iPedia Free Information Center

Information about 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 currently in service, see the List of active United States military aircraft. Prototypes are normally prefixed with "X" and 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 "Y".

The United States Air Force currently employs a designation and naming system to identify all aircraft type with distinct names. Until 1962, both the Army and Air Force maintained one system, while the United States Navy maintained a separate system. In 1962, these were unified into a single system heavily reflecting the Army/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 designated under the pre-1962 United States Navy designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (naval).

Enlarge picture
A collection of NASA experimental aircraft, including the X-31, F-15S/MTD, SR-71, F-106, F-16XL, X-38, Radio Controlled Mothership, and X-36.

Prior to 1919

Army Signal Corps, August 2, 1909 to April 6, 1917

American-Built Airplanes of World War I, April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918

  • Boeing Model 4 / Boeing EA - Boeing
  • Burgess Twin Hydro - Burgess
  • Curtiss 18-B - Curtiss
  • Curtiss 18-T - Curtiss
  • Curtiss JN-4 - Curtiss
  • Curtiss JN-4H - Curtiss
  • Curtiss JN-6H - Curtiss
  • Curtiss R-4L - Curtiss
  • Curtiss SE-5A - Curtiss
  • Curtiss Bristol Fighter - Curtiss
  • Dayton-Wright DH-4 - Dayton-Wright
  • Engineering Division USB-1 - Engineering Division
  • Engineering Division USB-2 - Engineering Division
  • Engineering Division USD-9 - Engineering Division
  • Verville-Clark-Pursuit VCP-1 - Engineering Division
  • Engineering Division XB-1A - Engineering Division
  • Heinrich Pursuit - Victor
  • J.V. Martin Bomber - Engineering Division
  • Lewis & Vought VE-7/8/9 - Lewis & Vought Corporation
  • L.W.F. Reconnaissance - L.W.F. Engineering Company
  • Martin GMB - Martin
  • Motor Products SX-6 - Engineering Division
  • Orenco A - Ordnance Engineering
  • Orenco C - Ordnance Engineering
  • Orenco D - Ordnance Engineering
  • Packard LUSAC-11 (Le Pere United States Army Combat) - Packard-Le Pere
  • Packard LUSAC-21 - Packard-Le Pere
  • Packard LUSAGH-11 (Le Pere United States Army Ground Harassment) - Packard-Le Pere
  • Packard LUSAGH-21 - Packard-Le Pere
  • Packard LUSAO-11 (Le Pere United States Army Observation) - Packard-Le Pere
  • Pigeon-Fraser Persuit - Pigeon-Fraiser
  • Pomilio Brothers BVL-12 - Pomilio Brothers
  • Pomilio Brothers FVL-8 - Pomilio Brothers
  • Standard Caproni - Standard Aircraft Corporation
  • Fisher Body Caproni - Fisher Body
  • Standard E-1 - Standard Aircraft Corporation
  • Standard H.P.O/400 - Standard Aircraft Corporation
  • Standard JR-1 - Standard Aircraft Corporation
  • Standard M-Defense - Standard Aircraft Corporation
  • Standard SJ-1 - Standard Aircraft Corporation
  • Dayton-Wright SJ-1 - Dayton-Wright Company
  • Fisher Body SJ-1 - Fisher Body
  • Wright-Martin SJ-1 - Wright-Martin
  • Standard Twin Hydro - Standard Aircraft Corporation
  • Thomas-Morse MB-1 - Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
  • Thomas-Morse MB-2 - Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
  • Thomas-Morse MB-3 - Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
  • Thomas-Morse S-4B - Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
  • Thomas-Morse S-4C - Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
  • Wright-Martin M-8 - Wright-Martin
  • Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane - Hewitt/Sperry
  • Kettering Bug - Kettering

