List of military aircraft of the United States Details, Meaning List of military aircraft of the United States Article and Explanation Guide

List of military aircraft of the United States Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

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 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 US 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.

Attack

Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force

A-2 - Douglas
A-3/A-3/A-5/A-6 Falcon - Curtiss
XA-7 - Fokker, losing competitor to A-8
A-8 Shrike - Curtiss
A-9 - Lockheed
YA-10 - Curtiss
A-11 - Consolidated
A-12 Shrike - Curtiss
YA-13 - Northrop
A-14 Shrike
A-15 - Martin
XA-16 - Northrop
A-17 - Northrop
A-18 Shrike
A-19 - Vultee
A-20 Havoc - Douglas
A-21 - Stearman
A-22 Maryland
A-23 Baltimore
A-24 Dauntless
A-25 Shrike
A-26 Invader - Douglas
A-27 - North American
A-28/A-29 Hudson - Lockheed
A-30 Baltimore
A-32 - Brewster
A-33 - Northrop
A-34 - Brewster
A-31/A-35 Vengeance - Vultee
A-36 Apache
A-37
A-38 Grizzly
A-39 - Kaiser-Fleetwings
A-40 - Curtiss
A-41 - Vultee
A-42 Mixmaster
A-43 Blackhawk
A-44 - Consolidated
A-45 - Martin

Navy

AD Skyraider - later A-1
A2D Skyshark
A3D Skywarrior - later A-3
A4D Skyhawk - later A-4
AF Guardian - Grumman
A2F Intruder - later A-6
AH Phantom II - later F-4
AJ Savage - North American
A2J - North American
A3J Vigilante later A-5
AM Mauler - Martin
AU Corsair
A2U Cutlass

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
A-12 - Canceled Navy stealth plane
A-37 Dragonfly - Cessna

Attack helicopters

AH-1 Cobra - Bell
AH-6J Little Bird - Boeing (McDonnell-Douglas) (Hughes)
AH-56 Cheyenne
AH-63 King Cobra
AH-64 Apache - Boeing (McDonnell-Douglas) (Hughes)
RAH-66 Comanche - Boeing-Sikorsky

Fixed wing gunships

AC-47 Spooky
AC-54 Skymaster
AC-119 Shadow/Stinger
AC-123 Provider
AC-130 Spectre/Spooky - Lockheed

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-60 Sea Hawk - Sikorsky
Multimission Maritime Aircraft - Boeing

Bomber

Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force

XB-1 - Huff-Daland (Keystone)
B-2 Condor - Curtiss
B-3 - Keystone
B-4 - Keystone
B-5 - Keystone
B-6 - Keystone
Y1B-7 - Douglas
XB-8 - Fokker
Y1B-9 - Boeing
B-10 - Martin, first mass-produced monoplane bomber
YB-11 - Douglas
B-12 - Martin, B-10 variant, Wright engines
XB-13 proposed B-10 variant, cancelled
XB-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, replacement for B-10
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, replacement for B-18
B-24 Liberator - Consolidated
B-25 Mitchell - North American
B-26 Marauder - Martin
- B-26 Invader - redesignated A-26 Invader
XB-27 - high-altitude B-26 proposed by Martin, cancelled
XB-28 Dragon - North American
B-29 Superfortress - Boeing, replacement for B-17 and B-24
XB-30 - Lockheed proposal
XB-31 - Douglas proposal
B-32 Dominator - Consolidated
B-33 Super Marauder - Martin, proposed four engine modified version of B-26
B-34 Lexington - Lockheed
B-35 - Northrop
B-36 - Convair
B-37 - Lockheed
B-38 Flying Fortress
B-39 Superfortress
B-40 Flying Fortress
B-41 Liberator
XB-42 Mixmaster
B-43 Jetmaster
B-44 Superfortress
B-45 Tornado - North American
B-46 - Consolidated
B-47 Stratojet - Boeing
B-48 - Martin
B-49 - Northrop
B-50 Superfortress - Boeing
XB-51 Production aircraft were to be "B-51 Panther"
B-52 Stratofortress - Boeing, first intercontinental nuclear bomber
B-53 - Convair
B-55 Stratojet
B-56 Stratojet
B-57 - (Canberra) Martin/English Electric
B-58 Hustler - Convair, first mass-produced supersonic bomber
B-59 - Boeing
YB-60 - Convair
- B-61 - missile designation
- B-62 - missile designation
- B-63 - missile designation
- B-64 - ''missile designation'\'
- B-65 - missile designation
B-66 - Douglas
- B-67 - missile designation
XB-68 - Martin
B-69 - Lockheed Neptune in Air Force service
XB-70 Valkyrie - North American
- SR-71 - reconnissance aircraft allocated a number in this sequence

