Forum Title

[Zeagle]

Creature is correct. I was involved in military aviation for 25 years. Not once ever did I hear the F-16 referred to as Fighting Falcon. Pilots and GCA alike referred to them as F-16 or Viper. And I had a friend who was a DFC recipient and flew them. It's the Viper.

 

When the bird was new, the community wanted to call it Viper after the Battlestar Galactica viper.

The brass didn't like that idea and came up with a PC name of their own. In the beginning the Viper moniker was a nickname. It became ubiquitous over time. It's like the Hawg. The brass would never go with Hog or Hawg or Warthog.

 

The only people I have ever heard call it a Fighting Falcon were modelers, TV personnel, and some authors...and of course Gilman Louie

Edited May 24, 2019 by Zeagle

[BuzzU]

Not sure why I like Viper. I hate snakes.

[Kev2go]

call it the fighting falcon.

 

 

I mean the F18 was called the Hornet, but people nickname it the bug

[BuzzU]

call it the fighting falcon.

 

 

I mean the F18 was called the Hornet, but people nickname it the bug

 

Which is wrong. A hornet isn't a bug, it's an insect.

[Kev2go]

Which is wrong. A hornet isn't a bug, it's an insect.

 

 

 

[BuzzU]

Tomcat drivers call it a bug. I believe they mean it as an insult.

[Sarge55]

F-16 = Viper.

 

And an F-18 is called a target.

[NineLine]

Fighting Falcon sounds like what they called you in highschool, but then you dropped out, got swole and and a bunch of tattoos, and now they call you Viper. :D

[drPhibes]

Next, you'll be telling me a trunk is a boot.

 

 

To quote the brilliant B.O.M. guys: "Yes, boot, not trunk. It's not a tree or an elephant"

[Guest]

+1 for Fighting Falcon as well.

[BuzzU]

To quote the brilliant B.O.M. guys: "Yes, boot, not trunk. It's not a tree or an elephant"

 

I put boots on my feet. :)

[CarbonFox]

I just posted about this in another thread and didn't see this. I too would rather see them use its official moniker of Fighting Falcon over a nickname. I have the same gripe with the Warthog nickname getting overused for the A-10 as if it's the official name over Thunderbolt II.

[BuzzU]

You don't have a nickname that your friends call you?

[RaceFuel85]

I just posted about this in another thread and didn't see this. I too would rather see them use its official moniker of Fighting Falcon over a nickname. I have the same gripe with the Warthog nickname getting overused for the A-10 as if it's the official name over Thunderbolt II.

 

Best not tell the USAF Viper Demo Team

[CarbonFox]

You don't have a nickname that your friends call you?

 

 

Nothing wrong with a nickname. It just seems odd to not market it under its official name. I don't foresee the RAZBAM F-15E being marketed under the name Mud Hen. Outside of the marketing angle, you can use whatever name you like. I've always used Falcon or Viper.

[Revelation]

Have you considered they don't have the licensing signed to use the Fighting Falcon name?

[Kev2go]

Tomcat drivers call it a bug. I believe they mean it as an insult.

 

ah yes, the ones in the museum? just like their turkey?

[Wags]

As mentioned earlier, this is the name will be going with and it will not be changing. While we appreciate the feedback as always, this has already been settled.

 

As always, try as we might, we can never make everyone happy.

 

Thanks