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).
Prior to 1919
Army Signal Corps, August 2, 1909 to April 6, 1917
- Wright Brothers Model A - Wright Company
- Wright Brothers Model B - Wright Company
- Curtiss Model D - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Wright Brothers Model D - Wright Company
- Burgess F - Burgess Company
- Curtiss Model E - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Wright Brothers Model C - Wright Company
- Burgess H - Burgess Company
- Curtiss F-Boat - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Burgess I-Scout - Burgess Company
- Burgess J-Scout - Burgess Company
- Wright Brothers D-Scout - Wright Company
- Curtiss G-Scout - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Curtiss Model J - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Glenn Martin Twin Tractor - Glenn L. Martin Company
- Curtiss Model N - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Burgess-Dunne Model H - Burgess Company
- Wright Brothers F-Pusher - Wright Company
- Curtiss Modified J - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Martin S-Hydro - Glenn L. Martin Company
- Curtiss N-8 - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Curtiss R-2 - Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Standard H-2 - Sloane Aircraft Company Inc.
- Curtiss JN-4 - Curtiss
- Standard H-3 - Standard Aero Corporation
- Curtiss Twin JN - Curtiss
- Martin R-Land - Glenn L. Martin Company
- Sturtevant S - Sturtevant Aeroplane Company
- L.W.F. V-1 - L.W.F. Engineering Company
- Thomas D-5 - Thomas Brothers Aeroplane Company
- Sturtevant S-4 - Sturtevant Aeroplane Company
- Standard SJ - Standard Aero Corporation
- Curtiss R-4 - Curtiss
- Aeromarine M-1 - Aeromarine Plane & Motor Company
- Burgess U - Burgess
- Curtiss S-3 - Curtiss
- Curtiss N-9 - Curtiss
- Gallaudet Twin Hydro - Gaulladet Aircraft Company
- Curtiss L-2 - Curtiss
- Curtiss R-3 - Curtiss
- Wright-Martin R - Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation
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
- Martin GMC - Martin
- Martin GMP - Martin
- Martin GMT - Martin
- Motor Products SX-6 - Engineering Division
- Orenco A - Ordnance Engineering
- Orenco C - Ordnance Engineering
- Orenco D - Ordnance Engineering
- LUSAC-11 - Packard-Le Peré
- LUSAC-21 - Packard-Le Peré
- LUSAGH-11 - Packard-Le Peré
- LUSAGH-21 - Packard-Le Peré
- LUSAO-11 - Packard-Le Peré
- Pigeon-Fraser Pursuit - Pigeon-Fraser
- 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-2 - Standard Aircraft Corporation
- Standard H-3 - 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 - Dayton-Wright
American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.) aircraft from the French Government
- Dorand A.R.1 - French Army Aircraft Establishment
- Dorand A.R.2 - French Army Aircraft Establishment
- Breguet 14 - Breguet Aviation
- Caudron G.3 - Caudron
- Caudron G.4 - Caudron
- Caudron R.11 - Caudron
- Farman 40 - Farman
- Farman 50 - Farman
- Morane MS-12 - Morane-Saulnier
- Morane 30 - Morane-Saulnier
- Morane 21 - Morane-Saulnier
- Nieuport 17 - Nieuport
- Nieuport 21 - Nieuport
- Nieuport 23 - Nieuport
- Nieuport 24 - Nieuport
- Nieuport 24bis - Nieuport
- Nieuport 27 - Nieuport
- Nieuport 28 - Nieuport
- Nieuport 80 - Nieuport
- Nieuport 81 - Nieuport
- Nieuport 83 - Nieuport
- Salmson 2A2 - Salmson
- Sopwith 1A2 - Sopwith Aviation Company
- SPAD S.VII - Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
- SPAD S.XI - Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
- SPAD S.XII - Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
- SPAD S.XIII - Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
- SPAD S.XVI - Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
- Voisin 8 - Compagnie Gabriel Voisin
- Voisin 10 - Compagnie Gabriel Voisin
American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.) aircraft from the British Government
- Airco DH.9
- Avro 504K
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2a
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b
- Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a
- Sopwith F-1 Camel
- Sopwith Dolphin
American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.) aircraft from the 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 O: Foreign-Built Pursuit Aircraft
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
Type III: Pursuit, air-cooled
Type IV: Pursuit, ground attack, 1922
- PG-1 - Aeromarine
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
- XNO-1 - Douglas
- XNO-2 - Douglas
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 (originally 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
- TA-1 - Elias
- TA-2 - Huff-Daland
- TA-3 - Dayton-Wright Aircraft
- TA-4 - Engineering Division (project - not built)
- 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
- XA-1 - Cox-Klemin
- A-2 - Fokker
Messenger
Pursuit, special
Racer
- R-1 - Alfred V. 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
- A-1 - skipped to prevent confusion with Cox-Klemin XA-1
- XA-2 - Douglas
- A-3 - Curtiss
- A-4 - Curtiss
- A-5 - Curtiss
- A-6 - Curtiss
- XA-7 - Fokker
- A-8 - Curtiss
- XA-9 - Lockheed
- YA-10 Shrike - Curtiss
- XA-11 - Consolidated
- A-12 Shrike - Curtiss
- YA-13 - Northrop
- YA-14 - Curtiss
- XA-15 - Martin
- XA-16 - Northrop
- A-17 - Northrop
- A-18 Shrike - Curtiss
- A-19 - Vultee
- A-20 Havoc - Douglas (redesignated B-20 in 1948)
- XA-21 - Stearman
- A-22 Maryland - Martin
- A-23 Baltimore - Martin
- A-24 Banshee - Douglas (USAAC version of SBD Dauntless; redesignated F-24 in 1948)
- A-25 Shrike - Curtiss (USAAC version of SB2C Helldiver)
- A-26 Invader - Douglas (redesignated B-26 in 1948, then A-26 in 1966)
- A-27 - North American (Ground Attack version of AT-6 Texan)
- A-28 Hudson - Lockheed
- A-29 Hudson - Lockheed
- A-30 Baltimore - Martin
- A-31 Vengeance - Vultee
- A-32 - Brewster (USAAC version of SB2A Buccaneer)
- A-33 - Northrop (Upgraded Northrop A-17 for export)
- A-34 - Brewster (USAAC version of SB2A Buccaneer)
- A-35 Vengeance - Vultee
- A-36 Apache/Invader - North American (Ground Attack version of P-51 Mustang)
