Boeing F-47 NGAD future name guessing

Hydroman

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For a name, how about F-47A Vindicator (Vindiciae Perseverantiae), Vindication of Persistence. Just having fun, sounds appropriate especially with Boeing winning the program in spite of the many issues and obstacles they have been working through.
 
The original one (Vought SB2U) didn't have a very good reputation and mostly remembered as a sacrificial dive bomber.
 
Boeing has recently had bird names with military aircraft projects, such as Osprey (V-22), Red Hawk (T-7), Bird of Prey, Pelican (ULTRA), Hummingbird (A-160), etc. However, with their acquisition of McDonnell Douglas and others their aircraft names could really be anything. But in keeping with its bird tradition I would say, Phoenix, Firebird, Thunderhawk (homage to the P-47 Thunderbolt), or WarEagle.
 
Boeing has recently had bird names with military aircraft projects, such as Osprey (V-22), Red Hawk (T-7), Bird of Prey, Pelican (ULTRA), Hummingbird (A-160), etc. However, with their acquisition of McDonnell Douglas and others their aircraft names could really be anything. But in keeping with its bird tradition I would say, Phoenix, Firebird, Thunderhawk (homage to the P-47 Thunderbolt), or WarEagle.

Isn't Firebird the NATO name for the J-10?

I personally hope it won't be too kitsch/edgy. Something like Phantom III wouldn't be terrible imo, especially as the Phantom is fondly remembered and both the Phantom and, so far from what we've seen, the F-47 aren't lookers, so another commonality lol.

On that very important note, F Boeing for naming a slightly modernized F-15E "Eagle II" rather than just going with Super Eagle, like they should have done (also keeping with the Super Hornet). If they would have done that the F-47 could have been the Eagle II which would have been a very strong name. As the F-15 is certainly considered legendary at this point and the Eagle obviously a strong symbol. So Boeing could have gotten two incredibly strong connections for their fighter which is literally the result of a program called Next Generation Air Dominance.
 
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Isn't Firebird the NATO name for the J-10?

I personally hope it won't be too kitsch/edgy. Something like Phantom III wouldn't be terrible imo, especially as the Phantom is fondly remembered and both the Phantom and, so far from what we've seen, the F-47 aren't lookers, so another commonality lol.
Firebird is the NATO name for the J-10.
I like Phantom III. Maybe Skyhawk II?
 
Yes, my oversight. I was hoping for something original. Although I am fond of the legacy names, a II, or III usually lacked originality.

I can understand it, but like, how many Enterprises have been in the Navy so far?

Birbs and Spoopy stuff are running low these days.
 
On that very important note, F Boeing for naming a slightly modernized F-15E "Eagle II" rather than just going with Super Eagle, like they should have done (also keeping with the Super Hornet). If they would have done that the F-47 could have been the Eagle II which would have been a very strong name. As the F-15 is certainly considered legendary at this point and the Eagle obviously a strong symbol. So Boeing could have gotten two incredibly strong connections for their fighter which is literally the result of a program called Next Generation Air Dominance.

Given that the F-15 EX will be flying concurrently with the F-47, I don't think the USAF would name it the F-47 Eagle II. I don't believe there has ever been a "II" flying concurrently with its parent.
 
Voodoo II comes to mind, though that may have been the name Boeing used for their NGAD tech demonstrator.

Thunderbolt III is an option, referring back to the -47 series number. (It's not used often, but the A-10 is officially the Thunderbolt II)

I think Mustang II is out, due to Ford's car. The 1974-78 Mustang II was a warmed-over Pinto and is widely regarded as the worst thing to ever have the Mustang name. Plus we know car companies make legal objections about someone else using the name.

Spectre might be fun. That was proposed for the F-110's name, before the unified MDS took over and the F4H became F-4 Phantom II to everyone.

If the F-47 really is as maneuverable as the F-22, then Saber II would be an excellent name.

Or we go really big.

Valkyrie. Chooser of the slain.
 
Spectre might be fun. That was proposed for the F-110's name, before the unified MDS took over and the F4H became F-4 Phantom II to everyone.

I'd rather save Spectre for a strategic bomber follow-on to the B-21 Raider. B-2 Spirit, B-Something Spectre. In fact, I wish the B-21 had been called the Spectre, but that's spilt milk under the bridge that the train is passing over.
 
