Modern US Aircraft Official Names Quiz

Answer: Tomcat

The F-14 was the only aircraft equipped to carry the long-range Phoenix air-to-air missile. The last US Navy F-14 retired from service in October 2006.

Answer: Fighting Falcon

With only one engine, the F-16 may be less reliable than its competitors, but it is very manoeuvrable. The F-16 has been sold to 20 countries.

Answer: Spirit

First flown on 17 July 1989, the B-2 Spirit entered US service in 1996. It is one of the most expensive warplanes in production today. Only 21 have been built so far (as of January 2003).

Answer: Stratofortress

The B-52, now operating as the 'H' variant, has been around for more than 50 years, its first flight being on 15 April, 1952.

Answer: Lancer

The B-1 Lancer has a pilot, co-pilot, offensive systems operator and defensive systems operator. It is equipped with four General Electric F101-102 turbofans rated at 14,600 lb dry and 30,780 lb with maximum afterburning power.

Answer: Strike Eagle

The F-15E is the twin-seated strike variant of the F-15C Eagle aerial interceptor. It has the FAST (Fuel And Sensor, Tactical) pack for extra fuel tanks fitted as standard.

Answer: Seahawk

The Seahawk is the naval variant of the famous H-60 Hawk family of helicopters. It was built to meet the need for LAMPS III (Light Airborne Multipurpose System) to be packaged into a shipboard helicopter.

Answer: Spectre

This Hercules-based gunship has one 105-mm M102 Howitzer and one 40 mm-M2A1 Bofors gun, mounted on the port side of the fuselage.

Answer: Galaxy

This huge transport airplane can carry anything from tanks to troops weighing up to 261,000 lb. Typical loads include two M1 tanks, five M113s, 36 463L-size cargo pallets or 270 troops plus another 75 on the rear upper deck, in all cases with a flight crew of five and 15 others (relief crew, technicians or couriers).

Answer: Longbow Apache

The 'D' variant can be recognised by the Longbow MMW radome above the rotor head. Armament consists of 130-mm Hughes M230A1 chain gun with 1,200 rounds and four wing pylons. Any of these pylons can carry four Helfire anti-tank missiles or a 19-tube FFAR launcher.

Answer: Globemaster III

The initial requirement was for a wide-bodied aircraft with a large payload capacity similar to that of a C-5 (169,000 lb) with outstanding agility and STOL capability not inferior to that of a C-130. So, in theory, the C-17 could deliver tanks and combat vehicles directly to a front-line airstrip.

Answer: Super Hornet

The 'E' variant can be recognised by its rectangular engine air intakes, unlike the circular ones on earlier variants. The Super Hornet is designed to carry the entire range of Navy offensive and defensive ordnance.

Answer: Harrier

The Harrier is used on Tarawa and Wasp-class amphibious attack vessels. It can carry a total external load of 7,000 lb in a vertical take-off or 17,000 lb in a conventional take-off.

Answer: Dragon Lady

With an operational ceiling of 90,000 ft, the U-2S has a wing span of 103 ft. Unfortunately, the U-2 is probably most remembered for F. Gary Powers' airplane being shot down over Sverdlovsk on May Day, 1960. Contrary to some beliefs, Area-51 was actually built to test the Dragon Lady.

Answer: Nighthawk

The Lockheed Martin F-117A entered service on 23 August 1982, but was publicly revealed only on 10 November 1988. The Nighthawk was the first aircraft whose entire design has been driven by the objective of making it almost invisible to hostile radars. Due to this, every part of the airplane is a flat plate, there are no curved surfaces.

Answer: Stratotanker

The KC-135s were converted from Boeing 707 airlines. A 767-based tanker could replace them. 'Extender' refers to the KC-10 tanker, and 'Combat Sent' to an RC-135 special-mission aircraft variant.

Answer: Hawkeye

This Carrier-based airplane is similar in design to the C-2 Greyhound transport plane. It has twin turboprop engines and folding wings. The E-2C can detect airborne target anywhere within a 3,000,000-cubic- mile surveillance envelope.

Answer: Joint STARS

The joint STARS (Surveillance Target Attack Radar System) are reconnaissance and battlefield-management platforms. Converted from 707-300 airliners, they are equipped with the AN/APY-3 SLAR radar.

Answer: Orion

The workhorse of ASW, the Orion was originally based on the L-188 Electra airliners. An internal weapon bay can accommodate eight torpedos, two Mk 101 nuclear depth bombs and four torpedoes, or a variety of mines and other stores. 10 under-wing pylons carry mines, depth bombs, torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles or other stores. Total expendable load 20,000 lb.

Answer: Viking

This carrier based ASW aircraft has also been used as an aerial refuelling tanker. It carries a flight crew of two, and two or three mission specialists. Armament consists of four internal pylons for torpedoes, bombs, depth bombs or mines. Two wing pylons can carry AGM-84A Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

Answer: Pave Hawk

The Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the Army Black Hawk helicopter which features an upgraded communications and navigation suite that includes an integrated inertial navigation/global positioning/doppler navigation systems, satellite communications, secure voice, and Have Quick communications.

Answer: Prowler

Affectionately called 'Queer' by its pilots, the EA-6B Prowler is the standard electronic warefare platform of the Navy carrier air wings and Marine Corps. Its main purpose is to neutralise enemy radar installations with AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missiles. It also carries the ALQ-99 tactical jamming system.

Answer: Cobra

In 1965, the Model 209 HueyCobra emerged as a combat development of the UH-1 Iroquois family. It combines the dynamic parts of the original Huey with a new streamlined fuselage providing for a gunner in the front and pilot above and behind him, and for a wide range of fixed and power-aimed armament systems.

Answer: Pave Low III

The Pave Low III is the Special Forces variant of the huge Sea Stallion helicopter. At 67 ft 2 in length, the fuselage is longer than that of a Chinook. The MH-53J has a door-mounted mini-gun on each side of the main body, and another above the tail ramp. Crew consists of two pilots, one engineer and three gunners.

Answer: Thunderbolt II

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (also unofficially known as 'Tank-Killer,' 'Warthog' or just 'Hog') is armed with a 30-mm GAU-8/A cannon and has 11 hard points for various ordnance.