 in 1948, then as A-26 in 1966)
A-27 – North American
A-28 Hudson – Lockheed
A-29 Hudson – Lockheed
A-30 – Martin (assigned to allow supply to the UK under Lend-lease)
A-31 Vengeance – Vultee
A-32 – Brewster
A-33 – Douglas
A-34 – Brewster
A-35 Vengeance – Vultee
A-36 Apache/Invader – North American
A-37 – Hughes
A-38 Grizzly – Beechcraft
A-39 – Kaiser-Fleetwings
A-40 – Curtiss
A-41 – Vultee
A-42 Mixmaster – Douglas
A-43 Blackhawk – Curtiss-Wright
A-44 – Convair
A-45 – Martin

Bomber[]

Huff-Daland LB-1

Until 1926, the Army Air Service had three sequences for bombers. Light bombers were indicated by the LB- prefix, medium bombers by the B- prefix, and heavy bombers by the HB- prefix. In 1926, the three-category system was scrapped and all bombers subsequently built were placed in the B- sequence.

Light Bomber, 1924–1926[]

LB-1 – Huff-Daland (later Keystone)
LB-2 – Atlantic Aircraft Corporation (Fokker Aircraft Corp after 1925)
LB-3 – Keystone
Martin LB-4 – serial number assigned but prototype not built
LB-5 – Keystone
LB-6 – Keystone
LB-7 – Keystone
LB-8 – Keystone
LB-9 – Keystone
LB-10 – Keystone
LB-11 – Keystone
LB-12 – Keystone
LB-13 – Keystone
LB-14 – Keystone

Medium Bomber, 1924–1926[]

B-1 – Huff-Daland
B-2 Condor – Curtiss

Heavy Bomber, 1924–1926[]

HB-1 – Huff-Daland
HB-2 – Atlantic/Fokker
– Huff-Daland

Unified bomber sequence, 1926–1962[]

Martin B-10B

B-1 – Huff-Daland/Keystone
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-13 – Martin
B-14 – Martin
B-15 – Boeing (XB-15 Prototype)
B-16 – Martin
B-17 Flying Fortress – Boeing
B-18 Bolo – Douglas
B-19 – Douglas
B-20 – Boeing
B-20 Havoc – Douglas (designation of A-20 Havoc from 1948 to 1949)
B-21 – North American
B-22 – Douglas
B-23 Dragon – Douglas
B-24 Liberator – Consolidated

B-24 Liberator
B-25 Mitchell – North American
B-26 Marauder – Martin
B-26 Invader – Douglas – designation of A-26 Invader from 1948 to 1966
B-27 – Martin
B-28 Dragon – North American
B-29 Superfortress – Boeing
B-30 – Lockheed
B-31 – Douglas
B-32 Dominator – Consolidated
B-33 Super Marauder – Martin
B-34 Lexington – Lockheed
B-35 – Northrop
B-36 Peacemaker – Convair
B-37 – Lockheed
B-38 Flying Fortress – Boeing
B-39 Superfortress – Boeing
B-40 Flying Fortress – Boeing
B-41 Liberator – Consolidated
B-42 Mixmaster – Douglas
B-43 Jetmaster – Douglas
B-44 Superfortress – Boeing
B-45 Tornado – North American
B-46 – Convair
B-47 Stratojet – Boeing
B-48 – Martin
B-49 – Northrop
B-50 Superfortress – Boeing
B-51 – Martin
B-52 Stratofortress – Boeing

JB-52E Stratofortress
B-53 – Convair
B-54 – Boeing
B-55 – Boeing
B-56 – Boeing
B-57 Canberra – Martin
B-58 Hustler – Convair
B-59 – Boeing
B-60 – Convair
B-61 Matador – Martin (redesignated as TM-61, then MGM-1)
B-62 Snark – Northrop (redesignated as SM-62)
B-63 RASCAL – Bell (redesignated as GAM-63)
B-64 Navaho – North American (redesignated as SM-64)
B-65 Atlas – Convair (redesignated as SM-65)
B-66 Destroyer – Douglas
B-67 Crossbow – Radioplane (redesignated as GAM-67)
B-68 – Martin
B-68 Titan – Martin (redesignated as SM-68)
B-69 Neptune – Lockheed
B-70 Valkyrie – North American
B-71 Blackbird – Lockheed^[4]

Beginning with #69, the "M-" (missile) and "B-" (bomber) series diverged. The missiles designated M-69 to M-92, some of which are incorrectly labeled as "formerly designated B-xx" in some sources, never used a "B-" series designation.

Bomber, long range, 1935–1936[]

A short-lived designation used from 1935–1936 to refer to three long-range bomber projects commissioned by the Army Air Corps. Most of the bombers were night bombers.

BLR-1 – Boeing (redesignated as XB-15)
BLR-2 – Douglas (redesignated as XB-19)
BLR-3 – Sikorsky

Cargo, 1924–1962[]

Douglas C-1 refueling Fokker C-2

C-1 – Douglas
C-2 – Fokker
C-3 – Ford
C-4 – Ford
C-5 – Fokker
C-6 – Sikorsky
C-7 – Fokker
C-8 – Fairchild
C-9 – Ford
C-10 Robin – Curtiss-Wright
C-11 Fleetster – Consolidated
C-12 Vega – Lockheed
C-13 – not used
C-14 – Fokker
C-15 – Fokker
C-16 – Fokker
C-17 Super Vega – Lockheed
C-18 Monomail – Boeing
C-19 Alpha – Northrop
C-20 – Fokker
C-21 Dolphin – Douglas
C-22 Fleetster – Consolidated
C-23 Altair – Lockheed
C-24 –
C-25 Altair – Lockheed
C-26 Dolphin – Douglas
C-27 Airbus – Bellanca
C-28 – Sikorsky

Sikorsky C-28
C-29 Dolphin – Douglas
C-30 Condor – Curtiss-Wright
C-31 – Kreider-Reisner
C-32 – Douglas
C-33 – Douglas
C-34 – Douglas
C-35 Electra – Lockheed
C-36 Electra – Lockheed
C-37 Electra – Lockheed
C-38 – Douglas
C-39 – Douglas
C-40 Electra – Lockheed
C-41 – Douglas
C-42 – Douglas
C-43 Traveller – Beechcraft
C-44 – Messerschmitt
C-45 Expeditor – Beechcraft
C-46 Commando – Curtiss-Wright
C-47 Skytrain – Douglas

C-47 Skytrain
C-48 Skytrain – Douglas
C-49 Skytrain – Douglas
C-50 Skytrain – Douglas
C-51 Skytrain – Douglas
C-52 Skytrain – Douglas
C-53 Skytrooper – Douglas
C-54 Skymaster – Douglas
C-55 Commando – Curtiss-Wright
C-56 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-57 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-58 Bolo – Douglas
C-59 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-60 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-61 Forwarder – Fairchild
C-62 – Waco
C-63 Hudson – Lockheed
C-64 Norseman – Noorduyn
C-65 Skycar – Stout
C-66 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-67 Dragon – Douglas
C-68 – Douglas
C-69 Constellation – Lockheed
C-70 Nightingale – Howard
C-71 Executive – Spartan
C-72 – Waco
C-73 – Boeing
C-74 Globemaster – Douglas

C-74 Globemaster
C-75 – Boeing
C-76 Caravan – Curtiss-Wright
C-77 – Cessna
C-78 Bobcat – Cessna
C-79 – Junkers
C-80 – Harlow
C-81 Reliant – Stinson
C-82 Packet – Fairchild
C-83 Coupe – Piper
C-84 – Douglas
C-85 Orion – Lockheed
C-86 Forwarder – Fairchild
C-87 Liberator Express – Consolidated
C-88 – Fairchild
C-89 – Hamilton
C-90 – Luscombe
C-91 – Stinson
C-92 – Akron-Funk
C-93 Conestoga – Budd
C-94 – Cessna
C-95 Grasshopper – Taylorcraft
C-96 – Fairchild
C-97 Stratofreighter – Boeing

