Any nicknames yet for the F-35 Lightning II ?

[danpass]

I imagine there would also need to be differentiators between versions, such as when a -B lands on a carrier. Perhaps, "STOVL in the break".

It's lame but descriptive lol.

 

[sevenhelmet]

I wouldn't expect that to happen much. How often does a Harrier land on a CVN now?

As to the ball call, I don't know the jargon they picked for an F-35C, maybe one of the LSOs here can chime in. I have some suggestions though, if anyone's interested...

 

[Hair Warrior]

Here's one: Budget-breaker

Applies to all variants.

 

[SynixMan]

Here's one: Budget-breaker

Applies to all variants.

Too many syllables. And not that funny of a joke.

 

[danpass]

I wouldn't expect that to happen much. How often does a Harrier land on a CVN now?

As to the ball call, I don't know the jargon they picked for an F-35C, maybe one of the LSOs here can chime in. I have some suggestions though, if anyone's interested...

There was once a Harrier det on CV-42 back in the late 70s. Maybe someone remembers what they were labeled? (I think the det worked out too well as it never happened again lol.)

Perhaps cross decking will happen more often with the STOVLs operating off the Queen's carriers.

 

[Flash]

The X-32 had a great one, 'Monica'.

 

[Hopeful Hoya]

The X-32 had a great one, 'Monica'.

Not hard to see why...

 

[Treetop Flyer]

Not hard to see why...

That's the ugliest jet on earth

 

[sevenhelmet]

According to my skipper, it's just "Lightning, ball" on the ball call.

I was thinking, "Money, Ball" or maybe "Chuck Norris" would be fun, especially since it has that MaGiC CaRPeT voodoo built in. (Yes, it's actually an acronym, not that the tail ever wags the dog on those...)

Also, I probably got the capitalization wrong, but I don't really care.

 

[Uncle Fester]

The Growlers are "Grizzly" on the ball and E-2D is "Tracer", but I don't think either of those will ever catch on as "nicknames".

According to my skipper, it's just "Lightning, ball" on the ball call.

Well, at least ball lightning is a thing.

 

[Renegade One]

"Lightning II"…a head-nod to the legacy of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, the latter christened the "Fork-Tailed Devil" by the Germans. As the F-35 also has twin tails, it, too, could merit the nickname. Just as F-16 "Fighting Falcon" is widely known as the "Viper", I predict F-35 pilots will call themselves "Devil drivers". Probably won't affect the ball call terminology, however...

 

[IKE]

HS-14's callsign is "Lightning", which could cause confusion on one carrier. I know it bugged me for my first few months at Pax hearing the F-35 use it on the radio. I guess DT programs can just call themselves whatever they want.

Edit: shouldn't the F-35 get an animal nickname like most aircraft?

 

[wlawr005]

HS-14's callsign is "Lightning", which could cause confusion on one carrier. I know it bugged me for my first few months at Pax hearing the F-35 use it on the radio. I guess DT programs can just call themselves whatever they want.

Yeah, it's always confusing when a helo calls the ball.

As for "Devil Driver", that has fucking Air Force written all over it.

 

[danpass]

Wouldn't 'Lightning' cause confusion during weather? In my time in the bug smasher world here in SoFla lightning has a very specific meaning so that's all I have to go on lol.

Right now I've got the F-35, in general, using 'Marauder'. I wanted 'Wraith' but saw that was wasted on the RQ-170 drone.

 

[Flash]

Edit: shouldn't the F-35 get an animal nickname like most aircraft?

Goat?