Plane Language: The Alternative Dictionary of Aviation

Plane Language is an aviation book like no other. Part One explores the whole language and culture of aviation, from the origin of the very word aeroplane itself (and why Americans prefer airplane) through such terms as Blimp, Canard, Chopper, Archie, Ass-ender, Boxkite, and Bucket of Sunshine. In commercial aviation, why might cabin crew brand you a Phillip or a Bob, and what is crop dusting?

With over a thousand separate entries, Part Two is full of fun facts and anecdotes, and examines aviation nicknames and colloquial terms, changed names, fictional names, and the names of rare and lesser-known variants; what famous aircraft had variants called the Tsetse, Jackaroo or Kurnass? Where in the RAF was Albert Square, how did an American aircraft carrier come to be called John's Sore Penis, and what was Britain's super-secret Vennet fighter? (see cover) What American airlifters were paired as the Big Mac & the Quarter-Pounder, or Fred & Barney as in "The Flintstones" ? Which airliners were known as the Playtex Jet, the Stratoboozer, the Barbie Jet, or John Holmes' Condom? Did president Johnson really fluff his lines when unveiling the Mach 3 Blackbird, and how did a typist change the title of a multi-Billion Pound international helicopter project? What was the Rutland Reindeer, the Mayfield Kestrel, or the Ridgefield Prometheus? Why did the UK and France bicker over the spelling of Concorde? What did the Spitfire's designer think to the name, and what did Harrier pilots really call their aircraft (it certainly wasn't Jump Jet) This book will answer all these questions and many, many more.

Parts Three & Four describe the formal aircraft naming protocols in the US and Great Britain; do you know, for example, why manufacturers had to resort to such curious names as Boulton & Paul Bobolink and English Electric Eclectic? Parts Five & Six are an exhaustive study of Western reporting names of Japanese WWII aircraft and Russian/Chinese aircraft of the Cold War era; how did one of the best WWII fighters come to be called Zero by both sides, and what is a Fishcan, Faithless or Madcap? Plane Language is both informative and entertaining, a book that you will delve into over and over again. (Includes some historic language and/or cultural stereotypes that may be inconsistent with today's standards.)