Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

AE05
Aircraft Recognition

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

Aircraft Recognition
I.

Classification

II.

1.

By Type of Wing
Rotary Wing (Helicopter) vs Fixed Wing (Aeroplane)

2.

By Purpose
Military vs Civil

3.

By Mission
Fighter, Bomber, Transport, Reconnaissance, Training, etc.

4.

By Source of Power
Glider vs Propeller/Rotor vs Jet Engine

Naming and Designation System

e.g.

"Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit"

1.

"Northrop Grumman" refers to the Manufacturer of the aircraft.

Some aircraft may involve more than one manufacturers. For
example,
"Boeing/BAe AV-8 Harrier"
Some major aircraft manufacturers are listed as follows
Eurocopter [France]
British Aerospace (BAe) [UK]
Boeing / Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) [USA]
Lockheed Martin [USA]
Northrop Grumman [USA]
Saab [Sweden]
Airbus [France/Germany/Spain/UK]
Sikorsky [USA]

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

2.

"B-2 Spirit" refers to the Reporting Name of the aircraft.

The

letter at the beginning of the Reporting Name may reflect the

mission/functionality of the aircraft.
Some of the more
common role letters are as follows:
A Ground Attack
B Bomber
C Transport
E Special Electronic Mission
F Fighter
G Glider
H Helicopter
K Tanker
R Reconnaissance
S Antisubmarine Warfare
T Trainer
U Utility
V VSTOL (Vertical/Short Distance Take-Off and Landing)
X Special Research

III.

WETFUS Approach
1.

When examining an aircraft for the purposes of determining its

make, model and role, it is necessary to look at the various
aspects of the aircrafts size, shape and features. A systematic
approach "WETFUS" is useful for aircraft identification
W ings
E ngines
T ailplane
F uselage
U ndercarriage
S pecial features

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

2.

The list below describes the features that should be examined so

as to determine the type of aircraft:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Shape and size of the WINGS

Position and number of ENGINES
Shape and size of the TAILPLANE and RUDDER
Shape and size of the FUSELAGE
Type and style of UNDERCARRIAGE eg fixed, retractable,
tricycle or taildragger

f. Shape and size of the FIN and TAILPLANE

g. Position of WINGS and TAILPLANE in relation to the
FUSELAGE
h. Type of ENGINE/s eg jet, turbo prop, or incline or radial
piston engine.
i. Position, size and shape of such additional parts as
DORSAL and VENTRAL FINS, WING FENCES etc
j. Position, size and shape of such additional parts as
BULGERS, PODS, BOOMS, ANTENNAE and PROBES.

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

IV. Recognition Features
1.

Types of Aircraft
a.

Propeller Driven Types

b.

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Gas Turbine Driven Types

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

2.

Wing Planforms Shape

a. Sweep Backward

b. Sweep Forward

c. Delta

d. Rectangular

e. Tapered

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

3.

Wing Mounting Angle

a. Dihedral

4.

b. Anhedral

Wing Position on Fuselage

a. Low Wing

b. Mid Wing

c. High Wing

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

5.

Engine Configurations
a. Mounted in Nose

b. In Fuselage

c. On Pylons at Rear of
Fuselage

d. Mounted in Wings

e. On Wing Pylons

f.

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Mounted on Fin

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

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6.

Tailplane Configurations
a. Conventional

b. Tee

c. Dual Fin

7.

d. Mid-Fin Mounted

Fuselage Shapes
a. Tubular

b. Square

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

8.

Undercarriage
a. Tricycle

b. Tail Dragger

c. Floats

9.

Special Features
a. Radar Rotordome

b. Refueling Probes

c. Bomb Bay Door

d. Winglets

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

V.

Aircraft Recognition Guide (Level 1)

1.

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload

Dimensions

USA
Strategic Bomber
High/backward-swept wings; four
pairs of engines on wing pylons;
tubular fuselage
2 pilots, 3 operators, 1 gunner;
24,750 kg warload
L-49m; W-56.4m; H-12.4m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

2.

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload

Dimensions

USA
Strategic Heavy Transport
High/backward-swept wings; four
turbofans;
winglets;
upper-fin
mounted T-tail
2 pilots, 2 crew, 154 troops, 102
paratroops, 48 stretchers; 77,290 kg
cargo;
L-53m; W-51.7m; H-16.8m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

3.

Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F/A-18 Hornet

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

USA
Carrier-Borne Multi-Role Fighter
High/delta wings; long leading edge;
twin tails angled outwards
1 pilot; 7,031 warload
L-17m; W-11.4m; H-4.7m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

4.

BAe Hawk

Origin
Role

:
:

Main Features

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

Military Aircraft

UK
Operational Trainer / Ground Attack
Fighter
Low/backward-swept wings; single
engine in fuselage; tandem cockpit
2 pilots; 3,000 kg warload
L-12.4m; W-9.4m; H-3.4m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

5.

Boeing / BAe AV-8 Harrier

Origin
Role

:
:

Main Features

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

USA/UK
Carrier-Borne VSTOL Multi-Role
Fighter
High/backward-swept wings; anhedral
wings; movable turbine exhausts;
intakes on both sides of fuselage
1 pilot; 4,899 kg warload
L-14.5m; W-9.2m; H-3.5m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

6.

Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15 Eagle

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

USA
Air Superiority Fighter
High/backwark-swept wings; twin tails;
twin engines in fuselage
1 pilot, 10,705 kg warload
L-19.4m; W-13m; H-5.6m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

7.

GKN Westland Wessex

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

UK
Shipborne Anti Submarine Helicopter
Four rotor/twin turbine; high set
cockpit;
nose-mounted
engine;
exhausts near the nose
2 pilots, 16 troops; 3,628 kg cargo
L-14.7m; R-18.9m; H-5.1m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

8.

Lockheed Martin F-117A Nighthawk

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

USA
Stealth Fighter/Bomber
Low/backward-swept wings;
twin tails angled outwards;
stealth features
1 pilot; 1,814 kg warload
L-20.1m; W-13.2m; H-3.8m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

9.

Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird

Origin
Role

:
:

Main Features

Payload

Dimensions

USA
Strategic
Reconnaissance
Aircraft
Mid/delta wings; twin tails
angled inwards; two engines
mounted in wings; long leading
edge; stealth features
1 pilot, 1 operator; speed over
Mach 3.2 / 3,200 kph
L-32.7m; W-16.9m; H-5.6m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

10.

Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload

Dimensions

USA
Medium Tactical Transport
High/straight
wings;
four
turboprops; large nose radium
2 pilots, 3 crew, 92 troops, 64
paratroops, 74 stretchers; 17,645
kg cargo
L-34.3m; W-40.4m; H-11.6m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

11.

Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

USA
Mulit-Role Fighter
Mid/delta wings; long leading edge;
single engine in fuselage; ventral
intake
1 pilot; 4,320 kg warload
L-15m ; W-9.4m ; H-5.1m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

12.

Lockheed Martin / Boeing F-22 Raptor

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

USA
Air Superiority Stealth Fighter
Mid/swept diamond wings; twin tails
angled out; twin engines in fuselage;
stealth features
1 pilot
L-18.9m; W-13.6m; H-5m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

13.

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

USA
Strategic Stealth Bomber
Tail-less flying wings; double-W
trailing edge; bomb bay doors;
stealth features
2 pilots; 22,680 kg warload
L-21m ;W-52.4m; H-5.2m

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Military Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

14.

Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

Military Aircraft

USA
Carrier-Borne Interceptor
High/swing wings; twin tails; twin engines in
fuselage; tandem cockpit for 2 pilots/operators
1 pilot, 1 operator; 6,577 kg warload
L-19.1m; W-19.5m ; H-4.8m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

15.

Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

Military Aircraft

USA
Carrier-Borne Early Warning Aircraft
High/straight wings; twin turboprops; radar
rotordome; additional skegs
2 pilots, 3 mission crew
L-17.6m; W-24.6m; H-5.6m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

16.

Saab JAS 39 Gripen

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

Military Aircraft

Sweden
Multi-role Fighter
Mid/tail-less delta wings; movable
canards; single engine in fuselage
1 pilot; 4,500 kg warload
L-14.1m; W-8.4m; H-4.5m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

17.

Aerospatiale / BAe Concorde

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload / Range :
Dimensions

France/UK
Supersonic Airliner
Low/tail-less delta wings; two pairs of
underwing turbojets; pointed nose;
narrow tubular fuselage
128 passengers; 12,700 kg cargo; 6,580
km range
L-62.1m; W-25.5m; H-11.4m

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Civil Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

18.