Navy

BD Havoc
BG - Great Lakes
B2G - Great Lakes
BM - Martin
BN - Naval Aviation Factory
BT - Northrop
B2T - Northrop
BTD Destroyer - Douglas
BY Fleetster
B2Y - Consolidated
BFB - Boeing
BFC Goshawk
BF2C Goshawk
BTC - Curtiss
BT2C - Curtiss
BTD Destroyer
BT2D Destroyer II
BTK - Kaiser-Fleetwings
BTM Mauler
MB - Martin
Curtiss SBC - Curtiss
SB2C Helldiver - Curtiss
SBD Dauntless - Douglas
SB2U Vindicator - Vought
TBD Devastator - Douglas
TB2D Skypirate - Douglas
TBF Avenger - Grumman
TBY 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/Army Air Force/Air Force

C-1 Millirole
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
C-11 Fleetster
C-12 Vega
C-14/C-15/C-16 - Fokker
C-17 Super Vega
C-18 Monomail
C-19 Alpha
C-20 - Fokker
C-21 Dolphin
C-22 Fleetster
C-23 Altair
C-24 Yic
C-25 Altair
C-26 Dolphin
C-27 Airbus
C-28 - Sikorsky
C-29 Dolphin
C-30 Condor
Krei.-Rei. C-31
C-32 - Douglas
C-33 - Douglas
C-34 - Douglas
XC-35 Electra - Lockheed
C-36 Electra - Lockheed
C-37 Electra - Lockheed
C-38 - Douglas
C-39 - Douglas
C-40 Electra
C-41 - Douglas
C-42 - Douglas
C-43 Traveller
C-44 - Messerschmitt
C-45 Expeditor
C-46 Commando - Curtiss
C-47 Skytrooper - Douglas DC-3
C-48 Skytrooper - Douglas DC-3
C-49 Skytrooper - Douglas DC-3
C-50 Skytrooper - Douglas DC-3
C-51 Skytrooper - Douglas DC-3
C-52 Skytrooper - Douglas DC-3
C-53 Skytrooper - Douglas DC-3
C-54 Skymaster - Douglas DC-4
C-55 Commando
C-56 Lodestar
C-57 Lodestar
C-58 Bolo
C-59 Lodestar
C-60 Lodestar
C-61 Forwarder
C-62 - Waco
C-63 Hudson
C-64 Norseman
C-65 Skycar
C-66 Lodestar
C-67 Dragoon
C-68 - Douglas DC-3
C-69 Constellation
C-70 Nightingale
C-71 Executive
C-72 - Waco
C-73 - Boeing
C-74 Globemaster - Douglas
C-75 Stratoliner
C-76 Caravan
C-77 - Cessna
C-78 Bobcat
C-79 - Junkers
C-80 - Harlow
C-81 Reliant
C-82 Packet - Fairchild
C-83 Coupe
C-84 - Douglas
C-85 Orion
C-61 Forwarder
C-87 Liberator Express
C-88 - Fairchild
C-89 - Hamilton
C-90 - Luscombe
C-91 - Stinson
C-92 - Akron-Funk
C-93 Conestoga
C-94 - Cessna
C-95 Grasshopper
C-96 - Fairchild
C-97 Stratofreighter - Boeing
C-98 Clipper
XC-99 - Convair
C-100 Gamma
C-101 Vega
C-102 Speedster
C-103 - Grumman
C-104 - Lockheed
C-105 - Boeing
C-106 - Cessna
C-107 Skycar
C-108 Flying Fortress
C-109 Liberator
C-110 - Douglas
C-111 Super Electra
C-112 Liftmaster
C-113 Commando
C-114 Skymaster
C-115 Skymaster
C-116 Skymaster
C-117 Super Dakota - Douglas
C-118 Liftmaster - Douglas DC-6
C-119 Flying Boxcar - Fairchild
C-120 Packplane - Fairchild
C-121 Constellation
C-122 - Fairchild
C-123 Provider - Fairchild
C-124 Globemaster II
C-125 Raider
C-126 - Cessna
C-127 - Boeing
C-128 - Fairchild
C-129 Super Dakota
C-130 Hercules - Lockheed
C-131 Samaritan - Convair
C-132 - Douglas
C-133 Cargomaster - Douglas
C-134 Pantobase
C-135 Stratolifter - Boeing 707
C-137 Stratoliner - Boeing 707 including "Air Force One"
Fairchild C-138 - projected military Fairchild F-27 (license-built Fokker F-27 Friendship), did not proceed.
Lockheed C-139 - was to have been a transport version of the P-2 Neptune, did not proceed
C-140 Jetstar - Lockheed
C-141 Starlifter - Lockheed
XC-142 - Chance Vought
Curtiss C-143 - projected designation - became Curtiss X-19

