Rodger Pettichord Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Hi all. It's quite understandable that there are over 90 aircraft named after birds. The same with places or people -- we've always honored such. But did you know that over 80 aircraft are named after bugs? Does a dung beetle come to mind when you are flying? Or a chigger? Or a louse? And that leads to this week's topic. THIS WEEK'S MEANINGLESS TOPIC: Off the top of your head, how many aircraft can you name that are named after insects? (Once you have depleted your memory, check out this link to see an exhaustive list https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Aircraft_named_after_insects) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Q Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Hmmm, have to think about this. Four come to mind, so I'll start the conversation with: Tiger Moth and Gypsy Moth Mosquito Hornet And then there's the Wasp radial engine Ken 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto2 Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Skyhawk. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Q Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 (edited) 1 hour ago, stiletto2 said: Skyhawk. Of course! There are two: the familiar Cessna C172, and the Douglas A-4. There is also the Seahawk naval (largely ASW) helicopter. Ken Edited August 21 by Ken Q 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebear Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Gee Beer-1 oh wait i mean Gee Bee R-1 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Pettichord Posted August 21 Author Share Posted August 21 Insects only, guys. Come on, you can do it! 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumbypickett Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 I'm not sure if I've heard of a bumble bee, but that's about it. cheers Gumby 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto2 Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 1 hour ago, Rodger Pettichord said: Insects only, guys. Come on, you can do it! Oops! Thought you were looking for birds but now that I have my glasses on I see that you are looing for insects. Here are a few: Firefly (numerous aircraft including a Sikorsky electric helicopter), Dragonfly (several including an old De Havilland DH 90), Aeronca Grasshopper (WWII Observation) Rod 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W2DR Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 22 hours ago, Rodger Pettichord said: (Once you have depleted your memory, check out this link to see an exhaustive list https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Aircraft_named_after_insects) Thank you Rodger. That list contains the 83 aircraft I was thinking about. Now I won't have to type all that.........🙂 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Pettichord Posted August 23 Author Share Posted August 23 Before posting this topic, I had tested my own memory of "bug" planes. I came up with this: BIPLANES -- Moth, Gypsy Moth, Tiger Moth, Firefly. EXPERIMENTAL -- Gnat, Ant, Flea, Honeybee. WAR PLANES -- Mosquito, Dragonfly, Grasshopper, Wasp. HELICOPTERS -- Mantis After looking these up, I found that several were misremembered as to type, plus I had totally forgotten the Hornet (!) Looking at the inclusive list is quite an insight into plane design. BZZZZZ 🤪 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Abernathy Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 I had to look some up since y'all named all the ones I might have remembered. Globe has one called a Firefly. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boetie Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 First thing that came to mind - Wasp. And only thing that came to mind. I don't even know what it is. I'll have to Google it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wain71 Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 2 hours ago, boetie said: First thing that came to mind - Wasp. And only thing that came to mind. I don't even know what it is. I'll have to Google it. weren't they engines? I can't think of any.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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