Airbus A300-600ST Beluga

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload / Range :
Dimensions
:

Civil Aircraft

France/Germany/Spain/UK
Supersize Cargo Freighter
Low/backward-swept
wings;
bulged
fuselage; upwards hinging main cargo
door; twin turbofans on wing pylons;
enlarged tailplane with winglets
47,000 kg cargo; 4,000 km range
L-56.2m; W-44.8m; H-17.2m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

19.

Airbus A330

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload / Range :
Dimensions

Civil Aircraft

France/Germany/Spain/UK
Medium-haul Airliner
Low/backward-swept wings; twin turofans
on wing pylons; narrow tubular fuselage;
winglets
440 passengers; 46,715 kg cargo; 8,334
km range
L-63.6m; W- 60.3m; H-16.2m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

20.

Airbus A340

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload / Range :
Dimensions

Civil Aircraft

France/Germany/Spain/UK
Long-haul Airliner
Low/backward-swept wings; four
turofans on wing pylons; narrow
tubular fuselage; winglets
335 passengers; 45,915 kg cargo;
13,343 km range
L-59.4m; W-60.3m; H-16.7m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

21.

BAe Jetstream J-41

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload / Range :
Dimensions

Civil Aircraft

UK
Shot-haul Commuter
Low/straight wings; twin turboprops
in wings; mid-fin mounted tailplane
29 passengers; 3,628 kg cargo;
1,433 km range
L-19.2m; W-18.3m; H-5.7m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

22.

Boeing 747-400

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload / Range :
Dimensions

Civil Aircraft

USA
Long-haul Airliner
Low/backward-swept wings; four
turofans on wing pylons; winglets;
top deck extended to mid fuselage
421 passengers; 113,000 kg cargo;
13,390 km range
L-70.6m; W-64.4m; H-19.4m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

23.

Boeing 777

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload / Range :
Dimensions

Civil Aircraft

USA
Long-haul Airliner
Low/backward-swept wings; twin
turofans on wing pylons; wide
tubular fuselage
440 passengers; 54,660 kg cargo;
13,667 km range
L-63.7m; W-60.9m; H-18.5m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

24.

Cessna 172 Skyhawk

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload / Range :
Dimensions

Civil Aircraft

USA
Light Sports Aircraft
High/braced straight wings; single
piston engine at nose; four size
windows
4 passengers; 54 kg cargo; 1,620
km range
L-8.2m; W-10.9m; H-2.7m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

25.

Eurocopter AS 332 SuperPuma

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload

Dimensions

France/Germany
Medium Lift Helicopter
Four rotor/twin turbine; retractable
landing gear; side pods
2 pilots, 1 crew, 25 troops; 4,500 kg
cargo
L-15.5m; R-15.6m; H-4.9m

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Civil Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

26.

Eurocopter EC 155B1

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

Civil Aircraft

France/Germany
Light Helicopter
Five rotor/twin turbine; retractable
landing gear; fenestron tail; tailplane
with winglets
2 pilots, 12 passengers; 4,850 kg cargo
L-10.9m; R-11.5m; H-3.5m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

27.

Robinson R22

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

Civil Aircraft

USA
Ultra Light Helicopter
Twin rotor/single piston engine;
high-mounted rotorhead; long thin tail
boom
2 pilots; 181 kg cargo
L-6.3m; R-7.7m; H-2.7m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

28.

Robinson R44

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload
Dimensions

:
:

Civil Aircraft

USA
Light Helicopter
Twin rotor/single piston engine;
high-mounted rotorhead; two side
windows
2 pilots, 2 passengers
L-11.6m; R-10.1m; H-3.3m

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Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

29.

Sikorsky S-70 / UH-60 Black Hawk

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload

Dimensions

USA
Utility Helicopter
Four rotor/twin turbine; tall tail fin;
low tailplane; low/wide fuselage
2 pilots, 2 crew, 14 troops; 3,629
kg cargo
L-15.3m; R-16.4m; H-5.1m

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Civil Aircraft

Student Resource Materials AE05 Aircraft Recognition

30.

Sikorsky S-76

Origin
Role
Main Features

:
:
:

Payload

Dimensions

Civil Aircraft

USA
Utility Helicopter
Four rotor/single turbine; retractable
landing gear; low tailplane; twin side
doors
2 pilots, 14 passengers; 1,497 kg
cargo
L-13.4m; R-13.4m; H-4.4m

<< End >>

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