Navy

R3Y Tradewind - Convair

Unified system, after 1962

C-1 Trader
C-2 Greyhound - Grumman
C-3 - Martin
C-4 Academe - Gulfstream
C-5 Galaxy - Lockheed
C-6 Ute
C-7 Caribou - de Havilland Canada
C-8 Buffalo
C-9 Skytrain II - Douglas DC-9
C-10 Extender
C-11 Gulfstream II - Gulfstream
C-12 Huron - Beech 200
C-13 - skipped
C-14 - Boeing
C-15 - McDonnell Douglas
C-16 - assigned to Cessna Caravan but never used
C-17 Globemaster III - Boeing
EC-18 - original designation for E-7
C-19 - Boeing
C-20 Gulfstream III - Gulfstream
C-21 Learjet - Learjet
C-22 - Boeing 727
C-23 Sherpa - Shorts 330
C-24 - Boeing
VC-25 - Boeing "Air Force One"
C-26 Metroliner - Fairchild
C-27 Spartan - Alenia
C-28 - Cessna
C-29 - BAE SYSTEMS
C-30 - apparently skipped
C-31 Troopship - Fokker F.27M
C-32 - Boeing 757
C-33 - cancelled Boeing 747 variant
C-34 - apparently skipped
C-35 - Cessna
C-36 - apparently skipped
C-37 Gulfstream V
C-38 Courier - Israeli Aircraft Industries
C-39 - apparently skipped
C-40 Clipper - Boeing

Cargo Helicopter

CH-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 Tarhe - Sikorsky
CH-62 - Boeing

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 MC2A - Boeing

EA-1 Skyraider - Douglas
EA-3 Skywarrior - Douglas
EA-4 Skyhawk
EA-6 Prowler - Grumman
EA-18 Growler - Boeing/Northrop Grumman
EB-47 Stratojet
ERB-47 Stratojet
EB-57 Canberra
EB-66 Destroyer
EC-18 Aria - Boeing
EC-20 Gulfstream III
EC-24 - McDonnell Douglas
EC-47 Skytrain
EC-54 Skymaster
EC-121 Warning Star - Lockheed
EC-130 Compass Call - Lockheed
EC-135 Looking Glass - Boeing
EF-4 Phantom II
EF-10 Skynight
ERF-80 Shooting Star
EF-82 Twin Mustang
EF-105 Thunderchief
EF-111 Raven - General Dynamics
ES-2 Tracker
ES-3 Shadow - Lockheed
EP-3 Aries II - Lockheed
EH-1 Quick Fix
EH-6 Cayuse
EH-60 Quick Hawk
Aerial Common Sensor

Fighter

Navy, from 1922

(alpha by Navy-assigned mfgr letter)

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
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, later F-6
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
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 Fury - North American
FL - Loening
FL Airabonita - Bell, USN version of P-39
F2L Kingcobra - Bell, USN version of P-63
FM - General Motors 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
FR Fireball - Ryan
XF2R 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, pre-1948

(designated "P" for "Pursuit")

P-26 Peashooter
Consolidated YP-27
Consolidated YP-28
Boeing YP-29
Consolidated P-30
Curtiss XP-31
Boeing XP-32
Consolidated XP-33
Wedell-Williams XP-34
Seversky P-35
P-36 Hawk
Curtiss XP-37
P-38 Lightning
P-39 Airacobra
Curtiss P-40
Seversky XP-41
Curtiss XP-42
P-43 Lancer
P-44 Rocket
Bell XP-45
Curtiss XP-46
P-47 Thunderbolt
Douglas XP-48
Lockheed XP-49
Grumman XP-50
P-51 Mustang
Bell XP-52
Curtiss XP-53
XP-54 Swoose Goose
XP-55 Ascender
XP-56 Black Bullet
Tucker XP-57
XP-58 Chain Lightning
P-59 Airacomet
Curtiss P-60
P-61 Black Widow
Curtiss XP-62
P-63 Kingcobra
North American P-64
Grumman XP-65
P-66 Vanguard
XP-67 Bat
XP-68 Tornado
Republic XP-69
Douglas P-70
Curtiss XP-71
Republic XP-72
Hughes P-73
P-75 Eagle
Bell XP-76
Bell XP-77
North American XP-78
XP-79 Flying Ram

