Number 3: Lockheed C-5, Nickname: FRED
The C-5 is one ginormous jet…so big when it debuted that it seemed too large to be real. But like most mythical warriors, it has an Achilles heel. In this case, it was a giant heel…the plane was always broken.
Back in the 1960s, Lockheed set out to build a huge cargo carrying jet. They incorporated a host of features that really pushed the envelope. The jet’s landing gear was incredibly complex. The ability for the jet to kneel was revolutionary (and revolutionarily complex). And its TF-39 engines were some of the first turbofan engines. Unfortunately, they had a tendency to fail quite often.
All these problems led to a nickname that summed up the mess of a jet. The official nickname for the C-5A was the Galaxy but most people call it “FRED”. FRED stands for F*cking Ridiculous Economic Disaster! You can learn more about the nickname here.
A-7 Corsair II. SLUF Short Little Ugle F**k
The DC 10. Diesel 10.
Douglas A3D Skywarrior
8
The USAF version (B-66) was nicknamed the “Suey”.
Beechcraft Bonanza: “Fork-tailed Doctor Killer.” (Unfair, IMO)
SB2C Helldiver: “Son of a B***h Second Class”
C-130 Hercules: “Eastern European Whisper Jet” (according to Air Force Magazine cartoonist Bob Stevens)
F-16: “Lawn Dart”
Fairey Swordfish: “Stringbag”
F-18 Hornet: “Plastic Bug”
Cessna Skymaster: “Mixmaster”
Cessna 150….Cesspool One Filthy
T-37 Tweet…Converter (Converts fuel to noise!)
Piper Tomahawk….Traumahawk
Cessna Citation…Slowtation
Learjet 23 – Pocket Rocket
C-119 – Flying Boxcar (actually that’s it’s official name!)
G-1 – Hummin’ Grumman
A-10 – Warthog
F-105 – Thud
ATR 42/72 – Franco-Italian Death Machine