C-97 Stratofreighter
- KC-97 Stratofreighter – Boeing
C-98 Clipper – Boeing
C-99 – Convair
C-100 Gamma – Northrop
C-101 Vega – Lockheed
C-102 Sportster – Rearwin
C-103 – Grumman
C-104 – Lockheed
C-105 – Boeing
C-106 – Cessna
C-107 Skycar – Stout
C-108 Flying Fortress – Boeing
C-109 Liberator Express – Consolidated
C-110 – Douglas
C-111 Super Electra – Lockheed
C-112 – Douglas
C-113 Commando – Curtiss-Wright
C-114 Skymaster – Douglas
C-115 Skymaster – Douglas
C-116 Skymaster – Douglas
C-117 Super Skytrain – Douglas
C-118 Liftmaster – Douglas
C-119 Flying Boxcar – Fairchild
C-120 Packplane – Fairchild
C-121 Constellation – Lockheed
- YC-121F Constellation – Lockheed
C-122 Avitruc – Chase
C-123 Provider – Fairchild
- XC-123A – Chase
C-124 Globemaster II – Douglas

From left to right: C-141, C-130, and C-124 with Mount St. Helens in the background
C-125 Raider – Northrop
C-126 – Cessna
C-127 – Douglas
C-128 Flying Boxcar – Fairchild
C-129 Super Skytrain – Douglas
C-130 Hercules – Lockheed
C-131 Samaritan – Convair
C-132 – Douglas
C-133 Cargomaster – Douglas
C-134 – Stroukoff
C-135 Stratolifter – Boeing
- KC-135 Stratotanker – Boeing
C-136 – Fairchild
C-137 Stratoliner – Boeing
C-138 – reserved for Fokker F27, but never assigned
C-139 – Lockheed
C-140 Jetstar – Lockheed
C-141 Starlifter – Lockheed
C-142 – Vought
C-143 – reserved for what would become the X-19, but never officially assigned

Drone[]

Aerial Target[]

1922–1935[]

- McCook Field Engineering Section
- McCook Field Engineering Section
(also known as "G-3") - McCook Field Engineering Section

1940–1941[]

A-1 – Fleetwings
– Radioplane
A-3 – Curtiss
A-4 – Douglas
– Boeing
A-6 – Douglas
A-7 Airacobra – Bell
A-8 Cadet – Culver

1942–1948[]

PQ-8 Cadet – Culver
– Culver
PQ-10 – Culver
PQ-11 – Fletcher
PQ-12 – Fleetwings
PQ-13 – ERCO
PQ-14 Cadet – Culver
PQ-15 – Culver

Aerial Target (Model Airplane), 1942–1948[]

Radioplane OQ-2A

OQ-2 – Radioplane
OQ-3 – Radioplane/
OQ-4 – Brunswick-Balke-Collender
OQ-5 – contractor unknown
OQ-6 – Radioplane
OQ-7 – Radioplane
OQ-11 – Simmonds Aerocessories
OQ-12 – Radioplane
OQ-13 – Radioplane
– Radioplane/Frankfort
OQ-16
OQ-17 – Radioplane
OQ-18
– Radioplane

Controllable bomb, 1942–1945[]

BQ-1 – Fleetwings
BQ-2 – Kaiser-Fleetwings
BQ-3 – Fairchild
BQ-4 – Interstate
BQ-5 – Interstate
BQ-6 – Interstate
BQ-7 Flying Fortress – Boeing
BQ-8 Liberator – Consolidated^[5]

Target Control, 1942–1948[]

CQ-1 – Fletcher
CQ-2 – Stinson
CQ-3 Expeditor – Beechcraft
CQ-4 Flying Fortress – Boeing

Unified sequence, 1948–1962[]

Q-1 – Radioplane
Q-2 Firebee – Ryan
Q-3 – Radioplane
Q-4 – Northrop
Q-5 Kingfisher – Lockheed
– Wright Air Development Center
- Q-7 – skipped: request for redesignation of QB-17 not approved
Q-8 Cadet Culver
- Q-8 – request for redesignation of QF-80 not approved
– WADC
Q-10 – Radioplane
Q-11 – WADC
Q-12 – Beechcraft
Q-14 Cadet – Culver

Glider[]

Assault Glider, 1942–1944[]

AG-1 –
AG-2 – Timm

Bomb Glider, 1942–1944[]

BG-1 – Fletcher
BG-2 – Fletcher
BG-3 –

Cargo Glider, 1941–1948[]

Waco CG-4A

CG-1 – Frankfort
CG-2 – Frankfort
CG-3 – Waco
CG-4 Hadrian – Waco
CG-5 – St. Louis
CG-6 – St. Louis
CG-7 – /Douglas
CG-8 – Bowlus-DuPont/Douglas
CG-9 –
CG-10 Trojan Horse –
CG-11 – Snead
CG-12 –
CG-13 – Waco
CG-14 – Chase
CG-15 Hadrian – Waco
CG-16 –
CG-17 – Douglas
CG-18 – Chase
CG-19 – Douglas
CG-20 – Chase

Fuel Glider, 1930–1948[]

FG-1 – Cornelius

Powered Glider, 1943–1948[]

PG-1 –
PG-2 –
PG-3 – Waco

Training Glider, 1941–1948[]

Schweitzer TG-3A

TG-1 – Frankfort
TG-2 – Schweizer
TG-3 – Schweizer
TG-4 – Laister-Kauffman
TG-5 Grasshopper – Aeronca
TG-6 Grasshopper – Taylorcraft
TG-7 Orlik – Kocjan
TG-8 Grasshopper – Piper
TG-9 – Briegleb
TG-10 –
TG-11 – Schempp-Hirth
TG-12 – Bowlus-DuPont
TG-13 – Briegleb
TG-14 –
TG-15 –
TG-16 –
TG-17 – Franklin
TG-18 –
TG-19 –
TG-20 – Laister-Kauffman
– Notre Dame
–
–
– Bowlus-Dupont
– Wolcott
– Universal
TG-27 –
–
– Volmer Jensen
– Smith
TG-31 –
TG-32 – Pratt-Read
TG-33 – Aeronca

Unified sequence, 1948–1955[]

G-2 – Ridgefield
G-3 – Waco
G-4 Hadrian – Waco
G-10 Trojan Horse – Laister-Kauffman
G-13 – Waco
G-14 – Chase
G-15 Hadrian – Waco
G-18 – Chase
G-20 – Chase

Sailplane, 1960–1962[]

– Schweizer
– Schweizer

Gyroplane, 1935–1939[]

G-1 – Kellett
G-2 – Pitcairn

Liaison, 1942–1962[]

