Army Air Corps - Army Air Forces - Air Force

1924 - 2005
Attack - 1924-1948
• A-1 - skipped • A-24 Banshee - Douglas (redesignated
• XA-2 - Douglas F-24 in 1948)

• A-3 - Curtiss • A-25 Shrike - Curtiss

• A-4 - Curtiss • A-26 Invader - Douglas (redesignated

B-26 in 1948, then A-26 in 1966)
• A-5 - Curtiss
• A-27 - North American
• A-6 - Curtiss
• A-28 Hudson - Lockheed
• XA-7 - Fokker
• A-29 Hudson - Lockheed
• A-8 - Curtiss
• A-30 Baltimore - Martin
• XA-9 - Lockheed
• A-31 Vengeance - Vultee
• YA-10 Shrike - Curtiss
• A-32 - Brewster
• XA-11 - Consolidated
• A-33 - Northrop
• A-12 Shrike - Curtiss
• A-34 - Brewster
• YA-13 - Northrop
• A-35 Vengeance - Vultee
• YA-14 - Curtiss
• A-36 - North American
• XA-15 - Martin
• XA-37 - Hughes
• XA-16 - Northrop
• XA-38 Grizzly - Beechcraft
• A-17 - Northrop
• XA-39 - Kaiser-Fleetwings
• A-18 Shrike - Curtiss
• A-40 - Curtiss
• A-19 - Vultee
• A-41 - Vultee
• A-20 Havoc - Douglas (redesignated B-
20 in 1948) • XA-42 Mixmaster - Douglas

• XA-21 - Stearman • XA-43 Blackhawk - Curtiss-Wright

• A-22 Maryland - Martin • XA-44 - Consolidated

• A-23 Baltimore - Martin • 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) • XLB-4 - Martin
• LB-2 - Atlantic Aircraft Corporation • LB-5 - Keystone
• (Fokker Aircraft Corp after 1925) • LB-6 - Keystone
• XLB-3 - Keystone • LB-7 - Keystone
• LB-8 - Keystone • XLB-12 - Keystone
• LB-9 - Keystone • LB-13 - Keystone
• LB-10 - Keystone • LB-14 - Keystone
• LB-11 - Keystone

Medium Bomber, 1924-1926

• XB-1 - Huff-Daland B-2 Condor - Curtiss

Heavy Bomber, 1924-1926

• XHB-1 - Huff-Daland • (Fokker Aircraft Corp after 1925)
• XHB-2 - Atlantic Aircraft Corporation • XHB-3 - Huff-Daland

Unified bomber sequence, 1926-1962

• XB-1 - Huff-Daland-Keystone • B-24 Liberator - Consolidated x
• B-2 Condor - Curtiss • B-25 Mitchell - North American x
• B-3 - Keystone • B-26 Marauder - Martin x
• B-4 - Keystone B-26 Invader - designation of A-26
• B-5 - Keystone Invader from 1948 to 1966

• B-6 - Keystone • XB-27 - Martin

• Y1B-7 - Douglas • XB-28 Dragon - North American

• XB-8 - Fokker • B-29 Superfortress - Boeing

• Y1B-9 - Boeing • XB-30 - Lockheed

• B-10 - Martin • XB-31 - Douglas

• YB-11 - Douglas • B-32 Dominator - Consolidated

• B-12 - Martin • B-33 Super Marauder - Martin

• XB-13 - Martin • B-34 Lexington - Lockheed

• XB-14 - Martin • YB-35 - Northrop

• XB-15 - Boeing • B-36 Peacemaker - Convair

• XB-16 - Martin • B-37 - Lockheed

• B-17 Flying Fortress - Boeing • XB-38 Flying Fortress - Boeing

• B-18 Bolo - Douglas • XB-39 Superfortress - Boeing

• XB-19 - Douglas • YB-40 Flying Fortress - Boeing

• Y1B-20 - Boeing • XB-41 Liberator - Consolidated

• XB-21 - North American • XB-42 Mixmaster - Douglas

• XB-22 - Douglas • XB-43 Jetmaster - Douglas

• B-23 Dragon - Douglas • XB-44 Superfortress - Boeing

 • B-45 Tornado - North American • XB-53 - Convair
• XB-46 - Convair • B-54 - Boeing
• B-47 Stratojet - Boeing • XB-55 - Boeing
• XB-48 - Martin • B-56 - Boeing
• YB-49 - Northrop • B-57 - Martin
• B-50 Superfortress - Boeing • B-58 Hustler - Convair
• XB-51 - Martin • XB-59 - Boeing
• B-52 Stratofortress - 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
• B-67 Crossbow - Radioplane (later redesignated GAM-67)
• XB-68 - Martin
• RB-69 - Lockheed
• 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

