Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

A forum for discussing all things related to MILITARY AVIATION including Military Aviation news. No off-topic discussions here please.
slogen51
Moderator
Posts: 48916
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by slogen51 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:47 pm

Hi

My turn to be a pedant!

I notice on here that quite often US mil types are referred to without the use of a hyphen for example, F15 instead of F-15 or B52 instead of B-52 , A-10 etc

I think the use of the hyphen looks a lot better in the log, better presentation - just wondering what others think

(In the civilian world things are simplified by using official ICAO types , B738 , B744 or MD11 no hyphen)

I accept that when using a smart device the hyphen is a pain in the rear.

POL
Posts: 16717
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:26 pm

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by POL » Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:48 pm

You mean like the B1-B that is so often mentioned here? :grr: :grr: :grr:

:Oops:

martmpf
Posts: 1569
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:27 pm
Location: Grimsby

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by martmpf » Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:20 pm

I would put that as B-1B. Is that correct?

User avatar
Nighthawke
Posts: 5296
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:04 pm

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by Nighthawke » Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:34 pm

Yes it is - the hyphen/dash always goes before the number part of the designation. For a few this will be educational, for others who get it wrong it is hopefully a reminder not to be lazy!

User avatar
bizfreeq
Posts: 2941
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:08 pm
Location: Bournemouth UK

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by bizfreeq » Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:18 am

The use or non use of the hyphen doesn't bother me in the slightest, far more important things to worry about in today's world than the use of a tiny horizontal line! But if it's used then it should be in the correct position at least
Cheers
Mark



If our airforces are never used, they have achieved their finest goal.
— General Nathan F. Twining

jem60
Posts: 3620
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:54 pm
Location: Chedburgh, Suffolk

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by jem60 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:00 am

Agree with Slogen. In the wider view, it doesn't really matter, but best to get it correct. Not as important at spelling errors to me, but we are mostly experts here, so keep standards up where possible. Regards, John. [The other pedant!] :)

Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by Snoop 95 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:17 am

Whilst in general we humans have become more relaxed about spelling and puctuation, computers definitely have not! Get one digit wrong and you've had it!

User avatar
Nighthawke
Posts: 5296
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:04 pm

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by Nighthawke » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:52 am

If my comment was deemed to be pedantic it is down to my job where data accuracy is vital. Snoop55 got it right - if the system I administer has something wrong - even just a "tiny horizontal line" - someone's life could be at risk.

There have been occasional fatalities and serious injuries and there is always that nagging doubt that you may have possibly been in the chain of events - even when you know you were not.

Anyway enough of that deep stuff - enjoy the hobby!

User avatar
BOLLO
Posts: 95251
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:22 pm
Location: Nottingham/Mildenhall.

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by BOLLO » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:17 pm

Each to their own. :lol:
http://www.airfighters.com/photosearch.php?phgid=SHED" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; LOADES
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... _entry=140+" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; at last

What do cry when we see The Man With the Stick???

User avatar
Skymaster
Posts: 7582
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2015 2:18 pm
Location: Addlestone, Surrey

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by Skymaster » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:32 pm

For info... the F15 and B52 examples quoted are ICAO codes.

The searchable database is here... https://www.icao.int/publications/DOC86 ... earch.aspx

martmpf
Posts: 1569
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:27 pm
Location: Grimsby

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by martmpf » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:35 pm

jem60 wrote:Agree with Slogen. In the wider view, it doesn't really matter, but best to get it correct. Not as important at spelling errors to me, but we are mostly experts here, so keep standards up where possible. Regards, John. [The other pedant!] :)
Sometime spelling errors occur when trying to relay information to members very quickly. Particularly in a rapidly changing situation, such as the B-52's arrival/diversion.

ythanpythan
Posts: 381
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:50 am

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by ythanpythan » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:14 pm

O-MG

martmpf
Posts: 1569
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:27 pm
Location: Grimsby

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by martmpf » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:29 pm

ythanpythan wrote:O-MG
?

slogen51
Moderator
Posts: 48916
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by slogen51 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:52 pm

Skymaster wrote:For info... the F15 and B52 examples quoted are ICAO codes.

The searchable database is here... https://www.icao.int/publications/DOC86 ... earch.aspx
Excellent I didn't know that

I will stick with -

User avatar
big john
Posts: 7412
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:53 am
Location: EGLL

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by big john » Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:56 pm

Another point. Is the search function on this forum doesn't recognise a hyphen as a hyphen but as a blank space. if you enter for example B-52 nothing will be found. and B 52 will also return nothing as it thinks its two words with not enough letters. As a minimum of three letters are required for each word. But B52 will find a lot of entries.
So if using the hyphen then the variant designator should also be used, to enable the search function to work.
rgds
BJ
Always Watching: Always Listening
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

User avatar
reheat module
Posts: 2906
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:59 pm
Location: Often UK

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by reheat module » Thu Jan 11, 2018 4:37 pm

Just a quick point; although agreeing that it doesnt change the price of fish, I hate to see the - sign in my business accounts!!!
There is a time and a place to worry about things like that :)
UK ONS CPI Rate checker for Sept every year... :whistle:

User avatar
Ghastly Whisper
Posts: 1113
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:43 pm

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by Ghastly Whisper » Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:07 pm

I've just wasted 3 minutes reading this thread and 30 seconds replying to it, how do I get those wasted minutes back?
Growing old disgracefully

slogen51
Moderator
Posts: 48916
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:11 am
Location: Norfolk - Mundford - YG-BSM

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by slogen51 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:07 pm

I agree - it's only a hobby and doesn't matter. However I think if you are going to do something you might as well try and do it properly and of course there are more important things in the world - that is obvious.

When I first started out and had the job of doing the car log , a few of the more experienced spotters would pick me up on the style so I guess it just stuck with me.

As it turns out from the above both styles are correct

To be honest I regret raising this.

Welcome to the friendly forum !

User avatar
plmc135
Posts: 3222
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:32 pm
Location: Bomber County

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by plmc135 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:48 pm

Actually the insertion of the hyphen is only part of the problem. The correct designation for the aircraft that arrived at Fairford this morning is, wait for it,
B-52H-165-BW. And that only covers the first 13 of the 1961 fiscal year batch!

User avatar
BOLLO
Posts: 95251
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:22 pm
Location: Nottingham/Mildenhall.

Re: Aircraft type designations - hyphenated

Post by BOLLO » Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:37 pm

reheat module wrote:Just a quick point; although agreeing that it doesnt change the price of fish, I hate to see the - sign in my business accounts!!!
There is a time and a place to worry about things like that :)
:thumb: :thumb:
http://www.airfighters.com/photosearch.php?phgid=SHED" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; LOADES
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... _entry=140+" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; at last

What do cry when we see The Man With the Stick???

Post Reply

Return to “The Fighter Control Mess”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 60 guests