L-1 Vigilant – Stinson
L-2 Grasshopper – Taylorcraft
L-3 Grasshopper – Aeronca
L-4 Grasshopper – Piper
L-5 Sentinel – Stinson (redesignated as U-19 in 1962)
L-6 Grasshopper – Interstate
L-7 – Universal
L-8 Cadet – Interstate
L-9 – Stinson
L-10 – Ryan
L-11 – Bellanca
L-12 Reliant – Stinson
L-13 – Stinson/Convair
L-14 Cub – Piper
L-15 Scout – Boeing
L-16 Champion – Aeronca
L-17 Navion – North American/Ryan (redesignated as U-18 in 1962)
L-18 Super Cub – Piper
L-19 Bird Dog – Cessna (redesignated as O-1 in 1962)
L-20 Beaver – de Havilland Canada (redesignated as U-6 in 1962)
L-21 Super Cub – Piper (redesignated as U-7 in 1962)
L-22 Navion – Ryan
L-23 Seminole – Beechcraft (redesignated as U-8 in 1962)
L-24 Courier – Helio (redesignated as U-24 in 1962)
L-25 – McDonnell (redesignated as XH-35, then XV-1)
L-26 Commander – Aero Design (redesignated as U-4 and U-9 in 1962)
L-27 – Cessna (redesignated as U-3 in 1962)
L-28 Super Courier – Helio (redesignated as U-10 in 1962)

Pursuit, 1924-1948/Fighter, 1948–1962[]

P-3 Hawk

Designated P- for "pursuit" until June 1948, nine months after the United States Air Force was founded. After this, all P- designations were changed to F- ("fighter"), but the original numbers were retained.^[6]

P-1 Hawk – Curtiss
P-2 Hawk – Curtiss
P-3 Hawk – Curtiss
P-4 – Boeing
P-5 Hawk – Curtiss
P-6 Hawk – Curtiss
P-7 – Boeing
P-8 – Boeing (XP-8 Cancelled)
P-9 – Boeing
P-10 – Curtiss
P-11 Hawk – Curtiss
P-12 – Boeing
P-13 Viper (XP-13 Prototype)
P-14 – Curtiss
P-15 – Boeing
P-16 – Berliner-Joyce
P-17 Hawk – Curtiss
P-18 – Curtiss
P-19 – Curtiss
P-20 – Curtiss (YP-20 Project)
P-21 – Curtiss
P-22 Hawk – Curtiss
P-23 Hawk – Curtiss
P-24 – Lockheed
P-25 – Consolidated
P-26 Peashooter – Boeing

Boeing P-26
P-27 – Consolidated
P-28 – Consolidated
P-29 – Boeing
P-30 – Consolidated
P-31 Swift – Curtiss
P-32 – Boeing
P-33 – Consolidated
P-34 – (XP-34 Cancelled)
P-35 – Seversky
P-36 Hawk – Curtiss
P-37 – Curtiss
P-38 Lightning – Lockheed
P-39 Airacobra – Bell
- P-400 - Royal Air Force Airacobra put into U.S. service before export
P-40 Warhawk – Curtiss
P-41 – Seversky (XP-41 Prototype)
P-42 – Curtiss (XP-42 Prototype)
P-43 Lancer – Republic
P-44 Rocket – Republic
P-45 – Bell (Initial designation of the P-39C or Model 13.)
P-46 – Curtiss (XP-46 Prototype)
P-47 Thunderbolt – Republic
P-48 – Douglas (XP-48 Cancelled)
P-49 – Lockheed (Cancelled)
P-50 – Grumman (Cancelled)
P-51 Mustang – North American

P-51H Mustang
P-53 – Curtiss
P-54 Swoose Goose – Vultee (XP-54 Prototype)
P-55 Ascender – Curtiss (XP-55 Prototype)
P-56 Black Bullet – Northrop (XP-56 Prototype)
P-57 Peashooter – Tucker (Cancelled)
P-58 Chain Lightning – Lockheed
P-59 Airacomet – Bell
P-60 – Curtiss (P-60 Prototypes, Cancelled)
P-61 Black Widow – Northrop
P-62 – Curtiss (XP-62 Prototype)
P-63 Kingcobra – Bell
P-64 – North American
P-65 – Grumman (Cancelled)
P-66 Vanguard – Vultee
P-67 Bat – McDonnell (XP-67 Prototype)
P-68 Tornado – Vultee (Cancelled)
P-69 – Republic (XP-69 Prototype)
P-70 Nighthawk – Douglas
P-71 – Curtiss (XP-71 Cancelled)
P-72 – Republic (XP-72 Prototype)
P-73 – Hughes (officially never assigned)
P-74 – skipped
P-75 Eagle – Fisher
P-76 – Bell (Prototype / Cancelled)
P-77 – Bell (Prototypes)
P-78 – North American (officially never assigned)
P-79 – Northrop (XP-79 Prototype)
F-80 Shooting Star – Lockheed
P-81 – Convair (XP-81 Prototype)
F-82 Twin Mustang – North American
P-83 – Bell (Experimental)
F-84 Thunderjet – Republic
F-85 Goblin – McDonnell (XF-85 Prototype)
F-86 Sabre – North American

F-86F Sabre
F-87 Blackhawk – Curtiss (XF-87 Prototype)
F-88 Voodoo – McDonnell (Two Prototype)
F-89 Scorpion – Northrop
F-90 – Lockheed (XF-90 Prototype)
F-91 Thunderceptor – Republic (XF-91 Prototype)
F-92 – Convair (XF-92A Prototype)
F-93 – North American (XF-93 Experimental)
F-94 Starfire – Lockheed
F-95 – North American (redesignated as F-86D Sabre)
F-96 – Republic (redesignated as F-84F Thunderstreak)
F-97 Starfire – Lockheed (redesignated as F-94C Starfire)
F-98 Falcon – Hughes (redesignated as GAR-1, then AIM-4) (Air-to-Air Missile)
F-99 BOMARC – Boeing (redesignated as IM-99, then CIM-10) (Surface-to-Air Missile)
F-100 Super Sabre – North American
F-101 Voodoo – McDonnell
F-102 Delta Dagger – Convair
F-103 – Republic (XF-103 Project)
F-104 Starfighter – Lockheed
F-105 Thunderchief – Republic
F-106 Delta Dart – Convair
F-107 – North American (Three Prototype)
F-108 Rapier – North American (XF-108 Prototype)
F-109 – designation was reserved for the F-101B,^[7] and Bell D-188A, but never officially assigned (Proposed Experimental)
F-110 Spectre – McDonnell Douglas (redesignated as F-4 in 1962)
F-111 Aardvark – General Dynamics

General Dynamics F-111
Unofficial designations YF-112 and up were later assigned to "black" projects – see Fighter series in Unified System.

Fighter, Multiplace[]

FM-1 Airacuda – Bell
FM-2 – Lockheed

Pursuit, Biplace[]

PB-1 – Berliner-Joyce
PB-2 – Consolidated
PB-3 – Lockheed

Observation[]

Observation, 1924–1942[]

O-1 Falcon – Curtiss
O-2 – Douglas
O-3 Mohawk – Dayton-Wright
O-4 – Martin
O-5 – Douglas
O-6 – Thomas-Morse
O-7 – Douglas
O-8 – Douglas
O-9 – Douglas
O-10 – Loening
O-11 Falcon – Curtiss
O-12 Falcon – Curtiss
O-13 Falcon – Curtiss
O-14 – Douglas
O-15 – Keystone
O-16 Falcon – Curtiss
O-17 Courier – Consolidated
O-18 Falcon – Curtiss
O-19 – Thomas-Morse
O-20 – Thomas-Morse
O-21 – Thomas-Morse
O-22 – Douglas
O-23 – Thomas-Morse
O-24 – Curtiss
O-25 – Douglas
O-26 – Curtiss
O-27 – Fokker
O-28 Corsair – Vought
O-29 – Douglas
O-30 – Curtiss
O-31 – Douglas
O-32 – Douglas
O-33 – Thomas-Morse
O-34 – Douglas
O-35 – Douglas
O-36 – Douglas
O-37 – Keystone
O-38 – Douglas
O-39 Falcon – Curtiss
O-40 Raven – Curtiss
O-41 – Thomas-Morse
O-42 – Thomas-Morse
O-43 – Douglas
O-44 – Douglas
O-45 – Martin
O-46 – Douglas
O-47 – North American
O-48 – Douglas
O-49 Vigilant – Stinson (redesignated as L-1 in 1942)
O-50 – Bellanca
O-51 Dragonfly – Ryan