Cargo, 1924-1962

• C-1 - Douglas • C-7 - Fokker

• C-2 - Fokker • C-8 - Fairchild
• C-3 - Ford • C-9 - Ford
• C-4 - Ford • C-10 Robin - Curtiss-Wright
• C-5 - Fokker • C-11 Fleetster - Consolidated
• C-6 - Sikorsky • C-12 Vega - Lockheed
 C-13 - skipped • C-55 Commando - Curtiss-Wright
• C-14 - Fokker • C-56 Lodestar - Lockheed
• C-15 - Fokker • C-57 Lodestar - Lockheed
• C-16 - Fokker • C-58 Bolo - Douglas
• C-17 Super Vega - Lockheed • C-59 Lodestar - Lockheed
• C-18 Monomail - Boeing • C-60 Lodestar - Lockheed
• C-19 Alpha - Northrop • C-61 Forwarder - Fairchild
• C-20 - Fokker • C-62 - Waco
• C-21 Dolphin - Douglas • C-63 Hudson - Lockheed
• C-22 Fleetster - Consolidated • C-64 Norseman - Noorduyn
• C-23 Altair - Lockheed • C-65 Skycar - Stout
• Y1C-24 - American • C-66 Lodestar - Lockheed
• C-25 Altair - Lockheed • C-67 Dragon - Douglas
• C-26 Dolphin - Douglas • C-68 - Douglas
• C-27 Airbus - Bellanca • C-69 Constellation - Lockheed
• C-28 - Sikorsky • C-70 Nightingale - Howard
• C-29 Dolphin - Douglas • C-71 Executive - Spartan
• C-30 Condor - Curtiss-Wright • C-72 - Waco
• C-31 - Kreider-Reisner • C-73 - Boeing
• C-32 - Douglas • C-74 Globemaster - Douglas
• C-33 - Douglas • C-75 - Boeing
• C-34 - Douglas • C-76 Caravan - Curtiss-Wright
• XC-35 Electra - Lockheed • C-77 - Cessna
• C-36 Electra - Lockheed • C-78 Bobcat - Cessna
• C-37 Electra - Lockheed • C-79 - Junkers
• C-38 - Douglas • C-80 - Harlow
• C-39 - Douglas • C-81 Reliant - Stinson
• C-40 Electra - Lockheed • C-82 Packet - Fairchild
• C-41 - Douglas • C-83 Coupe - Piper
• C-42 - Douglas • C-84 - Douglas
• C-43 Traveller - Beechcraft • C-85 Orion - Lockheed
• XC-44 - Messerschmitt • C-86 Forwarder - Fairchild
• C-45 Expeditor - Beechcraft • C-87 Liberator Express - Consolidated
• C-46 Commando - Curtiss-Wright • C-88 - Fairchild
• C-47 Skytrain - Douglas • C-89 - Hamilton
• C-48 Skytrain - Douglas • C-90 - Luscombe
• C-49 Skytrain - Douglas • C-91 - Stinson
• C-50 Skytrain - Douglas • C-92 - Akron-Funk
• C-51 Skytrain - Douglas • C-93 Conestoga - Budd
• C-52 Skytrain - Douglas • C-94 - Cessna
• C-53 Skytrooper - Douglas • C-95 Grasshopper - Taylorcraft
• C-54 Skymaster - Douglas • 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
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
• C-124 Globemaster II - Douglas
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.
• C-143 - Bombardier
• C-144 - CASA
• 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
• Curtiss XP-18 (paper project only)
• Curtiss XP-19 (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
xP-38 Lightning - Lockheed
• P-39 Airacobra - Bell
• P-40 - Curtiss
• XP-41 - Seversky
• XP-42 - Curtiss
• P-43 Lancer - Republic
• P-44 Rocket - Republic
• XP-45 - Bell
• XP-46 - Curtiss
• P-47 Thunderbolt - Republic
• XP-48 - Douglas
• XP-49 - Lockheed
• XP-50 - Grumman
• P-51 Mustang - North American
11/30/08 - 10/1/08
• 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
• 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[2]
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.
• F-117 Nighthawk - Lockheed

