Number 1: Airbus A350, Nickname: Trash Panda
Ok, this nickname takes the cake! The A350 XWB was designed to compete as the perfect niche between the 787 and 777. It features ultra-efficient engines, a super critical composite wing, and some pretty sweet cabin comfort features. It also features a very unique cockpit window paint scheme.
The official reasoning for the window’s unique shape and black outline was found on a Virgin Atlantic blog post. “The perfectly curved shape of the nose helps the air flow hug the surface, in the least turbulent manner, thereby reducing drag. The emblematic “Ray-Ban” like black windshield eases the window’s maintenance and contributes to harmonising the thermal condition of this temperature-sensitive window area. The slightly concave nose area (seen from the side) offers the pilots an optimal view of the immediate surroundings easing ground operations and making them safer.”
Makes sense. Still, avgeeks have affectionally resorted to calling the jet “Trash Panda”. With the distinctive cockpit windows, the jet kind of looks like a raccoon. You know, the animal that digs through your trash at three in the morning? A raccoon’s nickname is trash panda. The A350s nickname is like a math problem. If A equals B and B equals C then A=C too! The A350 looks like a raccoon. Hence the A350’s nickname is also trash panda. And now you know!
Do you know of any other snarky nicknames for airplanes? Let us know in the comments below.
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