The Dictionary of International Aircraft Nicknames, Variants and Colloquial Terms - Hardcover

Horton, John E.

9780948817755: The Dictionary of International Aircraft Nicknames, Variants and Colloquial Terms

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0948817755 ISBN 13: 9780948817755

Publisher: Grub Street Publishing, 1994

Which World War I types were known as the "Rumpety","Gnome Sandwich", "Blockbuster", "Bognor Bloater" and "Harry Tate"? Where will you find a "Pig", "Possum" and "Plastic Parrot"? John Horton has compiled a comprehensive A-Z of aircraft names. The book explores evocative names such as the "Aardvark", which refers to the General Dynamics F-111 and its "modus operandi" rather than its appearance as a great long nose grubbing the dirt. The subculture of informal and colloquial names has remained vigorous and inventive throughout the century and models from World War I to Vietnam are covered. Such names not only tend to be humourous and anecdotal, but also reveal the more interesting characteristics of the aircraft concerned.

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