Pursuit, British-built

• Beaufighter - Bristol Aeroplane Company Spitfire - Supermarine

Observation

Observation, 1924-1942

• O-1 Falcon - Curtiss • XO-10 - Loening

• O-2 - Douglas • O-11 Falcon - Curtiss
• XO-3 Mohawk - Dayton-Wright • O-12 Falcon - Curtiss
• XO-4 - Martin • O-13 Falcon - Curtiss
• O-5 - Douglas • XO-14 - Douglas
• O-6 - Thomas-Morse • XO-15 - Keystone
• O-7 - Douglas • XO-16 Falcon - Curtiss
• O-8 - Douglas • XO-17 Courier - Consolidated
• O-9 - Douglas • XO-18 Falcon - Curtiss
• O-19 - Thomas-Morse • XO-44 - Douglas
• YO-20 - Thomas-Morse • O-45 - Martin
• XO-21 - Thomas-Morse • O-46 - Douglas
• O-22 - Douglas • O-47 - North American
• YO-23 - Thomas-Morse • XO-48 - Douglas
• O-24 - Curtiss • O-49 Vigilant - Stinson (redesignated
L-1 in 1942)
• O-25 - Douglas
• YO-50 - Bellanca
• Y1O-26 - Curtiss
• YO-51 Dragonfly - Ryan
• Y1O-27 - Fokker
• O-52 Owl - Curtiss
• O-28 Corsair - Vought
• O-53 Havoc - Douglas
• O-29 - Douglas
• YO-54 - Stinson
• O-30 - Curtiss
• YO-55 - ERCO
• O-31 - Douglas
• O-56 Ventura - Lockheed
• O-32 - Douglas
• O-57 Grasshopper - Taylorcraft
• Y1O-33 - Thomas-Morse
(redesignated L-2 in 1942)
• O-34 - Douglas
• O-58 Grasshopper - Aeronca
• O-35 - Douglas (redesignated L-3 in 1942)
• XO-36 - Douglas • O-59 Grasshopper - Piper
• O-37 - Keystone (redesignated L-4 in 1942)

• O-38 - Douglas • O-60 - Kellett

• O-39 Falcon - Curtiss • YO-61 - Pitcairn

• O-40 Raven - Curtiss • O-62 Sentinel - Stinson (redesignated

L-5 in 1942)
• Y1O-41 - Thomas-Morse
• XO-63 Grasshopper - Interstate
• O-42 - Douglas (redesignated XL-6 in 1942)
• Y1O-43 - Douglas

Observation amphibian, 1925-1948

• OA-1 - Loening • OA-9 Goose - Grumman

• OA-2 - Loening • OA-10 Catalina - Consolidated
• OA-3 Dolphin - Douglas • OA-11 - Sikorsky
• OA-4 Dolphin - Douglas • OA-12 Duck - Grumman
• OA-5 - Douglas • OA-13 Goose - Grumman
• OA-6 - Consolidated • OA-14 Widgeon - Grumman
• OA-7 - Douglas • OA-15 Seabee - Republic
• OA-8 - Sikorsky
 Liaison, 1942-1962

• L-1 Vigilant - Stinson • L-15 Scout - Boeing

• 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-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-10 Mitchell - North American

• F-2 Expeditor - Beechcraft • XF-11/XR-11 - Hughes (redesignated
XR-11 in 1948)
• F-3 Havoc - Douglas
• XF-12/XR-12 Rainbow - Republic
• F-4 Lightning - Lockheed
(redesignated XR-12 in 1948)
• F-5 Lightning - Lockheed
• F-13 Superfortress - Boeing
• F-6 Mustang - North American
• XF-14 Shooting Star - Lockheed
• F-7 Liberator - Consolidated
• F-15 Reporter - Northrop
• F-8 Mosquito - de Havilland
• XR-16 Stratofortress - Boeing
• F-9 Flying Fortress - Boeing

Reconnaissance-Strike 1960-1962

Both of the following aircraft are part of the B- (bomber) series.