- XA-37 - Hughes
- XA-38 Grizzly - Beechcraft
- XA-39 - Kaiser-Fleetwings
- A-40 - Curtiss (proposed, not built)
- XA-41 - Vultee
- XA-42 Mixmaster - Douglas
- XA-43 Blackhawk - Curtiss-Wright
- XA-44 - Consolidated
- XA-45 - Martin
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
- LB-1 - Huff-Daland (later Keystone)
- LB-2 - Atlantic Aircraft Corporation (Fokker Aircraft Corp after 1925)
- XLB-3 - Keystone
- XLB-4 - Martin
- LB-5 - Keystone
- LB-6 - Keystone
- LB-7 - Keystone
- LB-8 - Keystone
- LB-9 - Keystone
- LB-10 - Keystone
- LB-11 - Keystone
- XLB-12 - Keystone
- LB-13 - Keystone
- LB-14 - Keystone
Medium Bomber, 1924-1926
Heavy Bomber, 1924-1926
- XHB-1 - Huff-Daland
- XHB-2 - Atlantic Aircraft Corporation (Fokker Aircraft Corp after 1925)
- XHB-3 - Huff-Daland
Unified bomber sequence, 1926-1962
- 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
- YB-11 - Douglas
- B-12 - Martin
- XB-13 - Martin
- XB-14 - Martin
- XB-15 - Boeing
- XB-16 - Martin
- B-17 Flying Fortress - Boeing
- B-18 Bolo - Douglas
- XB-19 - Douglas
- Y1B-20 - Boeing
- XB-21 - North American
- XB-22 - Douglas
- B-23 Dragon - Douglas
- B-24 Liberator - Consolidated
- B-25 Mitchell - North American
- B-26 Marauder - Martin
- B-26 Invader - designation of A-26 Invader from 1948 to 1966
- XB-27 - Martin
- XB-28 Dragon - North American
- B-29 Superfortress - Boeing
- XB-30 - Lockheed
- XB-31 - Douglas
- B-32 Dominator - Consolidated
- XB-33 Super Marauder - Martin
- B-34 Lexington - Lockheed
- YB-35 - Northrop
- B-36 Peacemaker - Convair
- B-37 - Lockheed
- XB-38 Flying Fortress - Boeing
- XB-39 Superfortress - Boeing
- YB-40 Flying Fortress - Boeing
- XB-41 Liberator - Consolidated
- XB-42 Mixmaster - Douglas
- XB-43 Jetmaster - Douglas
- XB-44 Superfortress - Boeing
- B-45 Tornado - North American
- XB-46 - Convair
- B-47 Stratojet - Boeing
- XB-48 - Martin
- YB-49 - Northrop
- B-50 Superfortress - Boeing
- XB-51 - Martin
- B-52 Stratofortress - Boeing
- XB-53 - Convair
- B-54 - Boeing (Proposed re-engined B-50 Superfortress)
- XB-55 - Boeing
- B-56 - Boeing (Proposed re-engined B-47 Stratojet)
- B-57 Canberra - Martin
- B-58 Hustler - Convair
- XB-59 - Boeing
- YB-60 - Convair
- B-61 Matador - Martin (later redesignated TM-61, TM- denoting "tactical missile", and later MGM-1 under unified missile sequence)
- B-62 Snark - Northrop (later redesignated SM-62, SM- denoting "strategic missile")
- B-63 RASCAL - Bell (later redesignated GAM-63)
- B-64 Navaho - North American (later redesignated SM-64)
- B-65 Atlas - Convair (later redesignated SM-65)
- B-66 Destroyer - Douglas (USAF version of A-3 Skywarrior)
- B-67 Crossbow - Radioplane (later redesignated GAM-67)
- XB-68 - Martin
- RB-69 - Lockheed (USAF version of P-2 Neptune)
- XB-70 Valkyrie - North American
- SR-71 Blackbird - Lockheed; SR- denotes "strategic reconnaissance"
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.
- XBLR-1 - Boeing (later redesignated XB-15)
- XBLR-2 - Douglas (later redesignated XB-19)
- XBLR-3 - Sikorsky
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.
- SM-68 Titan - Martin (redesignated LGM-25 under unified missile sequence)
- IM-69 Bomarc - Boeing (later redesignated IM-99, then CIM-10 under unified missile sequence)
- IM-70 Talos - Bendix (redesignated RIM-8 under unified missile sequence)
- XGAM-71 Buck Duck - Convair
- GAM-72 Quail - McDonnell (redesignated ADM-20 under unified missile sequence)
- XSM-73 Goose - Fairchild
- SM-75 Thor - Douglas (redesignated PGM-17 under unified missile sequence)
- TM-76 Mace - Martin (redesignated MGM-13 under unified missile sequence)
- GAM-77 Hound Dog - North American (redesignated AGM-28 under unified missile sequence)
- SM-78 Jupiter - Chrysler (redesignated PGM-19 under unified missile sequence)
- GAM-79 White Lance - Martin
- SM-80 Minuteman - Boeing (redesignated LGM-30 under unified missile sequence)
- RM-81 Agena - Lockheed
- XRM-82 Loki - Bendix (redesignated PWN-1 under unified missile sequence)
- GAM-83 Bullpup - Martin (redesignated AGM-12 under unified missile sequence)
- XRM-84 Aerobee-hi - Aerojet General (redesignated PWN-2 under unified missile sequence)
- XRM-85 Nike-Cajun (redesignated PWN-3 under unified missile sequence)
- XRM-86 Exos (redesignated PWN-4 under unified missile sequence)
- GAM-87 Skybolt - Douglas (redesignated AGM-48 under unified missile sequence)
- SRM-88 - Cooper (redesignated PWN-5 under unified missile sequence)
- XRM-89 Blue Scout 1 - Ford
- XRM-90 Blue Scout 2 - Ford
- XRM-91 Blue Scout Junior - Ford
- XRM-92 Air Force Scout - Ford
Cargo, 1924-1962
- 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 - skipped
- 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
- Y1C-24 - American
- C-25 Altair - Lockheed
- C-26 Dolphin - Douglas
- C-27 Airbus - Bellanca
- C-28 - Sikorsky
- C-29 Dolphin - Douglas
- C-30 Condor - Curtiss-Wright
- C-31 - Kreider-Reisner
- 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 - Lockheed
- C-41 - Douglas
- C-42 - Douglas
- C-43 Traveller - Beechcraft
- XC-44 - Messerschmitt
- C-45 Expeditor - Beechcraft
- C-46 Commando - Curtiss-Wright
- C-47 Skytrain - Douglas
- 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-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-98 Clipper - Boeing
- XC-99 - Convair
- C-100 Gamma - Northrop
- C-101 Vega - Lockheed
- C-102 Speedster - Rearwin
- C-103 - Grumman
- C-104 - Lockheed
- XC-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
- XC-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
- C-122 - Fairchild
- C-123 Provider - Fairchild
- C-124 Globemaster II - Douglas
From left to right: C-141, C-130, and C-124 with Mt. St. Helens in the background
- C-125 Raider - Northrop
- C-126 - Cessna
- C-127 - Boeing
- 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
- YC-134 - Stroukoff
- C-135 Stratotanker - Boeing
- YC-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
- XC-142 - Vought
- C-143 - reserved for what would become the X-19, but never officially assigned
After 2005, several planes were added to this sequence.