Plus we know car companies make legal objections about someone else using the name.
This always baffles me. If I was a car company I'd be giving every encouragement short of bribery to get someone to give a jet fighter the same name as a performance car.
 
There has been two Phantoms already I do not think that Boeing should call the F-47 the Phantom 3, try for something original instead.
 
I for one hope that they would change the designation to something less stupid than F-47. Where they got that number, random number generator or it's just political? My pedantic soul cries for F-24/34 already... /rant over

Since it is meant as a succesor to F-22, the Raptor, a good name would be Predator. Too bad it's used for a drone. Nimrod would people not take seriously, but how about Venator? Sounds cool.

If the designation actually IS a homage to P-47, Thunderbolt III is an obvious choice.
 
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I thought it was called the F-47 in homage to the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, though I see your point Aubi about the number skipping they should have called it the F-38 but I suppose that is just me.
 
Voodoo II comes to mind, though that may have been the name Boeing used for their NGAD tech demonstrator.

I don't see a reason why they shouldn't keep it. I'm rather certain the hypothetical F-23A would have also been named Black Widow/Black Widow II. Keeping the name of a demonstrator for the production aircraft seems rather logical.
 
Spectre might be fun. That was proposed for the F-110's name, before the unified MDS took over and the F4H became F-4 Phantom II to everyone

The AC-130 holds the Spectre legacy.

For the USAF birds of prey theme, Condor has been remarkably underused.

For a heritage name, something like Marauder or Liberator might suit the role. Or Dauntless if they don't mind a navy name.
 
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I for one hope that they would change the designation to something less stupid than F-47.

It's not stupid at all though. The NGAD related CCAs are YFQ-42 and YFQ-44, so FQ-42 or FQ-44 upon entering production, NGADs PCA is obviously the F-47. Lockheeds proposal was probably the YF/X/XF-48. I expect F/A-XX to be the F/A-45 or F/A-46.

Given that 3 out of 4 major NGAD/Next Gen efforts have designations in the 40s it's to me absolutely clear that this is where we currently are. Following the footsteps of the "Teen-Series" in finally making sense again.
 
They're in the Q line, not F. It makes slightly more sense, but still NOT PEDANTIC ENOUGH. You can't just switch categories haphazardly, that way lies madness. Public disorder, cats lying with dogs, giant twinkie, that kind of stuff. X-35 was enough.
 
The AC-130 holds the Spectre legacy.

For the USAF birds of prey theme, Condor has been remarkably underused.

For a heritage name, something like Marauder or Liberator might suit the role. Or Dauntless if they don't mind a navy name.
The Condor doesn't evoke images of agility and speed. More of a long endurance glider, of which there has been at least one.

boeing_condor_03.jpg
 
They're in the Q line, not F. It makes slightly more sense, but still NOT PEDANTIC ENOUGH. You can't just switch categories haphazardly, that way lies madness. Public disorder, cats lying with dogs, giant twinkie, that kind of stuff. X-35 was enough.
I can definitely see the USAF considering the CCAs more so among fighters than mere UAVs. Given their extremely important role and the publicity and attention they get.
 
The AC-130 holds the Spectre legacy.
Ah, good point! I'd forgotten that.


For a heritage name, something like Marauder or Liberator might suit the role. Or Dauntless if they don't mind a navy name.
The USAF would definitely mind a Navy name.


It's not stupid at all though. The NGAD related CCAs are YFQ-42 and YFQ-44, so FQ-42 or FQ-44 upon entering production, NGADs PCA is obviously the F-47. Lockheeds proposal was probably the YF/X/XF-48. I expect F/A-XX to be the F/A-45 or F/A-46.

Given that 3 out of 4 major NGAD/Next Gen efforts have designations in the 40s it's to me absolutely clear that this is where we currently are. Following the footsteps of the "Teen-Series" in finally making sense again.
Again, those are Q-series numbers, not F-series. Each major series has its own number set. It's why we had A-4 and F-4 in service at the same time.

Now, it is possible that someone in the Pentagon decided to put all the 6th Gen aircraft numbers in the 40 block, but that is most certainly NOT how the MDS numbering system is SUPPOSED TO work.
 

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