• RS-70 Valkyrie - North American RS-71 Blackbird - Lockheed

Rotary Wing 1941-1948 * Helicopter 1948-present

Designated R- for "rotary wing" until 1948, when the United States Air Force was

• R-5/H-5
founded. AfterDragonfly
this, all R-- designations
Sikorsky
numbers were retained. After 1962, the series was• YH-41 Seneca
• R-6 Hoverfly II - Sikorsky
Designation System.
• 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
• XH-40 - Bell
were changed to H- ("helicopter"), but the original
continued - Cessna
within the Unified
• 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
 Trainer

Advanced Trainer 1925-1948

• AT-1 - Huff-Daland • XAT-13 Gunner - Fairchild

• 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-14 Gunner - Fairchild
• XAT-15 Crewmaker - Boeing-Stearman
• 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 • Y1BT-10 - North American

• BT-2 - Douglas • BT-11 - Aircraft Research
• YBT-3 - Stearman • BT-12 - Fleetwings
• XBT-4 - Curtiss • BT-13 Valiant - Vultee
• YBT-5 - Stearman • BT-14 - North American
• BT-6 - Consolidated • BT-15 Valiant - Vultee
• Y1BT-7 - Consolidated • XBT-16 Valiant - Vultee
• BT-8 - Seversky • XBT-17 - Boeing
• BT-9 - North American

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 • Heinkel He 22 - Heinkel

• Avro Anson - Avro
• De Havilland Dominie - De Havilland
• De Havilland Moth Minor - De
Havilland
• De Havilland Tiger Moth - De Havilland
• Morane-Saulnier MS-234 - Morane-
Saulnier
• Miles Master
• 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-34 Mentor - Beechcraft

• 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-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-48 - Cessna
• T-44 Pegasus - Beechcraft • T-49 - Boeing
• T-45 Goshawk - McDonnell Douglas • T-50 Golden Eagle - Korean Aerospace
Industries (none have actually been
• T-46 - Fairchild
procured by the United States)
• T-47 - Cessna
• T-51 - Cessna

Convertiplane 1952-1962

• XV-1 - McDonnell XV-2 - Sikorsky

• XV-3 - Bell

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 HC-1A (redesignated CH-46C in 1962)

HC-1B (redesignated CH-47A in 1962)

Helicopter Observation 1956-1962

• HO-1 - Sud-Ouest 1962)

• HO-2 - Hughes Aircraft
• HO-3 - Brantly
• HO-4 - Bell (redesignated OH-4A in
• 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-8 Airgeep - Piasecki

• VZ-2 - Boeing Vertol
• VZ-3 Vertiplane - Ryan
• VZ-4 Convertiplane - Doak
• VZ-5 Fledgling - Fairchild
• VZ-6 - Chrysler
• VZ-7 - Curtiss-Wright
• 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

• Z-1 - Goodyear Z-2 Sentinel - Westinghouse Airships

• Z-3 - American Blimp

Anti-Submarine Warfare

• S-1 - skipped S-2 Tracker - Grumman

• S-3 Viking - Lockheed

Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter

• SH-2 Seasprite - Kaman • SH-34 Seabat - Sikorsky

• SH-3 Sea King - Sikorsky • SH-60 Seahawk - Sikorsky Aircraft

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[3]
• 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-37 Dragonfly - Cessna (originally designated AT-37)

Attack Helicopter

• AH-1 Cobra - Bell • YAH-63 Kingcobra - Bell

• AH-6J Little Bird - Hughes • AH-64 Apache - Hughes/Boeing
• AH-56 Cheyenne - Lockheed • RAH-66 Comanche - Boeing/Sikorsky

Fixed-Wing Gunships

Use for attack missions is indicated by the modified mission identifier A-.
• AU-23 - Fairchild Hiller/Pilatus • AC-119 Shadow/Stinger - Fairchild
• AU-24 - Helio • AC-123K Provider - Fairchild
• AC-47 Spooky - Douglas • AC-130 Spectre/Spooky - Lockheed

