Missing USAF designations

[22A]

A query please about aircraft types that never were.
The Hercules was the C130 and the Starlifter the C141. Were any a/c types designated in the C13`1 to C140 range?
Similarly the F9 never went into production. A few years later along came the F14, 15, 16 and 18. The 17 made it to prototype stage and even took part in an exercise in Norway in 1978. Were any types in the R10 to F13 range.
More recently after the F18 we've had the F22 and the F35.
Any reason for so many gaps in the system?

[Agent K]

F-20 was the Tigershark and the F-21 was the Kfir.

C-133 was the Cargomaster

C-135 was the famous in many variants KC-135 Stratotanker


There at gaps, but some are filled by prototype aircraft, or test, or ones that never made production, perhaps even black projects!

[Miket1968]

C-140 was the Jetstar

[Forestfan]

C-131 Samaritan, C-133 Cargomaster, (K)C-135 Stratotanker, (V)C-137....

[mushbuster]

Missing ones are listed here http://www.designation-systems.net/usmi ... g-mds.html

[slogen51]

Way before my time you had the C-133 Cargomaster

I saw the grand total of three preserved/ stored at: 59-0356 Dover, 59-0527 Pima and 59-0531 at Tucson.

There were two at mojave but I don't have them logged even though I have been there several times.

[Hendon Chipmunk]

After the C-141 (numerically anyway), there was the XC-142 - some kind of experimental vertical lift transport!

YF-23 was the loser in the competition that the F-22 won.

I suspect that F-35 inherited its number from the X-35.

[Doughnut]

As has been mentioned many good websites to be found covering all the US military service designations. Good place to start being Wikipedia, or Joe Baugher's serials site.

A couple of key points to remember before you search or ask questions the combined USAF, Army, US Navy and USMC which came in to use in 1962 'renamed' all US Navy types, and some USAF types, for example F-110A became F-4A Phantom, but some comment sense (strange for the military) because as a US Navy project Phantom was McDonnell F4H.
To quote 22A the F-9 was indeed used, for the post 1962 Grumman F9F Cougar, but how many would have been is service is debatable.
Think most gaps in the system are accounted for because of one off civilian types which have been used temporarily by the services.

[sschofield]

Way before my time you had the C-133 Cargomaster

I saw the grand total of three preserved/ stored at: 59-0356 Dover, 59-0527 Pima and 59-0531 at Tucson.

There were two at mojave but I don't have them logged even though I have been there several times.

The 2 at Mojave are/were (in 1996!) 54-0136/N136AR (since re-regd N136AB) and 56-2001/N201AR (since re-regd N201AB).

[turmo]

To quote 22A the F-9 was indeed used, for the post 1962 Grumman F9F Cougar, but how many would have been is service is debatable.

One of those odd avenues of history, the USMC used 'TF-9Js as "fast-mover FACs" in Vietnam.

They also hammered away on USN carrier decks until 1974!

[Duke 83]

To square the circle on the missing F-s, not listed in the link above.

F-10 - redesignation of the Douglas F3D Skynight (aka Drut)
F-11 - rediesignation of the Grumman F11F Tiger. Quite a few preserved, typically in Blue Angels scheme.
F-12 - two-seat interceptor version of the A-11. Two YF-12s built. Developed into the SR-71.. what a machine that would have been!
F-13 - unlucky ... not used

Neil W