Airplane Designations Explained

Get a glimpse into all types of aircraft in the US Military, and learn how to make sense of “the codes” that are used to identify aircraft. This is #NotWhatYouThink #NWYT #longs

Music:
Sons of Zeus - Sons of Hades
Proven - Sons of Hades
Inbound - Brendon Moeller
Hyena - Tigerblood Jewel
Roused - Sons of Hades
Beech Street Blue - Roy Edwin Williams
Reni - Valente
Metamorphous - Hampus Naeselius
Eyes of Yours - Edgar Hopp
I am Unbreakable - Niklas Johansson
Prescient - Howard Harper Barnes
Virginia Highway - Tigerblood Jewel
Bulletin World - Out to the World
Displaced - Robert Ruth

Footage:
Creative Commons:
LEJ.approach
holy 5
buttonfreak01
Donald Von Raesfeld

NASA

National Archives

Shuttterstock

Videoblocks

US Department of Defense

Note: "The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."

[hazmatt]

The “K” for tankers represents “Kerosene” to clear up any confusion. “S” can also mean “Spy/Surveillance” in the case of the SR-71.

[mathass]

This has to be the smoothest sponsor transition ive ever seen.

[jamesdelius]

There actually was an A-4 Skyhawk, A-5 Vigilante, A-6 Intruder, and A-7 Corsair II. The AV-8 is exactly where it should be.

[decrobyron]

Most dedicated sponsor commercial content ever.

[jaumeecs]

Ngl, the intro for the sponsor was smooth af.

*revives avocado*

[aerohk]

Learned more about warplanes in a short video than I did in 7 years in the Air Force.

[xanfsnark]

So what I'm hearing is that it would be technically possible to make a prototype special electronic mission version of an electronic mission helicopter designated YEEH-4A!

[TheLastArbiter]

Prior to this designation system, P primarily referred to “Pursuit” aircraft (basically fighters) such as the P-38, P-40, and P-51

[BladedAngel]

Finally, I found a Not What You Think Video

Where it ended up being Exactly What I Thought.

[CookieShepsky]

This opened my eyes after so many years of not realizing the letters and numbers had any function and thinking they were just "names" given by manufacturing
Thank you so much, my life has become better

[keanusw]

Thank you, I was also researching this myself
here is the data I observe from military aircraft
A= Attacker
B= Bomber
C= Cargo/Transport
D= Dive Bomber?
E= Electronic equipped
F= Fighter
G= Glider/Permanenly Grounded
H= Search and rescue
I= (I can't find this one)
J= Special test, temporary
K= Aerial refueling plane
L= Laser equiped
M= Military Mission
N= Special test, permanent
O= Observation
P= Pursuit/Patrol
Q= Long range drone/unmanned aircraft
R= Reconnaissance
S= Scout/Anti-submarine
T= Training
U= Utility
V= VTOL
W= Weather reconnaissance
X= Experimental
Y= Prototype
Z= Planning

[jsstt]

honestly... this video let me speechless... simply amazing detail and information... amazing... truly amazing

[whoseni]

I choked on my water when they talked about the sponsor

[Boe_Jidens_Hair_Sniffing]

Small correction: Tsar Bomba was actually only 50MT, not 100. It was changed in the late stages of development in order to give the pilots who dropped it a whopping 50% chance of survival versus the certain death of dropping a 100MT. Also because even the Russians knew 100MT was just too much lol

[lowtiersupport]

These puns are kind of good, not gonna lie. Thanks for explaining the letter in this video!

[UltraMagaFan]

YEH-60B is a prototype (Y) electronic warfare (E) helicopter (H) equipped with a high precision radar antenna mainly designed to detect moving targets on a battlefield and datalink the location of them to army ground stations (stand off target acquisition). It’s based off of an A model Blackhawk which is the 60th designated helicopter (-60) and it’s the second prototype of the YEH variant. (B) The first one (YEH-60A) having a radar that was susceptible to ice. They fixed the icing problem in the B model.

[BlessedSeal]

From my knowledge and experience, a-10 warthog when flying, is not as loud as you think, it’s as loud as a propeller plabe

[F.B.I.Agency]

I love the fact that i spend hours watching things about army and learning more and more.But when it comes to study i cant even study for 5 mins.

[OrbInDaFrame]

5:21
That handshake is what I strive for

[danialkarim]

YEH-60B meaning: Y is for Prototype then E is for Electronic, H is for helicopter, 60 the 60th design or for a name and B for the second series.