Drone
Aerial Target
1940-1941
- A-1 - Fleetwings
- A-2 - Radioplane
- A-3 - Curtiss
- A-4 - Douglas
- A-5 - Boeing
- A-6 - Douglas
- A-7 Airacobra - Bell
- A-8 Cadet - Culver
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
- BQ-1 - Fleetwings
- BQ-2 - Kaiser-Fleetwings
- BQ-3 - Fairchild
- BQ-4 - Interstate
- BQ-5 - Interstate
- BQ-6 - Interstate
- BQ-7 Aphrodite - Boeing
- BQ-8 Liberator - Consolidated[2]
Target Control, 1942-1948
- CQ-1 - Fletcher
- CQ-2 - Stinson
- CQ-3 Expeditor - Beech
- CQ-4 Flying Fortress - Boeing
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 Reconnaissance
- EB-47 Stratojet - Boeing
- ERB-47 Stratojet - Boeing
- EB-57 Canberra - Martin
- EB-66 Destroyer - Douglas
- EC-47 Skytrain - Douglas
- EC-54 Skymaster - Douglas
- EC-121 Warning Star - Lockheed
- EC-130E Commando Solo - Lockheed
- EC-130H Compass Call - Lockheed
- EC-130J Commando Solo II - Lockheed
- EC-135 Looking Glass - Boeing
- EF-105 Thunderchief - Republic
- EF-111A Raven - General Dynamics
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 Haig - 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
British-Built Cargo Gliders, 1941-1948
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 - Schempp
- TG-12 - Bowlus
- TG-13 - Briegleb
- TG-14 - Stiglmeier
- 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 - Mehlhose
- 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 Haig - 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
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.
- P-1 Hawk - Curtiss
- P-2 Hawk - Curtiss
- P-3 Hawk - Curtiss
- XP-4 - Boeing
- P-5 Hawk - Curtiss
- P-6 Hawk - Curtiss
- XP-7 - Boeing
- XP-8 - Boeing
- XP-9 - Boeing
- XP-10 - Curtiss
- P-11 Hawk - Curtiss
- P-12 - Boeing
- XP-13 Viper - Thomas-Morse
- XP-14 - Curtiss
- XP-15 - Boeing
- P-16 - Berliner-Joyce
- XP-17 Hawk - Curtiss
- XP-18 Curtiss (paper project only)
- XP-19 Curtiss (paper project only)
- YP-20 - Curtiss
- XP-21 - Curtiss
- XP-22 Hawk - Curtiss
- XP-23 Hawk - Curtiss
- YP-24 - Lockheed
- Y1P-25 - Consolidated
- P-26 Peashooter - Boeing
- YP-27 - Consolidated
- Y1P-28 - Consolidated
- YP-29 - Boeing
- P-30 - Consolidated
- XP-31 - Curtiss
- XP-32 - Boeing
- XP-33 - Consolidated
- XP-34 - Wedell-Williams
- P-35 - Seversky
- P-36 Hawk - Curtiss
- XP-37 - Curtiss
- P-38 Lightning - Lockheed
- P-39 Airacobra - Bell
- P-40 Warhawk - Curtiss
- XP-41 - Seversky
- XP-42 - Curtiss
- P-43 Lancer - Republic
- P-44 Rocket - Republic (Proposed, not built)
- XP-45 - Bell
- XP-46 - Curtiss
- P-47 Thunderbolt - Republic
- XP-48 - Douglas
- XP-49 - Lockheed
- XP-50 - Grumman
- P-51 Mustang - North American
- XP-52 - Bell
- XP-53 - Curtiss
- XP-54 Swoose Goose - Vultee
- XP-55 Ascender - Curtiss
- XP-56 Black Bullet - Northrop
- XP-57 - Tucker
- XP-58 Chain Lightning - Lockheed
- P-59 Airacomet - Bell
- YP-60 - Curtiss
- P-61 Black Widow - Northrop
- XP-62 - Curtiss
- P-63 Kingcobra - Bell
- P-64 - North American
- XP-65 - Grumman
- P-66 Vanguard - Vultee
- XP-67 Bat - McDonnell
- XP-68 Tornado - Vultee
- XP-69 - Republic
- P-70 - Douglas
- XP-71 - Curtiss
- XP-72 - Republic
- XP-73 - Hughes (officially never assigned)
- P-74 - skipped
- P-75 Eagle - Fisher
- XP-76 - Bell
- XP-77 - Bell
- XP-78 - North American
- XP-79 Flying Ram - Northrop
- P-80/F-80 Shooting Star - Lockheed
- XP-81 - Convair
- F-82 Twin Mustang - North American
- XP-83 - Bell
- P-84/F-84 Thunderjet - Republic
- XP-85/XF-85 Goblin - McDonnell
- F-86 Sabre - North American
- XP-87/XF-87 Blackhawk - Curtiss
- XP-88/XF-88 Voodoo - McDonnell
- F-89 Scorpion - Northrop
- XF-90 - Lockheed
- XF-91 Thunderceptor - Republic
- XF-92A - Convair
- YF-93A - North American
- F-94 Starfire - Lockheed
- YF-95A - North American
- YF-96A - Republic
- F-97 Starfire - Lockheed (Redesignated F-94C Starfire)
- XF-98 - Hughes (later redesignated GAR-1, then AIM-4 in unified missile sequence)
- F-99 BOMARC - Boeing (later redesignated IM-99, then CIM-10 in unified missile sequence)
- F-100 Super Sabre - North American
- F-101 Voodoo - McDonnell
- F-102 Delta Dagger - Convair
- XF-103 - Republic
- F-104 Starfighter - Lockheed
- F-105 Thunderchief - Republic
- F-106 Delta Dart - Convair
- F-107 - North American
- XF-108 Rapier - North American
- F-109 - temporarily reserved for what would become the F-101B, but never officially assigned[3]
- YF-109 - designation requested for Bell D-188A, but never officially assigned
- F-110 Spectre - McDonnell Douglas (redesignated F-4 Phantom II in 1962)
- F-111 Aardvark - General Dynamics
Unofficial designations YF-112 and up were later assigned to "black" projects - see Fighter series in Unified System.