YO-51 Dragonfly
O-52 Owl – Curtiss
O-53 Havoc – Douglas
O-54 – Stinson
O-55 – ERCO
O-56 Ventura – Lockheed
O-57 Grasshopper – Taylorcraft (redesignated as L-2 in 1942)
O-58 Grasshopper – Aeronca (redesignated as L-3 in 1942)
O-59 Grasshopper – Piper (redesignated as L-4 in 1942)
O-60 – Kellett
O-61 – Pitcairn
O-62 Sentinel – Stinson (redesignated as L-5 in 1942)
O-63 Grasshopper – Interstate (redesignated as XL-6 in 1942)

Observation amphibian, 1925–1948[]

OA-1 – Loening
OA-2 – Loening
OA-3 Dolphin – Douglas
OA-4 Dolphin – Douglas
OA-5 – Douglas
OA-6 – Consolidated
OA-7 – Douglas
OA-8 – Sikorsky
OA-9 Goose – Grumman
OA-10 Catalina – Consolidated
OA-11 – Sikorsky
OA-12 Duck – Grumman
OA-13 Goose – Grumman
OA-14 Widgeon – Grumman
OA-15 Seabee – Republic

Reconnaissance[]

Photographic reconnaissance, 1930–1948 / Reconnaissance, 1948–1962[]

F-1 – Fairchild
F-2 Expeditor – Beechcraft
F-3 Havoc – Douglas
F-4 Lightning – Lockheed
F-5 Lightning – Lockheed
F-6 Mustang – North American
F-7 Liberator – Consolidated
F-8 Mosquito – de Havilland
F-9 Flying Fortress – Boeing
F-10 Mitchell – North American
F-11 – Hughes
F-12 Rainbow – Republic
F-13 Superfortress – Boeing
F-14 Shooting Star – Lockheed
F-15 Reporter – Northrop
R-11 – Hughes
R-12 Rainbow – Republic
R-16 Stratofortress – Boeing^[8]

Reconnaissance-strike, 1960–1962[]

Both of the following aircraft are numbered in the B- (bomber) sequence.

RS-70 Valkyrie – proposed reconnaissance variant of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie
RS-71 Blackbird – early designation of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Rotary wing 1941–1948 and helicopter 1948–1962[]

In 1941, the category letter R- was allotted for "rotary wing" aircraft, and this designation was used until the founding of the United States Air Force in 1947, at which point the category letter was changed to H-, for "helicopter". However, the original numbering sequence was retained.

XR-1 – Platt-LePage
XR-2 – Kellett
XR-3 – Kellett
R-4 Hoverfly – Sikorsky
R-5/H-5 Dragonfly – Sikorsky
R-6 Hoverfly II – Sikorsky
XR-7 – Sikorsky
XR-8 Kellett
XR-9/XH-9 – Firestone
XR-10/XH-10 – Kellett
XR-11/XH-11 –
XR-12/XH-12 – Bell
R-13/H-13 Sioux – Bell
XR-14 – Firestone
XR-15/XH-15 – Bell
XR-16/XH-16 – Piasecki
XR-17/XH-17 – Hughes/Kellett
YH-18 – Sikorsky
H-19 Chickasaw – Sikorsky
XH-20 Little Henry – McDonnell
H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee – Piasecki
YH-22 – Kaman
H-23 Raven – Hiller
YH-24 –
H-25 Army Mule – Piasecki
XH-26 Jet Jeep –
YH-27 Transporter – Piasecki
XH-28 – Hughes
H-29 – McDonnell
YH-30 – McCulloch
YH-31 –
YH-32 Hornet – Hiller
XH-33 – Bell (redesignated as XV-3)
H-34 Choctaw – Sikorsky
XH-35 – McDonnell (redesignated as XV-1)
H-36 – reserved for secret project LONG EARS
H-37 Mojave – Sikorsky
H-38 – reserved for secret project SHORT TAIL
XH-39 – Sikorsky
XH-40 – Bell
YH-41 Seneca – Cessna
XH-42 – Hughes
H-43 Huskie – Kaman
H-44 – reserved for secret project BIG TOM
H-45 – reserved for secret project STEP CHILD

Supersonic/special test, 1946–1948[]

XS-1 – Bell
XS-2 – Bell
XS-3 Stiletto – Douglas
XS-4 Bantam – Northrop
XS-5 – Bell
- This series was continued as the X (Experimental) series after 1948 – see X-series in Unified System.

Trainer[]

Advanced Trainer, 1925–1948[]

AT-1 – Huff-Daland
AT-2 – Huff-Daland
AT-3 – Boeing
AT-4 Hawk – Curtiss
AT-5 Hawk – Curtiss
AT-6 Texan – North American (redesignated as T-6 in 1948)
AT-7 Navigator – Beechcraft (redesignated as T-7 in 1948)
AT-8 Bobcat – Cessna
AT-9 Jeep – Curtiss-Wright
AT-10 Wichita – Beechcraft
AT-11 Kansan – Beechcraft (redesignated as T-11 in 1948)
AT-12 Guardsman – Republic
AT-13 Gunner – Fairchild
AT-14 Gunner – Fairchild
AT-15 Crewmaker – Boeing
AT-16 – Noorduyn
AT-17 Bobcat – Cessna
AT-18 Hudson – Lockheed
AT-19 Reliant – Stinson
AT-20 Anson – Avro/
AT-21 Gunner – Fairchild
AT-22 Liberator – Consolidated
AT-23 Marauder – Martin
AT-24 Mitchell – North American

Basic Combat, 1936–1940[]

BC-1 – North American
BC-2 – North American
BC-3 – Vultee

Basic Trainer, 1930–1948[]

BT-1 – Douglas
BT-2 – Douglas
BT-3 – Stearman
BT-4 – Curtiss
BT-5 – Stearman
BT-6 – Consolidated
BT-7 – Consolidated
BT-8 – Seversky
BT-9 – North American
BT-10 – North American
BT-11 –
BT-12 – Fleetwings
BT-13 Valiant – Vultee
BT-14 – North American
BT-15 Valiant – Vultee
BT-16 Valiant – Vultee
BT-17 – Boeing-Stearman

Primary Trainer, 1925–1948[]

PT-1 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-2 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-3 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-4 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-5 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-6 – Consolidated
PT-7 Pinto –
PT-8 – Consolidated
PT-9 – Stearman
PT-10 – Verville
PT-11 – Consolidated
PT-12 – Consolidated
PT-13 Kaydet – Boeing-Stearman
PT-14 – Waco
PT-15 – St. Louis
PT-16 – Ryan
PT-17 Kaydet – Boeing-Stearman
PT-18 Kaydet – Boeing-Stearman
PT-19 Cornell – Fairchild
PT-20 – Ryan
PT-21 Recruit – Ryan
PT-22 Recruit – Ryan
PT-23 Cornell – Fairchild
PT-24 Tiger Moth – de Havilland^[9]
PT-25 – Ryan
PT-26 Cornell – Fairchild
PT-27 Kaydet – Boeing-Stearman

Army, 1956–1962[]

AO-1 Mohawk

In 1956, the U.S. Army adopted a new, and relatively simple, designation system for its aviation assets. Aircraft were divided into three different types – 'A' for fixed-wing aircraft, 'H' for helicopters, or 'V' for V/STOL aircraft, and then were given a mission modifier, which, unlike the USAF system, came after the type code: 'C' for transports, 'O' for observation and reconnaissance aircraft, 'U' for utility types, and 'Z' for experimental aircraft. Aircraft types designated in this system were numbered sequentially.^[10]