Air Force, from 1948

P-80/F-80 Shooting Star- Lockheed
Convair XP-81
F-82 Twin Mustang
Bell XP-83
P-84/F-84 Thunderjet - Republic Aircraft Company
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
Republic XF-103 - Republic
F-104 Starfighter - Lockheed
F-105 Thunderchief - Republic
F-106 Delta Dart - Convair
F-107 - North American
XF-108 Rapier - last fighter project by North American
Bell XF-109 - Bell; supersonic VTOL fighter; never flew
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-12 - 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
YF-23 Black Widow II - Northrop/McDonnell Douglas
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
O-1 Bird Dog - Cessna
O-2 Skymaster

Orbiter Vehicle

OV-x space shuttle

Patrol

Multimission Maritime Aircraft - Boeing (no designation at this time)
P2V Neptune - Lockheed
P2Y - Consolidated
P5Y - Consolidated
P-3 Orion - Lockheed
P4M Mercator - Martin
P5M Marlin - Martin
P6M SeaMaster - Martin (actually more a strategic bomber)
PBM Mariner - Martin
PBY Catalina - Consolidated
PB2Y Coronado - Consolidated
PV-1 Ventura - Lockheed
PV-2 Harpoon - Lockheed, Ventura variant

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".

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

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
Convair 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-2 Savage

RA-3 Skywarrior

RA-5 Vigilante - North American

RB-17 Flying Fortress

RC-12 Guard Rail - Beech Aircraft

RC-135 Rivet Joint - Boeing
RF-4 Phantom II - McDonnell-Douglas
RF-5 Tigereye
RF-8 Crusader - Chance Vought
RF-9 Cougar
RF-51 Mustang
RF-61 Reporter
RF-80 Shooting Star
RF-84 Thunderflash
RF-86 Sabre
RF-87 Blackhawk
RF-100 Super Sabre
RF-101 Voodoo
RF-104 Starfighter
RF-105 Thunderchief
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
PT-24 Moth - De Havilland
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-37 - Cessna "Tweetybird"
T-38 Talon - Northrop
T-39 Sabreliner - North American
T-43 - Boeing 737-based navigation trainer
T-45 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

Main article: X-plane

X-1 - Bell, first supersonic aircraft
X-2 - Bell
X-3 Stiletto - Douglas
X-4 Bantam - Northrop
X-5 - Bell swing-wing
X-6 - Convair
X-7 - Lockheed missile propulsion testbed
X-8 - Aerojet General missile
X-9 Shrike - Bell missile
X-10 - North American missile
X-11 - Convair ICBM prototype
X-12 - Convair ICBM
X-13 - Ryan VATOL
X-14 - Bell VTOL
X-15 - North American rocket plane
X-16 - Bell, cancelled U-2 competitor
X-17 - Lockheed experimental rocket
X-18 - Hiller tilt-wing
X-19 - Curtiss-Wright
X-20 Dyna-Soar - Boeing
X-21 - Northrop
X-22 - Bell
X-23 - Martin Marietta
X-24 - Martin Marietta lifting body
X-25 - Bensen
X-26 Frigate - Schweizer
X-27 - Lockheed
X-28 Sea Skimmer - Pereira
X-29 - Grumman forward-swept wing jet
X-30 - Hypersonic jet or "Orient Express"
X-31 - Rockwell/MBB Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Demonstrator
X-32 - Boeing Joint Strike Fighter candidate
X-33 - Lockheed Martin
X-34 - Orbital Sciences
X-35 - Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter winner
X-36 - McDonnell Douglas
X-37 Future-X - Boeing
X-38 - Scaled Composites crew return vehicle
X-39 - unused designation reserved for Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements program
X-40 - Boeing
X-41 - classified re-entry vehicle
X-42 - classified upper stage rocket
X-43 - Boeing with others, scramjet-powered
X-44 MANTA - Lockheed Martin
X-45 - Boeing UCAV (unpiloted)
X-46 - Boeing
X-47 Pegasus - Northrop Grumman
X-48 - Boeing
X-49 - Sikorsky Piasecki
X-50 - Boeing

List of military aircraft of the United States Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

Attack

Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force

Navy

Unified system, after 1962

Attack helicopters

Fixed wing gunships

Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW)

Bomber

Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force

Navy

Unified system, after 1962

Cargo/Transport

Old system, Army Air Corps/Army Air Force/Air Force

Navy

Unified system, after 1962

Cargo Helicopter

Electronic

Fighter

Navy, from 1922

Air Force, pre-1948

Air Force, from 1948

Unified system, from 1962

Tanker

Observation

Orbiter Vehicle

Patrol

Pursuit

Drone

Reconnaissance

Trainer

Utility

Vertical Take off and Landing

Experimental

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