Fighter, Multiplace
Pursuit, Biplace
Pursuit, British-built
Observation
Observation, 1924-1942
- O-1 Falcon - Curtiss
- O-2 - Douglas
- XO-3 Mohawk - Dayton-Wright
- XO-4 - Martin
- O-5 - Douglas
- O-6 - Thomas-Morse
- O-7 - Douglas
- O-8 - Douglas
- O-9 - Douglas
- XO-10 - Loening
- O-11 Falcon - Curtiss
- O-12 Falcon - Curtiss
- O-13 Falcon - Curtiss
- XO-14 - Douglas
- XO-15 - Keystone
- XO-16 Falcon - Curtiss
- XO-17 Courier - Consolidated
- XO-18 Falcon - Curtiss
- O-19 - Thomas-Morse
- YO-20 - Thomas-Morse
- XO-21 - Thomas-Morse
- O-22 - Douglas
- YO-23 - Thomas-Morse
- O-24 - Curtiss
- O-25 - Douglas
- Y1O-26 - Curtiss
- Y1O-27 - Fokker
- O-28 Corsair - Vought
- O-29 - Douglas
- O-30 - Curtiss
- O-31 - Douglas
- O-32 - Douglas
- Y1O-33 - Thomas-Morse
- O-34 - Douglas
- O-35 - Douglas
- XO-36 - Douglas
- O-37 - Keystone
- O-38 - Douglas
- O-39 Falcon - Curtiss
- O-40 Raven - Curtiss
- Y1O-41 - Thomas-Morse
- O-42 - Thomas-Morse
- Y1O-43 - Douglas
- XO-44 - Douglas
- O-45 - Martin
- O-46 - Douglas
- O-47 - North American
- XO-48 - Douglas
- O-49 Vigilant - Stinson (redesignated L-1 in 1942)
- YO-50 - Bellanca
- YO-51 Dragonfly - Ryan
- O-52 Owl - Curtiss
- O-53 Havoc - Douglas
- YO-54 - Stinson
- YO-55 - ERCO
- O-56 Ventura - Lockheed
- O-57 Grasshopper - Taylorcraft (redesignated L-2 in 1942)
- O-58 Grasshopper - Aeronca (redesignated L-3 in 1942)
- O-59 Grasshopper - Piper (redesignated L-4 in 1942)
- O-60 - Kellett
- YO-61 - Pitcairn
- O-62 Sentinel - Stinson (redesignated L-5 in 1942)
- XO-63 Grasshopper - Interstate (redesignated 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
Liaison, 1942-1962
- L-1 Vigilant - Stinson
- L-2 Grasshopper - Taylorcraft
- L-3 Grasshopper - Aeronca
- L-4 Grasshopper - Piper
- L-5 Sentinel - Stinson
- L-6 Grasshopper - Interstate
- L-7 - Universal Aircraft
- 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
- L-18 Super Cub - Piper
- L-19 Bird Dog - Cessna
- L-20 Beaver - de Havilland Canada
- L-21 Super Cub - Piper
- L-22 Navion - Ryan
- L-23 Seminole - Beechcraft
- L-24 Courier - Helio
- L-25 - McDonnell
- L-26 Commander - Aero Design
- L-27 - Cessna
- L-28 Super Courier - Helio
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
- XF-11/XR-11 - Hughes (redesignated XR-11 in 1948)
- XF-12/XR-12 Rainbow - Republic (redesignated XR-12 in 1948)
- F-13 Superfortress - Boeing
- XF-14 Shooting Star - Lockheed
- F-15 Reporter - Northrop
- XR-16 Stratofortress - Boeing
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 1947, 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.
- R-1 - Platt-LePage
- R-2 - Kellett
- R-3 - Kellett
- R-4 Hoverfly - Sikorsky
- R-5/H-5 Dragonfly - Sikorsky
- R-6 Hoverfly II - Sikorsky
- R-7 - Sikorsky
- XR-8 Kellett
- R-9/H-9 - Firestone
- R-10/H-10 - Kellett
- R-11/H-11 - Rotorcraft
- R-12/H-12 - Bell
- R-13/H-13 Sioux - Bell
- R-14 - Firestone
- R-15/H-15 - Bell
- R-16/H-16 - Piasecki
- XR-17/XH-17 - Hughes/Kellett
- YH-18 - Sikorsky
- H-19 - Sikorsky
- XH-20 - McDonnell
- H-21 - Piasecki
- YH-22 - Kaman
- OH-23 Raven - Hiller
- YH-24 - Seibel
- H-25 - Piasecki
- XH-26 Jet Jeep - American Helicopter
- YH-27 Transporter - Piasecki
- XH-28 - Hughes
- H-29 - McDonnell
- YH-30 - McCulloch
- YH-31 - Doman
- YH-32 - Hiller
- XH-33 - Bell (redesignated XV-3 in 1952)
- H-34 Choctaw - Sikorsky
- XH-35 - McDonnell (redesignated XV-1 in 1952)
- 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
- H-46 Sea Knight - Boeing Vertol
- H-47 Chinook - Boeing Vertol
- XH-48 - Bell (redesignated UH-1F)
- XH-49 - Boeing Vertol (redesignated XCH-46B)
- H-50 DASH - Gyrodyne
- XH-51 - Lockheed
- H-52 Sea Guard - Sikorsky
- H-53 - Sikorsky
- 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
- 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
- H-69 - skipped
- H-70 - Bell
- H-71 Kestrel - Lockheed Martin
- H-72 Lakota - Eurocopter
Supersonic/special test, 1946-1948
- XS-1 - Bell
- XS-2 - Bell
- XS-3 Stiletto - Douglas
- XS-4 Bantam - Northrop
- XS-5 - Bell
The 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
- AT-7 Navigator - Beechcraft
- AT-8 Bobcat - Cessna
- AT-9 Jeep - Curtiss-Wright
- AT-10 Wichita - Beechcraft
- AT-11 Kansan - Beechcraft
- AT-12 Guardsman - Republic
- XAT-13 Gunner - Fairchild
- XAT-14 Gunner - Fairchild
- XAT-15 Crewmaker - Boeing
- AT-16 - Noorduyn
- AT-17 Bobcat - Cessna
- AT-18 Hudson - Lockheed
- AT-19 Reliant - Stinson
- AT-20 Anson - Federal
- 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
Superseded by Advanced Trainer (AT-).