A.E.F. Airplanes from French Government

A.E.F. Airplanes from British Government

A.E.F. Airplanes from Italian Government

Post-War, November 11, 1918 to September 1919

  • Boeing MB-3A - Boeing
  • Curtiss Orenco D - Curtiss
  • Dayton-Wright XB-1A - Dayton-Wright Company
  • Eberhardt SE-5E - Eberhardt Aeroplane and Motor Company Inc.
  • Verville-Clark-Pursuit VCP-1A - Engineering Division
  • Verville-Clark-Pursuit VCP-2 - Engineering Division
  • Verville-Clark-Pursuit VCP-R - Engineering Division
  • Lewis & Vought VE-9 - Lewis & Vought Corporation
  • Martin T-1 - Martin
  • Martin MB-2 (NBS-1) - Martin
  • Orenco D-2 became PW-3 - Ordnance Engineering
  • Thomas-Morse MB-6 - Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
  • Thomas-Morse MB-7 - Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
  • Thomas-Morse S-6 - Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
  • Curtiss NC - Curtiss

Army Air Service, 1919-1924

Prior to 1919, all planes flown by the Army Air Service were referred to by the designation given to them by their manufacturer. In September 1919, the Army Air Service decided that it needed some 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 I: Pursuit, water-cooled

Type II: Pursuit, night

Type III: Pursuit, air-cooled

Type IV: Pursuit, ground attack, 1922

Type V: Two-seat pursuit

  • TP-1 - Engineering Division

Type VI: Ground attack, 1920-1922

Type VII: Infantry liaison

  • IL-1 - Orenco

Type VIII: Night observation

Type IX: Artillery observation

Type X: Corps observation

  • CO-1 - Engineering Division
  • CO-2 - Engineering Division
  • CO-3 - Engineering Division
  • CO-4 - Atlantic
  • XCO-5 - Atlantic
  • XCO-6 - Engineering Division
  • XCO-7 - Boeing
  • XCO-8 - Atlantic

Type XI: Day bombardment

  • DB-1 - Gallaudet

Type XII: Night bombardment, short range

  • NBS-1 - Martin (formerly designated MB-2)
  • XNBS-2 - Lowe-Willard-Fowler
  • XNBS-3 - Elias
  • XNBS-4 - Curtiss

Type XIII: Night bombardment, long range

Type XIV: Trainer, air-cooled

Type XV: Trainer, water-cooled

Ambulance, 1919-1924

  • XA-1 - Cox-Klemin
  • A-2 - Fokker

Messenger

  • M-1 - Engineering Division/Sperry

Pursuit, special

Racer

  • R-1 - Verville
  • R-2 - Thomas Morse
  • R-3 - Verville-Sperry
  • R-4 - Loening
  • R-5 - Thomas Morse
  • R-6 - Curtiss
  • R-7 - Engineering Division
  • R-8 - Curtiss

Seaplane

Transport

Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces/Air Force 1924-1962

Attack, 1924-1948

Bomber

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

Medium Bomber, 1924-1926

Heavy Bomber, 1924-1926

Unified bomber sequence, 1926-1962

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.

Missiles

Beginning with #68, the M- (missile) and B- (bomber) series diverged. The following missiles, some of which are incorrectly labeled as "formerly designated B-xx" in some sources, never used a B-series designation.

Cargo, 1924-1962

After 2005, several planes were added to this sequence.

Drone

Aerial Target

1940-1941
1942-1948
  • PQ-8 Cadet - Culver
  • PQ-9 - Culver
  • PQ-10 - Culver
  • PQ-11 - Fletcher
  • PQ-12 - Fleetwings
  • PQ-13 - ERCO
  • PQ-14 - Culver
  • PQ-15 - Culver

Aerial Target (Model Airplane), 1942-1948

  • OQ-2 - Radioplane
  • OQ-3 - Radioplane/Frankfort
  • OQ-4 - Brunswick-Balke-Collender
  • OQ-5
  • OQ-6 - Radioplane
  • OQ-7 - Radioplane
  • OQ-11 - Simmonds Aerocessories
  • OQ-12 - Radioplane
  • OQ-13 - Radioplane
  • OQ-14 - Radioplane/Frankfort
  • OQ-16
  • OQ-17 - Radioplane
  • OQ-18
  • OQ-19 - Radioplane