Airplane, Cargo, 1956–1962[]

AC-1 Caribou – de Havilland Canada (redesignated as CV-2 in 1962, then C-7 in 1967)
AC-2 Buffalo – de Havilland Canada (redesignated as CV-7 in 1962, then C-8 in 1967)

Airplane, Observation, 1956–1962[]

AO-1 Mohawk – Grumman (redesignated as OV-1 in 1962)
AO-2 Inflatoplane – Goodyear
AO-3 Inflatoplane – Goodyear

Flying Platform, 1955–1956[]

HO-1 Pawnee – Hiller (redesignated as VZ-1 in 1956)
HO-2 – (redesignated as HZ-1 in 1956)

Helicopter, Cargo, 1956–1962[]

HC-1A Sea Knight (redesignated as CH-46C in 1962)
HC-1B Chinook (redesignated as CH-47A in 1962)

Helicopter, Observation, 1956–1962[]

HO-1 – Sud-Ouest
HO-2 – Hughes
HO-3 – Brantly
HO-4 – Bell (redesignated as OH-4A in 1962)
HO-5 – Fairchild Hiller (redesignated as OH-5A in 1962)
HO-6 – Hughes (redesignated as OH-6A in 1962)

Helicopter, Utility, 1956–1962[]

HU-1 Iroquois – Bell (redesignated as UH-1 in 1962)

Helicopter, Experimental, 1956–1962[]

HZ-1 Aerocycle – de Lackner Helicopters

Vertical Takeoff and Landing Research, 1956–1962[]

VZ-9 Avrocar

VZ-1 Pawnee – Hiller
VZ-2 – Vertol
VZ-3 Vertiplane – Ryan
VZ-4 Convertiplane –
VZ-5 Fledgling – Fairchild
VZ-6 – Chrysler
VZ-7 – Curtiss-Wright
VZ-8 Airgeep – Piasecki
VZ-9 Avrocar – Avro Canada
VZ-10 Hummingbird – Lockheed (redesignated as XV-4 in 1962)
VZ-11 Vertifan – Ryan (redesignated as XV-5 in 1962)
VZ-12 Kestrel – Hawker Siddeley (redesignated as XV-6 in 1962)

Unified System, 1962–present[]

A: Attack aircraft (for tactical air-to-surface mission)[]

A-1 Skyraider – Douglas (formerly designated AD)
A-2 Savage – North American (formerly designated AJ)
A-3 Skywarrior – Douglas (formerly designated A3D)
A-4 Skyhawk – Douglas (formerly designated A4D)
A-5 Vigilante – North American (formerly designated A3J)
A-6 Intruder – Grumman (formerly designated A2F)
A-7 Corsair II – Ling-Temco-Vought
A-8 – Skipped
A-9 – Northrop (Losing contender for the AX competition)
A-10 Thunderbolt II – Fairchild Republic (Winning contender for the AX competition)
A-11 – Skipped
A-12 Avenger II – McDonnell Douglas / General Dynamics (cancelled)

Non-sequential designations

F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet – McDonnell Douglas^[11]
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – Boeing^[11]
EA-18G Growler - Boeing
A-26 Invader - Douglas (originally designated A-26 in WW2, then B-26 when the Martin B-26 Marauder was obsolesced, reverted to original A-26 in Vietnam era)
A-29 Super Tucano – Embraer
A-37 Dragonfly – Cessna (originally designated AT-37)

B: Bomber (for strategic air-to-surface mission)[]

B-1 Lancer – Rockwell
B-2 Spirit – Northrop

Non-sequential designation

B-21 Raider – Northrop Grumman
FB-111A – General Dynamics (strategic bomber version of the F-111 used by Strategic Air Command, re-designated F-111G in 1989 after being reassigned for tactical use)

C: Transport (Cargo)[]

C-1 Trader – Grumman (formerly designated TF)
C-2 Greyhound – Grumman
C-3 – Martin 4-0-4 (formerly designated RM-1Z; Martin 4-0-4 airliners for use by the US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard)
C-4 Academe – Gulfstream I (Used for training A-6 Intruder Naval Flight Officers.)
C-5 Galaxy – Lockheed
C-6 Ute – Beechcraft 90 King Air (re-designated U-21 Ute)
C-7 Caribou – de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou
C-8 Buffalo – de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
C-9 Nightingale – McDonnell-Douglas DC-9
C-10 Jetstream – Handley Page (USAF 68-10378/10388; were to be offset purchase for RAF F-111K, both cancelled)
C-10 Extender – McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 (Winner of the KC-X competition (after cancellation of C-10 Jetstream, C-10 designation re-used)
C-11 – Gulfstream II
C-12 – Beechcraft
C-14 – Boeing (AMST contender)
C-15 – McDonnell-Douglas (AMST contender)
C-16 – Skipped
C-17 Globemaster III – Boeing
C-18 – Boeing 707-320
C-19 – Boeing 747-100
C-20 – Gulfstream III (C-20A/B/C/D/E)
C-20 – Gulfstream IV (C-20F/G/H/J)
C-21 – Learjet 35
C-22 – Boeing 727 (Air National Guard and National Guard Bureau personnel transports)
C-23 Sherpa – Shorts (Military logistics transports for use in Europe and the US by the US Air Force and US Army)
C-24 – Douglas DC-8-54F (A single example used for avionic trials as the EC-24A)
C-25 - Boeing 747-200 (Presidential VIP transport)
C-26 – Fairchild
C-27 Spartan – Alenia G.222
C-28 Titan – Cessna 404 Titan
C-29 – British Aerospace BAe 125-800 (Airways and navaid checker)
C-30 – Skipped
C-31 Troopship - Fokker F27 Friendship
C-32 - Boeing 757-200 (VIP transport)
C-33 Boeing 747-400F (Proposed U.S. military transport version of the 747-400F)
C-34 – Skipped
C-35 – Cessna Citation Ultra
C-36 – Skipped
C-37 – Gulfstream V
C-38 – Gulfstream G100 (formerly IAI Astra SPX)
C-39 – Skipped
C-40 Clipper – Boeing 737-700C (replacement for the C-9A Nightingale in USAF and C-9B Skytrain II in USN)
C-41 - Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA C-212 series 200 Aviocar –^[12]
C-42 – Skipped
C-43 – Skipped
C-44 – Skipped
C-45 – EADS (Losing KC-X contender^[12])
C-46 Pegasus – Boeing 767-2C (Winning KC-X contender)

Revived 1924-1962 sequence (2005-present)

C-143 MRC2A – Bombardier Challenger CL-604 for US Coast Guard Medium Range Command and Control Aircraft^[12]
C-144 Ocean Sentry – CASA CN-235 300CG for US Coast Guard Medium Range Surveillance Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MRS MPA)^[12]
C-145 Skytruck - PZL M28 for special operations.
C-146 - Dornier 328 for special operations.
C-147 - De Havilland Canada Dash 8 as a jump platform.