Basic Trainer, 1930-1948
- BT-1 - Douglas
- BT-2 - Douglas
- YBT-3 - Stearman
- XBT-4 - Curtiss
- YBT-5 - Stearman
- BT-6 - Consolidated
- Y1BT-7 - Consolidated
- BT-8 - Seversky
- BT-9 - North American
- Y1BT-10 - North American
- BT-11 - Aircraft Research
- BT-12 - Fleetwings
- BT-13 Valiant - Vultee
- BT-14 - North American
- BT-15 Valiant - Vultee
- XBT-16 Valiant - Vultee
- XBT-17 - Boeing
Primary Trainer, 1925-1948
- PT-1 Trusty - Consolidated
- XPT-2 Trusty - Consolidated
- PT-3 Trusty - Consolidated
- PT-4 Trusty - Consolidated
- XPT-5 Trusty - Consolidated
- YPT-6 - Consolidated
- YPT-7 Pinto - Mohawk
- XPT-8 - Consolidated
- YPT-9 - Stearman
- YPT-10 - Verville
- PT-11 - Consolidated
- PT-12 - Consolidated
- PT-13 Kaydet - Boeing
- PT-14 - Waco
- YPT-15 - St. Louis
- PT-16 - Ryan
- PT-17 Kaydet - Boeing
- PT-18 Kaydet - Boeing
- PT-19 Cornell - Fairchild
- PT-20 - Ryan
- PT-21 Recruit - Ryan
- PT-22 Recruit - Ryan
- PT-23 Cornell - Fairchild
- PT-24 Moth - de Havilland
- YPT-25 - Ryan
- PT-26 Cornell - Fairchild
- PT-27 Kaydet - Boeing
Foreign-Built Training and Communications Aircraft, 1925-1948
- Airspeed Oxford - Airspeed Ltd
- Avro Anson - Avro
- CAC Wirraway - Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
- De Havilland Dominie - De Havilland
- De Havilland Moth Minor - De Havilland
- De Havilland Tiger Moth - De Havilland
- Heinkel He 22 - Heinkel
- Morane-Saulnier MS-234 - Morane-Saulnier
- Miles Master - Miles Aircraft Ltd
- Percival Proctor - Percival Aircraft Limited
- Westland Lysander - Westland Aircraft
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.
- T-6 Texan - North American
- T-7 Navigator - Beechcraft
- T-11 Kansan - Beechcraft
- T-28 Trojan - North American
- T-29 Flying Classroom - Convair
- XT-30 - Douglas
- XT-31 - Fairchild
- XT-32 - Convair
- T-33 Shooting Star - Lockheed
- T-34 Mentor - Beechcraft
- T-35 Buckaroo - Temco
- XT-36 Mentor - Beechcraft/Canadair
- T-37 Tweet - Cessna
- T-38 Talon - Northrop
- T-39 Sabreliner - North American
- T-40 Jet Star - Lockheed
- T-41 Mescalero - Cessna
- T-42 Cochise - Beechcraft
- T-43 - Boeing
- T-44 Pegasus - Beechcraft
- T-45 Goshawk - McDonnell Douglas
- T-46 - Fairchild
- T-47 - Cessna
- T-48 - Cessna
- T-49 - Boeing
- T-50 Golden Eagle - Korean Aerospace Industries (none have actually been procured by the United States)
- T-51 - Cessna
Convertiplane, 1952-1962
Army, 1956-1962
Airplane, Cargo, 1956-1962
- AC-1 Caribou - de Havilland Canada (redesignated CV-2 in 1962 and C-7 in 1967)
- AC-2 Buffalo - de Havilland Canada (redesignated CV-7 in 1962 and C-8 in 1967)
Airplane, Observation, 1956-1962
- AO-1 Mohawk - Grumman (redesignated OV-1 in 1962)
- AO-2 - Goodyear
- AO-3 - Goodyear
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
- HC-1 - Boeing Vertol
Helicopter, Observation, 1956-1962
- HO-1 - Sud-Ouest
- HO-2 - Hughes Aircraft
- HO-3 - Brantly
- HO-4 - Bell (redesignated OH-4A in 1962)
- HO-5 - Fairchild Hiller (redesignated OH-5A in 1962)
- HO-6 - Hughes (redesignated OH-6A in 1962)
Helicopter, Utility, 1956-1962
- HU-1 Iroquois - Bell (redesignated UH-1 in 1962)
Helicopter, Experimental, 1956-1962
- HZ-1 - De Lackner
Vertical Takeoff and Landing Research, 1956-1962
- VZ-1 Pawnee - Hiller
- VZ-2 - Boeing Vertol
- VZ-3 Vertiplane - Ryan
- VZ-4 Convertiplane - Doak
- VZ-5 Fledgling - Fairchild
- VZ-6 - Chrysler
- VZ-7 - Curtiss-Wright
- VZ-8 Airgeep - Piasecki
- VZ-9 - Avro Canada
- VZ-10 Hummingbird - Lockheed (redesignated XV-4 in 1962)
- VZ-11 Vertifan - Ryan (redesignated XV-5 in 1962)
- VZ-12 Kestrel - Hawker Siddeley (redesignated XV-6 in 1962)
Unified System, 1962-present
Airship
Anti-Submarine Warfare
- S-1 - skipped
- S-2 Tracker - Grumman
- S-3 Viking - Lockheed
Attack
- 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 - McDonnell Douglas (formerly designated A4D)
- A-5 Vigilante - North American (formerly designated A3J)
- A-6 Intruder - Grumman (formerly designated A2F)
- A-7 Corsair II - Vought
- A-8 - skipped to avoid confusion with the AV-8 Harrier II
- YA-9 - Northrop
- A-10 Thunderbolt II - Republic
- A-11 -
- applied to the prototype SR-71 Blackbird[4]
- allegedly assigned to the secret A-11 Astra.