Controllable bomb, 1942-1945

Target Control, 1942-1948

Unified sequence, 1948-1962

  • Q-1 - Radioplane
  • Q-2 Firebee - Ryan
  • Q-3 - Radioplane
  • Q-4 - Radioplane/Bendix
  • Q-5 Kingfisher - Lockheed
  • Q-6
  • Q-7 - skipped: request for redesignated QB-17 not approved
  • Q-8 - skipped: request for redesignated QF-80 not approved
  • Q-8 Cadet Culver
  • Q-9
  • Q-10 - Radioplane
  • Q-11 - skipped
  • Q-12 Challenger - Beech
  • Q-14 Cadet - Culver

Electronic (modified aircraft)

Glider

Assault Glider, 1942-1944

  • AG-1 - Christopher
  • AG-2 - Timm

Bomb Glider, 1942-1944

  • BG-1 - Fletcher
  • BG-2 - Fletcher
  • BG-3 - Cornelius

Cargo Glider, 1941-1948

  • CG-1 - Frankfort
  • CG-2 - Frankfort
  • CG-3 - Waco
  • CG-4 Hadrian - Waco
  • CG-5 - St. Louis
  • CG-6 - St. Louis
  • CG-7 - Bowlus/Douglas
  • CG-8 - Bowlus/Douglas
  • CG-9 - AGA Aviation
  • CG-10 Trojan Horse - Laister-Kauffman
  • CG-11 - Snead
  • CG-12 - Read-York
  • CG-13 - Waco
  • CG-14 - Chase
  • CG-15 Hadrian - Waco
  • CG-16 - General Airborne Transport
  • 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 - Northwestern
  • PG-2 - Ridgefield
  • PG-3 - Waco

Training Glider, 1941-1948

  • TG-1 - Frankfort
  • TG-2 - Schweizer
  • TG-3 - Schweizer
  • TG-4 - Laister-Kauffman
  • TG-5 Grasshopper - Aeronca
  • TG-6 Grasshopper - Taylorcraft
  • TG-7 Orlik - SZD
  • TG-8 Grasshopper - Piper
  • TG-9 - Briegleb
  • TG-10 - Wichita Engineering
  • TG-11 - Schempger
  • TG-12 - Bowlus
  • TG-13 - Briegleb
  • TG-14 - Stiglemeier
  • TG-15 - Franklin
  • TG-16 - A.B.C.
  • TG-17 - Franklin
  • TG-18 - Midwest
  • TG-19 - Schweyer
  • TG-20 - Laister-Kauffman
  • TG-21 - Notre Dame
  • TG-22 - Melrose
  • TG-23 - Harper-Corcoran
  • TG-24 - Bowlus-Dupont
  • TG-25 - Plover
  • TG-26 - Universal
  • TG-27 - Grunau
  • TG-28 - Haller
  • TG-29 - Volmer Jensen
  • TG-30 Bluebird - Smith
  • TG-31 - Aero Industries
  • 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

  • S-1 - Schweizer
  • S-2 - Schweizer

Gyroplane, 1935-1939

  • G-1 - Kellett
  • G-2 - Pitcairn

Pursuit, 1924-1948/Fighter, 1948-1962

Designated P- for "pursuit" until 1948, when the United States Air Force was founded. After this, all P- designations were changed to F- ("fighter"), but the original numbers were retained. Unofficial designations YF-112 and up were later assigned to "black" projects - see Fighter series in Unified System.

Fighter, Multiplace

Pursuit, Biplace

Observation

Observation, 1924-1942

Observation amphibian, 1925-1948

Liaison, 1942-1962

Reconnaissance

Photographic reconnaissance, 1930-1948 / Reconnaissance, 1948-1962

Reconnaissance-strike, 1960-1962

Both of the following aircraft are part of the B- (bomber) series.