Non-sequential designations

KC-767 - Boeing KC-767 (Out of sequence designation selected by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) initially to replace older KC-135Es. In December 2003, the contract was frozen and later canceled due to corruption allegations).
UC-880 – Convair (Out of sequence designation used for a single Convair 880 converted to a tanker to support trials from the NATC^[13])

D: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control segment[]

E: Special electronic installation[]

E-1 Tracer – Grumman (Formerly WF)
E-2 Hawkeye – Grumman (Formerly W2F)
E-3 Sentry – Boeing
E-4 "Nightwatch" – Boeing (Advanced Airborne Command Post)
E-5 Eagle – Windecker
E-6 Mercury – Boeing (TACAMO)
E-7 – Designation proposed for EC-18B. It could also be used for the Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail if the United States were to acquire it.
E-8 Joint Stars – Northrop Grumman
E-9 Widget – de Havilland Canada
E-10 MC2A – Boeing/Northrop Grumman
E-11 – Bombardier/Northrop Grumman

F: Fighter[]

F-1 Fury – North American (previously designated FJ-2, FJ-3, and FJ-4)
F-2 Banshee – McDonnell (previously designated F2H)
F-3 Demon – McDonnell (previously designated F3H)
F-4 Phantom II – McDonnell Douglas (previously designated F4H and F-110)
F-5 Freedom Fighter – Northrop
F-6 Skyray – Douglas (previously designated F4D)
F-7 Sea Dart – Convair (previously designated F2Y)
F-8 Crusader – Vought (previously designated F8U)
F-9 Cougar – Grumman (previously designated F9F-6)
F-10 Skyknight – Douglas (previously designated F3D)
F-11 Tiger – Grumman (previously designated F11F)
F-12 – Lockheed (two-seat fighter version of the A-12 reconnaissance aircraft)
F-13 – skipped
F-14 Tomcat – Grumman
F-15 A/B/C/D Eagle / F-15E Strike Eagle – McDonnell Douglas
F-16 Fighting Falcon – General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
F-17 Cobra -- Northrop (YF-17 "Cobra" prototype)
F-18A/B/C/D Hornet / F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – McDonnell Douglas
F-19 – officially skipped
F-20 Tigershark – Northrop (prototype)
F-21 Kfir C-2 – Israel Aircraft Industries (for US Navy dissimilar combat training and aggressor training)
F-22 Raptor – Lockheed Martin
F-23 Black Widow II – Northrop / McDonnell Douglas (YF-23 prototype)

Non-sequential designations

F-35 Lightning II – Lockheed Martin
F-117 Nighthawk – Lockheed

Other designations

Designations YF-110, YF-112 through YF-116, and YF-118 were captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor training. They were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.^[14]^[15]

YF-24 – (error?) possible classified project, mentioned in a USAF test pilot's official biography^[14]^[16]
YF-110 MiG-21s – Mikoyan-Gurevich
YF-112 Su-22 – Sukhoi
YF-113 MiG-23s – Mikoyan-Gurevich
YF-113G – possible USAF "black project"^[14]
YF-114 MiG-17 – Mikoyan-Gurevich
YF-115 – rumored designation of captured Sukhoi Su-7
YF-116 – rumored designation of captured Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
F-117D Tacit Blue – Northrop
YF-118 – rumored designation of Mikoyan MiG-29
YF-121 – rumored "black project"^[14]

G: Glider[]

TG-1 – Schweizer
TG-2 – Schweizer
TG-3 – Schweizer^[17]
TG-4 – Schweizer^[17]
TG-5 – Schweizer
TG-6 – Schweizer
TG-7 – Schweizer^[17]
TG-8 – Schweizer
TG-9 – Schleicher^[17]
TG-10 – Let^[12]^[17]
TG-11 – Stemme^[17]
TG-12 – Caproni Vizzola^[12]
TG-13 – Skipped
TG-14 – Aeromot^[12]
TG-15 – Schempp-Hirth^[12]
TG-16 – DG Flugzeugbau

H: Helicopter[]

Unlike most other categories of aircraft, the introduction of the tri-service designation system in 1962 did not result in a wholesale redesignation of helicopters. While six types received new designations in the unified, "re-started" sequence, the original "H-" series of designations that started in 1948 was also continued, and no further types of rotorcraft have been designated in the "post-1962" system.

H-1 Iroquois / "Huey" – Bell Helicopter (Formerly H-40 / HU-1)
H-1 Cobra / SeaCobra / SuperCobra / Viper – Bell Helicopter
H-2 Seasprite – Kaman Aircraft (Formerly HU2K)
H-3 Sea King / "Jolly Green Giant" – Sikorsky Aircraft (Formerly HSS-2)
H-4 – Bell Helicopter (Formerly HO-4)
H-5 – Fairchild Hiller (Formerly HO-5)
H-6 Cayuse / Little Bird – Hughes Helicopters / McDonnell Douglas / Boeing Helicopters (Formerly HO-6)

Continuation of 1948 sequence

H-46 Sea Knight – Boeing Vertol
H-47 Chinook – Boeing Vertol
XH-48 – Bell (redesignated as UH-1F)
XH-49 – Boeing Vertol (redesignated as XCH-46B)
H-50 DASH – Gyrodyne

Lockheed XH-51

XH-51 – Lockheed
H-52 Sea Guard – Sikorsky
H-53 Sea Stallion – Sikorsky
- MH-53 Pave Low
- CH-53E Super Stallion
  - CH-53K King Stallion^[12]
H-54 Tarhe – Sikorsky
H-55 Osage – Hughes
H-56 Cheyenne – Lockheed
H-57 Sea Ranger – Bell
H-58 Kiowa – Bell
XH-59 – Sikorsky
H-60 Black Hawk – Sikorsky
- Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
- Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
- Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk
YH-61 – Boeing Vertol
XH-62 – Boeing Vertol
YH-63 Kingcobra – Bell
H-64 Apache – Hughes
H-65 Dolphin – Aérospatiale
H-66 Comanche – Boeing/Sikorsky
H-67 Creek – Bell
H-68 Stingray – Agusta^[12]
H-69 – skipped
H-70 Arapaho – Bell^[12]
H-71 Kestrel – Lockheed Martin^[12]
H-72 Lakota – Eurocopter^[12]
H-73 Koala – AgustaWestland

Non-sequential designations

H-90 Enforcer - MD Helicopters
H-92 - Sikorsky
H-139 Grey Wolf - AgustaWestland

K: Tanker (dropped between 1977 and 1985)[]

No specialised types have been acquired to receive a stand-alone 'K for Tanker' designation; for aircraft modified for use as tankers, see the parent aircraft in the proper sequence.

L: Laser-equipped[]

AL-1 – Boeing^[18]

O: Observation (Forward Air Control)[]

O-1 Bird Dog Cessna Aircraft 14 December 1949 Formerly L-19
O-2 Skymaster Cessna Aircraft January 1967
O-3 "Quiet Star" Lockheed Missiles & Space 1969
O-4 1963
(Wren 460) Not proceeded with.
O-5 ARL de Havilland Canada 27 March 1975
(DHC-7) Formerly RC-7
O-6 ARL Bombardier

P: Maritime patrol[]

P-1 – Skipped
P-2 Neptune – Lockheed Corporation (Formerly P2V)
P-3 Orion / ARIES Lockheed Corporation (Formerly P3V; See also WP-3D Orion and EP-3 Aries)
P-4 Privateer – Consolidated Aircraft (Formerly PB4Y-2K / P4Y-2K)
P-5 Marlin – Glenn L. Martin Company (Formerly P5M)
P-6 – Skipped
P-7 – Lockheed Corporation (Cancelled)
P-8 Poseidon – Boeing
P-9 - Bombardier

Q: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)[]