Bomber

• B-1 Lancer - Rockwell B-2 Spirit - Northrop Grumman

Cargo

• C-1 Trader - Grumman • C-8 Buffalo - de Havilland Canada

• 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-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-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
Cargo Helicopter
• CH-3 Sea King - Sikorsky
• CH-19 Chickasaw - Sikorsky
• CH-21 Shawnee - Piasecki
• CH-34 Choctaw - Sikorsky
• CH-37 Mojave - Sikorsky
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
• 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
• CH-46 Sea Knight - Boeing
• CH-47 Chinook - Boeing
• CH-53 Sea Stallion - Sikorsky
• CH-54 Tarhe - Sikorsky
• XCH-62 - Boeing
• 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
Electronic Warfare
• E-1 Tracer - Grumman
• E-2 Hawkeye - Grumman
18
• E-3 Sentry - Boeing
• E-4 NAOC - Boeing
• E-5 - Windecker
• E-6 Mercury - 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
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
Q-13 - skipped
• Q-14 Dragon Eye - AeroVironment
• Q-15 Neptune - DRS Technologies
E-7 - designation reserved, but never
assigned (aircraft was designated EC-
instead)
• E-8 Joint STARS - Boeing
• E-9 Widget - de Havilland Canada
• E-10 MC2A - Boeing
• 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
• 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

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
• 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[4][5]
• 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.[6]
• YF-110 - Designation used for captured MiG-21s[4]
• YF-112 - Allegedly used for captured MiGs[4]
• YF-113 - Designation used for captured MiG-23s and MiG-17s[4][6]
• YF-114 - Designation used for captured MiG-17s[4]
• F-117 Nighthawk - Lockheed
• YF-117D Tacit Blue[4]
• YF-121 rumoured Black Project[4]
• The Boeing Bird of Prey is believed to have received a "YF-1xx" designation.[4]

Glider

• TG-1 - Schweizer • TG-9 - Schleicher

• TG-2 - Schweizer • TG-10 - Let L-13/L-23/L-33 Blaník
• TG-3 - Schweizer • TG-11 - Stemme
• TG-4 - Schweizer • TG-12 - Caproni Vizzola
• TG-5 - Schweizer G-13 - skipped
• TG-6 - Schweizer • TG-14 - Grupo Aeromat
• TG-7 - Schweizer • TG-15 - Schempp-Hirth
• RG-8 Condor - Schweizer

Helicopter

• H-1 - Bell • H-3 Sea King - Sikorsky

• H-2 Seasprite - Kaman • YOH-4 - Bell
• YOH-5 - Fairchild Hiller • OH-6 Cayuse - Hughes

Laser

• YAL-1 - Boeing

Observation

• O-1 Bird Dog - Cessna • ZO-4 - Wren

• O-2 Skymaster - Cessna • O-5 - De Havilland Canada
• YO-3A Quiet Star - Lockheed

Observation Helicopter

• OH-6 Cayuse - Hughes OH-58 Kiowa - Bell

Patrol

• P-1 - skipped
• 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 (Converted Aircraft)

• RA-3 Skywarrior - Douglas • RB-45 Tornado - North American]]

• RA-5 Vigilante - North American
• RB-17 Flying Fortress - Boeing
• RB-26 Invader - Douglas
• RB-29 Superfortress - Boeing
• RB-36 Peacemaker - Convair
• 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 • KB-47 Stratojet - Boeing

• KA-6 Intruder - Grumman
• KC-10 Extender - McDonnell Douglas
• KB-29 Superfortress - Boeing
• KC-45 - Northrup Grumman(currently
on order)
• 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
T-5 - skipped
• T-6 Texan II - Beechcraft

Utility, 1955-present

• U-1 Otter - de Havilland Canada • U-5 Twin Courier - Helio

• U-2 - Lockheed • U-6 Beaver - de Havilland Canada
• U-3 - Cessna • U-7 Super Cub - Piper
• U-4 Aero Commander - Aero Design • U-8 Seminole - Beechcraft
• U-9 Aero Commander - Aero Design
• U-10 Super Courier - Helio
• U-11 Aztec - Piper
U-12 - skipped
U-13 - skipped
U-14 - skipped
U-15 - skipped
• U-16 Albatross - Grumman
• U-17 Skywagon - Cessna
• U-18 Navion - North American/Ryan
• U-19 Sentinel - Stinson
Utility Helicopter
• UH-1 Iroquois - Bell
• UH-3 Sea King - Sikorsky
• UH-34 Seahorse - Sikorsky
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-8 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
• 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
• UH-60 Blackhawk - Sikorsky
• UH-72A Lakota - American Eurocopter
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 - Skytrader