Rotary Wing, 1941-1948/Helicopter 1948-present

Designated R- for "rotary wing" until 1948, when the United States Air Force was founded. After this, all R- designations were changed to H- ("helicopter"), but the original numbers were retained. After 1962, the series was continued within the Unified Designation System.

Supersonic/special test, 1946-1948

The series was continued as the X (Experimental) series after 1948 - see X-series in Unified System.

Trainer

Advanced Trainer, 1925-1948

Basic Combat, 1936-1940

Superseded by Advanced Trainer (AT-).

Basic Trainer, 1930-1948

Primary Trainer, 1925-1948

Unified sequence, 1948-present

The AT-6 Texan, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan, were retroactively given T- designations. The new sequence began at 28, one number higher than the PT- sequence had reached.

Convertiplane, 1952-1962

Army, 1956-1962

Airplane, Cargo, 1956-1962

Airplane, Observation, 1956-1962

Airplane, Research, 1956-1962

  • AZ-1 Marvelette - Mississippi State University

Flying Platform, 1955-1956

  • HO-1 Pawnee - Hiller (redesignated VZ-1 in 1956)
  • HO-2 - De Lackner (redesignated HZ-1 in 1956)

Helicopter, Cargo, 1956-1962

Helicopter, Observation, 1956-1962

Helicopter, Utility, 1956-1962

Helicopter, Experimental, 1956-1962

  • HZ-1 - De Lackner

Vertical Takeoff and Landing Research, 1956-1962

Unified System, 1962-present

Airship

  • Z-1 - Goodyear
  • Z-2 Sentinel - Westinghouse Airships
  • Z-3 - American Blimp

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter

Attack

Enlarge picture
USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II

Attack Helicopter

Fixed-Wing Gunships

Use for attack missions is indicated by the modified mission identifier A-.

Bomber

Enlarge picture
USAF B-2 Spirit

Cargo

Cargo Helicopter

Enlarge picture
Army Chinook sling-loads a Howitzer Gun

Drone

Electronic Warfare

Enlarge picture
USAF E-3 Sentry

Electronic Warfare (Modified Aircraft)

Experimental, 1948-present

Main article: X-plane (aircraft)

Fighter

Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.[3]

Glider

  • TG-1 - Schweizer
  • TG-2 - Schweizer
  • TG-3 - Schweizer
  • TG-4 - Schweizer
  • TG-5 - Schweizer
  • TG-6 - Schweizer
  • TG-7 - Schweizer
  • RG-8 Condor - Schweizer
  • TG-9 - Schleicher
  • TG-10 - Let
  • TG-11 - Stemme
  • TG-12 - Caproni Vizzola
  • G-13 - skipped
  • TG-14 - Grupo Aeromat
  • TG-15 - Schempp-Hirth

Helicopter

Laser

Observation

Observation Helicopter

Patrol

Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance (Converted Aircraft)

Tanker

Trainer

Utility, 1955-present

Utility Helicopter

Vertical and Short Take-off and Landing Aircraft

See also

References and external links

1. ^ Parsch, Andreas. Convair MX-2223 (SM-74). Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved on 2007-7-24.
2. ^ HazeGray.org. rec.aviation.military FAQ, Part 4. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
3. ^ Edwards AFB website. Col. Joseph A. Lanni, USAF biography. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
4. ^ Parsch, Andreas (2006-11-27). Cover Designations for Classified USAF Aircraft. Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved on 2006-12-29.
5. ^ Fulghum, David A., "MiGs in Nevada", Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 27, 2006


 •  • [ e]
Lists relating to aviation
Timeline of aviation
Aircraft Aircraft manufacturers Aircraft engines Aircraft engine manufacturers Airports Airlines
Air forces Aircraft weapons Missiles Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Experimental aircraft
Notable incidents & accidents in: Military aviation Airliners General aviation Famous aviation-related deaths
Flight airspeed record Flight distance record Flight altitude record Flight endurance record Most produced aircraft
<includeonly>* List of active United States military aircraft </includeonly>