Q-1 Predator – General Atomics
Q-2 Pioneer – AAI Corporation/Israel Aircraft Industries
Q-3 Dark Star – Lockheed Martin / Boeing
Q-4 Global Hawk – Northrop Grumman
Q-5 Hunter – Israel Aircraft Industries
Q-6 Outrider – Alliant Techsystems
Q-7 Shadow – AAI Corporation
Q-8 Fire Scout – Northrop Grumman
Q-9 Reaper/Altair – General Atomics (Originally "Predator B")
Q-10 SnowGoose –
Q-11 Raven – AeroVironment
Q-12 - AeroVironment
Q-13 – Skipped
Q-14 Dragon Eye – AeroVironment
Q-15 Neptune – DRS Technologies
Q-16 T-Hawk – Honeywell
Q-17 SpyHawk –
Q-18 Hummingbird Boeing
Q-19 Aerosonde – AAI Corporation^[12]
Q-20 Puma – AeroVironment
Q-21 Integrator – Boeing Insitu
Q-22 AeroVironment
Q-23 - NASC
Q-24 - Kaman
Q-25 Stingray - Boeing
Q-26 - skipped
Q-27 - Boeing

Non-sequential designations

Q-58 - Kratos
Q-170 Sentinel – Lockheed Martin
Q-180 - Northrop Grumman

R: Reconnaissance[]

TR-1 Dragon Lady – Lockheed Corporation

S: Anti-submarine warfare[]

S-1 Skipped
S-2 Tracker – Grumman Aircraft (Formerly S2F)
S-3 Viking – Lockheed Corporation (Also called Shadow)

S: Spaceplane[]

The only designation in the "Spaceplane" series, the MS-1A shares a designation letter with the anti-submarine warfare category, and is perhaps unique among MDS identifiers as being assigned to a future, and currently not wholly defined, concept, as opposed to a specific project.^[12]^[19]

T: Trainer[]

Despite the adoption of the unified Mission Designation System in 1962, only two aircraft were designated in the new series, both former Navy types. The old series continued in use until 1990, at which point a new series was started over at T-1, with the previous T-2 still being in use. However, the old series has still seen new designations being assigned. The next designation available in the 'T' series is T-54 or T-8, depending on which series is continued.

1948–present designations

T-28 Trojan – North American
T-29 Flying Classroom – Convair CV-240
XT-30 – Douglas
XT-31 – Fairchild
T-32 – Convair CV-240
T-33 Shooting Star – Lockheed
T-34 Mentor – Beechcraft
T-35 Buckaroo – Temco (foreign use only, none procured)
XT-36 – Beechcraft/Canadair
T-37 Tweet – Cessna
T-38 Talon – Northrop
T-39 Sabreliner – North American Saberliner
T-40 Jet Star – Lockheed JetStar
T-41 Mescalero – Cessna 172
T-42 Cochise – Beechcraft Baron
T-43 – Boeing 737-200
T-44 Pegasus – Beechcraft KingAir
T-45 Goshawk – McDonnell Douglas/BAE Systems
XT-46 – Fairchild
T-47 – Cessna Citation II
YT-48 – Cessna
T-48 MPATS^[12] (cancelled)
T-49 – Boeing^[12] 707-331/382
T-50 Golden Eagle – Korean Aerospace Industries (designation reserved, none procured)^[12]
T-51 – Cessna^[12] 150
T-52 – Diamond^[20] DA40 Diamond Star
T-53 – Cirrus SR20

1962 Sequence

T-1 SeaStar – Lockheed Corporation (Formerly T2V)
T-2 Buckeye – North American Aviation (Formerly T2J)

1990 Sequence

T-1 Jayhawk – Raytheon / Hawker Beechcraft
T-2 – Skipped (T-2 Buckeye was still in service)
T-3 Firefly – Slingsby Aviation
T-4 – Skipped
T-5 – Skipped
T-6 Texan II – Hawker Beechcraft
T-7 Red Hawk - Boeing

U: Utility[]

U-1 Otter – de Havilland Canada
U-2 Dragon Lady – Lockheed Corporation
U-3 Blue Canoe – Cessna
U-4 Aero Commander – Aero Design
U-5 Twin Courier – Helio
U-6 Beaver – de Havilland Canada
U-7 Super Cub Piper
U-8 Seminole – Beechcraft
U-9 Aero Commander – Aero Design
U-10 Super Courier – Helio
U-11 Aztec – Piper
U-12 Skipped
U-13 Skipped
U-14 Skipped
U-15 Skipped
U-16 Albatross – Grumman
U-17 Skywagon – Cessna
U-18 Navion – North American/Ryan
U-19 Sentinel – Stinson
U-20 – Cessna
U-21 Ute – Beechcraft
U-22 – Beechcraft
U-23 Peacemaker – Fairchild Hiller/Pilatus
U-24 Courier – Helio
U-25 Guardian – Dassault-Breguet
U-26 Super Skywagon – Cessna
U-27 Caravan – Cessna
U-28 – Pilatus^[12]
U-38 Twin Condor – Schweizer

V: Vertical take-off/short take-off and landing (VTOL/STOL)[]

V-1 – Grumman (Formerly AO-1)
V-2 – de Havilland Canada (Formerly AC-1)
XV-3 – Bell Helicopter (Formerly H-33)
XV-4 Hummingbird – Lockheed Corporation (Formerly VZ-10)
XV-5 Vertifan – Ryan Aeronautical (Formerly VZ-11)
XV-6 Kestrel – Hawker Siddeley
V-7 Buffalo – de Havilland Canada (Formerly AC-2, redesignated as C-8)
XV-8 "Fleep" – Ryan Aeronautical (Designation later reused)
V-8 Harrier – Hawker Siddeley
- AV-8B Harrier II – McDonnell Douglas / British Aerospace
XV-9 – Hughes Helicopters
V-10 Bronco – Rockwell International / Boeing
XV-11 Marvel – Parsons Corporation
V-12 – Parsons Corporation (Cancelled, designation reused)
XV-12 – Rockwell International
V-13 – Skipped
V-14 – Skipped to avoid confusion with X-14.^[21]
XV-15 – Bell Helicopter
V-16 Advanced Harrier – McDonnell Douglas / British Aerospace (Not built; developed into AV-8B)
V-17 – Assigned to a U.S. Army project but not used.^[21]
V-18 Twin Otter – de Havilland Canada
V-19 – Assigned to a U.S. Navy project but cancelled.^[21]
V-20 Chiricahua – Pilatus Aircraft
PACES – Airship Industries (Unconfirmed designation.^[21])
V-22 Osprey – Bell Helicopter / Boeing Helicopters
V-23 Scout – (Skytrader)
XV-24 LightningStrike - Aurora

X: Special research[]

In addition to aircraft intended to support military operations, the unified system includes experimental craft designed to push the boundaries of aeronautical and aerospace knowledge. These aircraft are designated in the "X-series", which led them to become known as "X-planes". Only those with military sponsors are listed here.