- A-12 Avenger II - McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics
- A-26 Invader - Douglas (redesignated from B-26 in 1966)
- A-29 Tucano - Embraer[5]
- A-37 Dragonfly - Cessna (originally designated AT-37)
Fixed-Wing Gunships (Modified Aircraft)
Use for attack missions is indicated by the modified mission identifier A-.
- AU-23 - Fairchild Hiller/Pilatus
- AU-24 - Helio
- AC-47 Spooky - Douglas
- AC-119 Shadow/Stinger - Fairchild
- AC-123K Provider - Fairchild
- AC-130 Spectre/Spooky - Lockheed
Bomber
Cargo
- C-1 Trader - Grumman
- C-2 Greyhound - Grumman
- C-3 - Martin
- C-4 Academe - Gulfstream
- C-5 Galaxy - Lockheed
- C-6 - Beechcraft
- C-7 Caribou - de Havilland Canada
- C-8 Buffalo - de Havilland Canada
- C-9 - McDonnell Douglas
- KC-10 Extender - Douglas
- C-11 Gulfstream II - Gulfstream
- C-12 Huron - Beechcraft
- C-13 - skipped
- YC-14 - Boeing
- YC-15 - McDonnell Douglas
- C-16 - reserved for various projects, but never assigned
- C-17 Globemaster III - Boeing
C-17 with Mt. Rainier in the background - C-18 - Boeing
- C-19 - Boeing
- C-20 Gulfstream - Gulfstream
- C-21 Learjet - Learjet
- C-22 - Boeing
- C-23 Sherpa - Short
- EC-24 - Douglas
- VC-25 - Boeing
- C-26 Metroliner - Fairchild
- C-27 Spartan - Alenia
- C-28 - Cessna
- C-29 - BAE Systems
- C-30 - designation reserved (in 1988/89), but never assigned
- KC-30 - marketing designation used for Airbus A330 MRTT
- C-31 Troopship - Fokker
- C-32 - Boeing
- C-33 - Boeing
- C-34 - skipped at U.S. Army request to avoid confusion with T-34; this aircraft became the UC-35A
- C-35 Citation Ultra/Encore - Cessna
- YFC-36 - designation reserved, but never assigned (aircraft was designated YAL-1 instead)
- C-37 Gulfstream V - Gulfstream
- C-38 Courier - Israeli Aircraft Industries
- C-39 - designation changed to C-40 for unrevealed reasons
- C-40 Clipper - Boeing
- C-41 Aviocar - CASA
- C-42 - skipped to avoid possible legal issues with trademarked name of Ikarus C-42 light sport plane
- C-43 - skipped to avoid confusion with T-43
- C-44 - skipped to avoid confusion with T-44
- KC-45 - Replacement for the KC-135
Drone
- Q-1 Predator - General Atomics
- Q-2 Pioneer - Pioneer UAV
- Q-3 Darkstar - Lockheed/Boeing
- Q-4 Global Hawk - Teledyne Ryan
- Q-5 Hunter - TRW/Israel Aircraft Industries
- Q-6 Outrider - Alliant Techsystems
- Q-7 Shadow - AAI Corporation
- Q-8 Fire Scout - Northrop Grumman/Ryan
- Q-9 Reaper - General Atomics
- Q-10 Snow Goose - MMIST
- Q-11 Raven - AeroVironment
- Q-12 - designation requested for MQ-1C Warrior, but not approved
- Q-13 - skipped
- Q-14 Dragon Eye - AeroVironment
- Q-15 Neptune - DRS Technologies
- Q-16 T-Hawk - Honeywell
- Q-17 Spy Hawk - MTC Technologies
- Q-18 Hummingbird - Boeing
- QH-50 DASH - Gyrodyne Company
- Q-170 Sentinel - Lockheed Martin
Electronic Warfare
- E-1 Tracer - Grumman
- E-2 Hawkeye - Grumman
- E-3 Sentry - Boeing
- E-4 NAOC - Boeing
- E-5 - Windecker
- E-6 Mercury - Boeing
- E-7 - designation reserved, but never assigned (aircraft was designated EC-18 instead)
- E-8 Joint STARS - Boeing
- E-9 Widget - de Havilland Canada
- E-10 MC2A - Boeing
Electronic Warfare (Modified Aircraft)
- EA-1 Skyraider - Douglas
- EA-3 Skywarrior - Douglas
- EA-4 Skyhawk - McDonnell Douglas
- EA-6 Prowler - Grumman
- EA-7 Corsair II - LTV
- EA-18 Growler - Northrop Grumman/Boeing
- EC-18 ARIA - Boeing
- EC-20 Gulfstream III - Gulfstream
- EC-24 - McDonnell Douglas
- EF-4 Phantom II - McDonnell Douglas
- EF-10 Skynight - Douglas
- EH-1 Quick Fix - Bell
- EH-6 Cayuse - Hughes
- EH-60 Quick Hawk - Sikorsky
- EP-3 Aries II - Lockheed
- ES-2 Tracker - Grumman
- ES-3 Shadow - Lockheed
Experimental, 1948-present
Main article: X-plane (aircraft)
- X-1 - Bell
- X-2 - Bell
- X-3 Stiletto - Douglas
- X-4 Bantam - Northrop
- X-5 - Bell
- X-6 - Convair
- X-7 - Lockheed
- X-8 - Aerojet
- X-9 Shrike - Bell
- X-10 - North American
- X-11 - Convair
- X-12 - Convair