<noinclude>This is a list of currently-active military aircraft in use by the United States military.
..... Click the link for more information.
X-planes are a series of experimental United States aircraft (and some rockets) used for testing of new technologies and usually kept highly secret during development.
..... Click the link for more information.
1962 1963 1964 1965

19th Century · 20th century · 21st century
1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
1959 1960 1961 1962
..... Click the link for more information.
United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations are determined by a detailed protocol to identify all aircraft, helicopters, rockets, missiles, spacecraft, and other aerial vehicles in military use by the United States Armed Forces.
..... Click the link for more information.
This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production and operational types. For aircraft currently in service, see the List of active United States military aircraft.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Wright Company or Wright & Co. was the initial aviation business of the Wright Brothers, who had previously run a bicycle shop.

They established the company in 1909 to sell aircraft to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Wright Company or Wright & Co. was the initial aviation business of the Wright Brothers, who had previously run a bicycle shop.

They established the company in 1909 to sell aircraft to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
..... Click the link for more information.
Type
Manufacturer Curtiss Aircraft Company
Introduced 1911
Primary users Exhibition Pilots
United States Army Signal Corps

The Curtiss Model D
..... Click the link for more information.
The Wright Company or Wright & Co. was the initial aviation business of the Wright Brothers, who had previously run a bicycle shop.

They established the company in 1909 to sell aircraft to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
..... Click the link for more information.
Type Sports plane
Manufacturer Wright Company
Maiden flight 1910
Number built ca. 100

The Wright Model B was an early biplane designed by the Wright brothers in the United States in 1910.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Burgess Company was a U.S. airplane manufacturer between 1910 and 1918.

In 1910 incorporated as the "Burgess Company and Curtis, Inc." (after Greely S. Curtis), an offshoot of the W.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Wright Company or Wright & Co. was the initial aviation business of the Wright Brothers, who had previously run a bicycle shop.

They established the company in 1909 to sell aircraft to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
..... Click the link for more information.
Type Trainer
Manufacturer Burgess
Maiden flight 1912
Number built 6 The Burgess Model H was an early airplane and one of the first air machines specifically designed and built for military use.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Burgess Company was a U.S. airplane manufacturer between 1910 and 1918.

In 1910 incorporated as the "Burgess Company and Curtis, Inc." (after Greely S. Curtis), an offshoot of the W.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Burgess Company was a U.S. airplane manufacturer between 1910 and 1918.

In 1910 incorporated as the "Burgess Company and Curtis, Inc." (after Greely S. Curtis), an offshoot of the W.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Burgess Company was a U.S. airplane manufacturer between 1910 and 1918.

In 1910 incorporated as the "Burgess Company and Curtis, Inc." (after Greely S. Curtis), an offshoot of the W.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Wright Company or Wright & Co. was the initial aviation business of the Wright Brothers, who had previously run a bicycle shop.

They established the company in 1909 to sell aircraft to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
..... Click the link for more information.
Type Trainer
Manufacturer Curtiss
Designed by Glen Curtiss
Introduced 1915
Status Antique
Primary users U.S. Army Air Service
Royal Flying Corps
Number built 6,813
Variants Curtiss N-9 The
..... Click the link for more information.
The Glenn L. Martin Company was an early U.S. aircraft company founded by aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin. The company went through a number of mergers over time and now exists as Lockheed Martin.[1]

History



Glenn L.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Burgess Company was a U.S. airplane manufacturer between 1910 and 1918.

In 1910 incorporated as the "Burgess Company and Curtis, Inc." (after Greely S. Curtis), an offshoot of the W.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Wright Company or Wright & Co. was the initial aviation business of the Wright Brothers, who had previously run a bicycle shop.

They established the company in 1909 to sell aircraft to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
..... Click the link for more information.