X-1 – Bell Aircraft, USAF, NACA
X-2 "Starbuster" – Bell Aircraft, USAF
X-3 Stiletto – Douglas Aircraft, USAF, NACA
X-4 Bantam – Northrop, USAF, NACA
X-5 – Bell Aircraft, USAF, NACA
X-6 – Convair, USAF, AEC
X-7 "Flying Stove Pipe" – Lockheed, Tri-service
X-8 Aerobee – Aerojet, NACA, USAF, USN
X-9 Shrike – Bell Aircraft, USAF
X-10 – North American Aviation, USAF
X-11 – Convair, USAF
X-12 – Convair, USAF
X-13 Vertijet – Ryan Aeronautical, USAF, USN
X-14 – Bell Aircraft, USAF, NASA
X-15 – North American Aviation, USAF, NASA
X-16 – Bell Aircraft, USAF
X-17 – Lockheed
X-18 – Hiller Aircraft
X-19 – Curtiss-Wright, Tri-service
X-20 Dyna-Soar – Boeing, USAF
X-21 – Northrop, USAF
X-22 – Bell Aircraft, Tri-service
X-23 PRIME – Martin Marietta, USAF (Note: Designation never officially assigned.^[22])
X-24 – Martin Marietta, USAF, NASA
X-25 – Bensen, USAF
X-26 Frigate – Schweizer, DARPA, US Army, USN
X-27 – Lockheed
X-28 Sea Skimmer – Osprey Aircraft, USN
X-29 – Grumman, DARPA, USAF, NASA
X-30 NASP – Rockwell, NASA, DARPA, USAF
X-31 – Rockwell-MBB
X-32 – Boeing, USAF, USN, RAF
X-35 – Lockheed Martin, USAF, USN, RAF
X-36 - McDonnell Douglas, NASA
X-37 – Boeing, USAF, NASA
X-39 – Unknown, USAF (Note: Designation never officially assigned.^[22])
X-40 – Boeing, USAF, NASA
X-41 – Unknown, USAF
X-42 – Unknown, USAF
X-44 MANTA – Lockheed Martin, USAF, NASA
X-45 – Boeing, DARPA, USAF
X-46 – Boeing, DARPA, USN
X-47A/X-47B – Northrop Grumman, DARPA, USN
X-48 – Boeing, NASA
X-49 Speedhawk – Piasecki Aircraft, US Army
X-50 Dragonfly – Boeing, DARPA
X-51 Waverider – Boeing, USAF
X-53 – Boeing Phantom Works, NASA, USAF
X-55 – Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, USAF
X-56 – Lockheed Martin, USAF, NASA
X-57 - NASA
X-59 - Lockheed Martin, NASA
X-60 - Generation Orbit Launch Services
X-61 - Dynetics, DARPA

Z: Lighter-than-air[]

Z-1 – Goodyear^[18]
Z-2 Sentinel – Westinghouse Airships
Z-3 – ^[12]
Z-4 - Hybrid Air Vehicles

Un-designated foreign aircraft operated by the United States[]

Airspeed Horsa – Airspeed Ltd
Airspeed Oxford – Airspeed^[9]
Bristol Beaufighter – Bristol Aeroplane Company
Boulton Paul Defiant – Boulton Paul Aircraft
CAC Wirraway – Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
de Havilland Dominie – de Havilland^[9]
de Havilland Moth Minor – de Havilland.
Diamond DA20 – Diamond Aircraft
Hawker Hurricane – Hawker Aircraft^[9]
Heinkel HD 22 – Heinkel Flugzeugwerke
Mil Mi-17 – Mil
Miles Master – Miles Aircraft Ltd^[9]
Morane-Saulnier MS-234^[23]
Percival Proctor^[9]
Supermarine Spitfire^[9]
Westland Lysander

References[]

Citations[]

^ AFR 66-11, AR 700-26, BUWEPSINST 13100.7, "Designating, Redesignating, and Naming of Military Aircraft", 18 September 1962
^ "Airship AC-1 Lands At Field". The Airship Log. 1. Belleville, Illinois: Meyer & Farrell. 4 May 1923. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "RN-1 Zodiac Arrived at Scott Field". The Airship Log. 1 (1). Belleville, Illinois: Meyer & Farrell. 4 May 1923. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Lockheed B-71 (SR-71)". National Museum of the United States Air Force. October 29, 2009. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
^ Andrade 1979, page 60
^ Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
^ "HazeGray.org". rec.aviation.military FAQ, Part 4. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
^ Andrade 1979, p. 162
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Office of History, Headquarters Third Air Force, United States Air Forces in Europe: Installations and USAAF Combat Units in the United Kingdom 1942–1945, Revised and Expanded Edition Archived 2011-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. October 1980; reprinted February 1985
^ Chorney, Andrew. Systems of Designation, U.S. Army Aircraft, 1956–1962 System. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations 1911–2004
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Officially, the F/A-18 is designated in both the A-for-attack and F-for-fighter series.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Parsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L"
^ Chorney, Andrew. "U.S. Military Aircraft Designations 1911-2004". www.driko.org.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Parsch, Andreas (2006-11-27). "Cover Designations for Classified USAF Aircraft". Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
^ Fulghum, David A., "MiGs in Nevada", Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 27, 2006
^ "Edwards AFB website". Col. Joseph A. Lanni, USAF biography. Archived from the original on 2005-03-18. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "94th Flying Training Squadron aircraft". Archived from the original on 2009-03-10.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b DOD 4120.15-L: Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles, Department of Defense, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (AT&L) (Defense Systems), May 12, 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
^ MS-1A, GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
^ "Photo essay: Flight of a T-52A" U.S. Air Force.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Parsch, Andreas. ""Missing" USAF/DOD Aircraft Designations". Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Parsch 2009, "Missing Designations"
^ Baugher, Joseph F. 1930–1937 USAAS Serial Numbers

Sources[]

Books

Andrade, John M. (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 978-0-904597-22-6.
Fahey, James C. (1946). U.S. Army Aircraft 1908–1946.
Michael J.H. Taylor, ed. (1991). Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century. New York, NY: Mallard Press. ISBN 978-0-7924-5627-8.

External links[]

[BuWeps-1] AFR 66-11, AR 700-26, BUWEPSINST 13100.7, "Designating, Redesignating, and Naming of Military Aircraft", 18 September 1962

[2] "Airship AC-1 Lands At Field". The Airship Log. 1. Belleville, Illinois: Meyer & Farrell. 4 May 1923. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "RN-1 Zodiac Arrived at Scott Field". The Airship Log. 1 (1). Belleville, Illinois: Meyer & Farrell. 4 May 1923. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Lockheed B-71 (SR-71)". National Museum of the United States Air Force. October 29, 2009. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-02.

[5] Andrade 1979, page 60

[6] Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. p. 1. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

[Haze-7] "HazeGray.org". rec.aviation.military FAQ, Part 4. Retrieved 2007-01-13.

[8] Andrade 1979, p. 162

[AFHRA-9] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Office of History, Headquarters Third Air Force, United States Air Forces in Europe: Installations and USAAF Combat Units in the United Kingdom 1942–1945, Revised and Expanded Edition Archived 2011-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. October 1980; reprinted February 1985

[SoD-10] Chorney, Andrew. Systems of Designation, U.S. Army Aircraft, 1956–1962 System. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations 1911–2004

[note-11] Jump up to: ^a ^b Officially, the F/A-18 is designated in both the A-for-attack and F-for-fighter series.

[412015-L-12] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Parsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L"

[13] Chorney, Andrew. "U.S. Military Aircraft Designations 1911-2004". www.driko.org.

[secretDesignations-14] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Parsch, Andreas (2006-11-27). "Cover Designations for Classified USAF Aircraft". Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved 2006-12-29.

[fulghum1-15] Fulghum, David A., "MiGs in Nevada", Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 27, 2006

[Lanni-16] "Edwards AFB website". Col. Joseph A. Lanni, USAF biography. Archived from the original on 2005-03-18. Retrieved 2007-01-07.

[94th-17] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "94th Flying Training Squadron aircraft". Archived from the original on 2009-03-10.

[DOD_MDS-18] Jump up to: ^a ^b DOD 4120.15-L: Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles, Department of Defense, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (AT&L) (Defense Systems), May 12, 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2010.

[MS-1A-19] MS-1A, GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-04-08.

[20] "Photo essay: Flight of a T-52A" U.S. Air Force.

[Missing-21] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Parsch, Andreas. ""Missing" USAF/DOD Aircraft Designations". Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved 2010-04-13.

[DSMMDS-22] Jump up to: ^a ^b Parsch 2009, "Missing Designations"

[JB30-23] Baugher, Joseph F. 1930–1937 USAAS Serial Numbers

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