- X-13 Vertijet - Ryan
- X-14 - Bell
- X-15 - North American
- X-16 - Bell
- X-17 - Lockheed
- X-18 - Hiller
- X-19 - Curtiss-Wright
- X-20 Dyna-Soar - Boeing
- X-21 - Northrop
- X-22 - Bell
- X-23 - Martin Marietta (designation never officially assigned)
- X-24 - Martin Marietta
- X-25 - Bensen
- X-26 Frigate - Schweizer
- X-27 - Lockheed
- X-28 Sea Skimmer - Pereira
- X-29 - Grumman
- X-30 - Rockwell
- X-31 - Rockwell/Messerschmitt
- X-32 - Boeing
- X-33 - Lockheed Martin
- X-34 - Orbital Sciences
- X-35 - Lockheed Martin
- X-36 - McDonnell Douglas
- X-37 - Boeing
- X-38 - NASA Johnson Space Center Crew Return Vehicle prototype
- X-39 - reserved for Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements program but not used
- X-40 - Boeing
- X-41 - Classified re-entry vehicle
- X-42 - Classified upper stage rocket
- X-43 - Boeing
- X-44 MANTA - Lockheed Martin
- X-45 - Boeing
- X-46 - Boeing
- X-47 Pegasus - Northrop Grumman
- X-48 - Boeing
- X-49 - Sikorsky/Piasecki
- X-50 Dragonfly - Boeing
- X-51 - Boeing/USAF Research Laboratory
- X-52 - skipped
- X-53 - Boeing/USAF Research Laboratory
- X-54 - Gulfstream
Fighter
- F-1 Fury - North American (previously designated FJ)
- F-2 Banshee - McDonnell (previously designated F2H)
- F-3 Demon - McDonnell (previously designated F3H)
- F-4 Phantom II - McDonnell Douglas (previously designated F4H)
- 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)
- F-10 Skyknight - Douglas (previously designated F3D)
- F-11 Tiger - Grumman (previously designated F11F)
- YF-12 - Lockheed
- F-13 - skipped
- F-14 Tomcat - Grumman
- F-15 Eagle - McDonnell Douglas
- F-16 Fighting Falcon - General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin
- YF-17 Cobra - Northrop
- F/A-18 Hornet - McDonnell Douglas
- F-19 - officially skipped; rumored to be still classified
- F-20 Tigershark - Northrop
- F-21 Kfir - Israel Aircraft Industries
- F-22 Raptor - Lockheed Martin
- YF-23 Black Widow II - Northrop/McDonnell Douglas
- YF-24 - Classified project[6][7]
- F-35 Lightning II - Lockheed Martin
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.[8]
- YF-110 - Designation used for captured MiG-21s[6]
- YF-112 - Allegedly used for captured MiGs[6]
- YF-113 - Designation used for captured MiG-23s and MiG-17s[6][8]
- YF-114 - Designation used for captured MiG-17s[6]
- F-117 Nighthawk - Lockheed
- YF-117D Tacit Blue[6]
- YF-121 rumoured Black Project[6]
- The Boeing Bird of Prey is believed to have received a "YF-1xx" designation.[6]
Glider[9]
- 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 L-13AC/L-23/L-33 Blaník
- TG-11 - Stemme
- TG-12 - Caproni Vizzola
- G-13 - skipped
- TG-14 - Aeromot
- TG-15 - Schempp-Hirth
Helicopter
Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter
- SH-2 Seasprite - Kaman
- SH-3 Sea King - Sikorsky
- SH-34 Seabat - Sikorsky
- SH-60 Seahawk - Sikorsky - This includes the HH-60,SH-60 and MH-60 variants
Attack Helicopter
- AH-1 Cobra - Bell
- AH-6 Little Bird - Hughes
- AH-56 Cheyenne - Lockheed
- YAH-63 Kingcobra - Bell
- AH-64 Apache - Hughes/Boeing
- RAH-66 Comanche - Boeing/Sikorsky
Cargo Helicopter
- CH-3 Sea King - Sikorsky
- CH-19 Chickasaw - Sikorsky
- CH-21 Shawnee - Piasecki
- CH-34 Choctaw - Sikorsky
- CH-37 Mojave - Sikorsky
- CH-46 Sea Knight - Boeing
- CH-47 Chinook - Boeing
- CH-53 Sea Stallion - Sikorsky
- CH-54 Tarhe - Sikorsky
- XCH-62 - Boeing
Observation Helicopter
- YOH-4 - Bell
- YOH-5 - Fairchild Hiller
- OH-6 Cayuse - Hughes
- OH-13 Sioux - Bell
- OH-23 Raven - Hiller
- OH-58 Kiowa - Bell
Training Helicopter
- TH-55 Osage - Hughes
- TH-57 SeaRanger - Bell
- TH-67 Creek - Bell
Utility Helicopter
- UH-1 Iroquois - Bell
- UH-3 Sea King - Sikorsky
- UH-34 Seahorse - Sikorsky
- UH-60 Blackhawk - Sikorsky
- UH-72 Lakota - American Eurocopter
Laser
Observation
- O-1 Bird Dog - Cessna
- O-2 Skymaster - Cessna
- YO-3A - Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.
- ZO-4 - Wren
- O-5 - De Havilland Canada
Patrol
- P-1 - skipped presumably because it was very convenient to assign P-2 through P-5 to P2V, P3V, P4Y and P5M
- P-2 Neptune - Lockheed (previously designated P2V)
- P-3 Orion - Lockheed (previously designated P3V)
- P-4 Privateer - Consolidated Aircraft (previously designated P4Y)
- P-5 Marlin - Martin (previously designated P5M)
- P-6 - According to official Defense Department information, this was skipped at the request of the US Navy (reasons unknown, possibly to avoid confusion with cancelled P6M SeaMaster)
- P-7 - Lockheed
- P-8 Poseidon - Boeing
Reconnaissance
- TR-1 Dragon Lady - Lockheed
- TR-3A Black Manta - Northrop (rumored Black Project)
- SR-3 Blackstar - (rumored Black Project)
Reconnaissance (Modified Aircraft)
- RA-3 Skywarrior - Douglas
- RA-5 Vigilante - North American
- RB-17 Flying Fortress - Boeing
- RB-26 Invader - Douglas
- RB-29 Superfortress - Boeing
- RB-36 Peacemaker - Convair
- RB-45 Tornado - North American
- RB-47 Stratojet - Boeing
- RB-52 Stratofortress - Boeing
- RB-57 Canberra - Martin
- RB-58 Hustler - Convair
- RB-66 Destroyer - Douglas
- RB-69 Neptune - Lockheed
- RC-7 - de Havilland Canada
- RC-12 Guardrail - Beechcraft
- RC-45 Expeditor - Beechcraft
- RC-47 Skytrain - Douglas
- RC-54 Skymaster - Douglas
- RC-121 Warning Star - Lockheed
- RC-130 Hercules - Lockheed
- RC-131 Samaritan - Convair
- RC-135 - Boeing
- RF-4 Phantom II - McDonnell Douglas
- RF-5 Tigereye - Northrop
- RF-8 Crusader - Chance Vought
- RF-9 Cougar - Grumman
- RF-51 Mustang - North American
- RF-61 Reporter - Northrop
- RF-80 Shooting Star - Lockheed
- RF-84 Thunderflash - Republic
- RF-86 Sabre - North American
- RF-87 Blackhawk - Curtiss-Wright
- RF-100 Super Sabre - North American
- RF-101 Voodoo - McDonnell
- RF-104 Starfighter - Lockheed
- RF-105 Thunderchief - Republic
- U-2 - Lockheed
Tanker
- KA-3 Skywarrior - Douglas
- KA-6 Intruder - Grumman
- KC-10 Extender - McDonnell Douglas
- KB-29 Superfortress - Boeing
- KC-45 - Northrop Grumman(canceled)
- KB-47 Stratojet - Boeing
- KB-50 Superfortress - Boeing
- KC-97 Stratotanker - Boeing
- KC-130 Hercules - Lockheed
- KC-135 Stratotanker - Boeing
Trainer
- T-1 SeaStar - Lockheed (previously designated T2V)
- T-1 Jayhawk - Beechcraft
- T-2 Buckeye - North American (previously designated T2J)
- T-3 Firefly - Slingsby Aviation
- T-4 - skipped presumably because of wanting to designate the Beechcraft Texan II as T-6
- T-5 - skipped presumably because of wanting to designate the Beechcraft Texan II as T-6
- T-6 Texan II - Beechcraft
Utility, 1955-present
- U-1 Otter - de Havilland Canada
- U-2 - Lockheed
- U-3 - 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 presumably to keep the number 16 for the SA-16
- U-13 - skipped presumably to keep the number 16 for the SA-16
- U-14 - skipped presumably to keep the number 16 for the SA-16
- U-15 - skipped presumably to keep the number 16 for the SA-16
- 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 Turbo Stationcar - Cessna
- U-27 Caravan - Cessna
- U-28 - Pilatus
- U-38 Twin Condor - Schweizer
Vertical and Short Take-off and Landing Aircraft
- OV-1 Mohawk - Grumman
- CV-2 Caribou - de Havilland Canada
- XV-3 - Bell
- XV-4 Hummingbird - Lockheed
- XV-5 Vertifan - Ryan
- V-6 Kestrel - Hawker Siddeley/British Aerospace
- CV-7 Buffalo - de Havilland Canada
- XV-8 Fleep - Ryan
- AV-8A/C Harrier - Hawker Siddeley
- AV-8B Harrier II - McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace
- XV-9 - Hughes
- OV-10 Bronco - Rockwell International
- XV-11 Marvel - Parsons
- OV-12 - Pilatus
- XFV-12 - North American Rockwell
- V-13 - skipped
- V-14 - skipped; XV-14 was changed to XV-15 to avoid confusion with X-14
- XV-15 - Bell
- AV-16 - McDonnell Douglas/Hawker Siddeley
- XV-17 - reserved for Army, but apparently not used
- UV-18 Twin Otter - de Havilland Canada
- V-19 - reserved for Navy, but apparently not used
- UV-20 Chiricahua - Pilatus
- PV-21 - reserved for Navy airship, but apparently not used
- V-22 Osprey - Bell/Boeing
- UV-23 - Dominion Aircraft
Un-designated foreign aircraft operated by the United States
- Avro Anson
- Airspeed Oxford
- Bristol Beaufighter
- Boulton Paul Defiant
- de Havilland Mosquito
- Supermarine Spitfire
- Westland Lysander
- Diamond DA-40
See also
- List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) (Pre-1962 designation aircraft only)
- List of active United States military aircraft
- U.S. DoD aircraft designations table
- United States military aero engine designations
- United States military aircraft serials
References
- ^ Parsch, Andreas. "Convair MX-2223 (SM-74)". Designation-Systems.Net. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/sm-74.html. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
- ^ Andrade 1979, page 60
- ^ "HazeGray.org". rec.aviation.military FAQ, Part 4. http://www.hazegray.org/faq/ram4.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 4, p.370, "Blackbird, Sr-71 Lockheed".
- ^ Parsch, Andreas. "DOD 4120.15-L - Addendum, MDS Designators allocated after 19 August 1998 (until March 2009)". Designation-Systems.Net. http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/412015-L(addendum).html. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Parsch, Andreas (2006-11-27). "Cover Designations for Classified USAF Aircraft". Designation-Systems.Net. http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/coverdesignations.html. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
- ^ "Edwards AFB website". Col. Joseph A. Lanni, USAF biography. http://www.edwards.af.mil/units/bio/lanni-bio.html. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
- ^ a b Fulghum, David A., "MiGs in Nevada", Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 27, 2006
- ^ 94th Flying Training Squadron aircraft
- Andrade, John M. (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- Fahey, James C. (1946). U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946.
External links
- http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/unitedstatesofamerica/index.php
- http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/d/o/dob104/aviation/us/index.html
- http://www.designation-systems.net/index.html
- http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/
- http://www.aerofiles.com/aircraft.html
- http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
- http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/unitedstatesairforce/index.php
- http://www.microworks.net/pacific/aviation/
- http://fire.prohosting.com/hud607/uncommon/
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