US Army Visual Aircraft Recognition TC 3-01.80

[TomS]

http://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/tc3-01-80.pdf

Possibly the worst military publication I've ever seen, and I've seen some terrible ones over the years. Starting with the inexplicable use of a J-20 illustration and technical information in place of the F-35; several other blatantly incorrect illustrations like the reuse of a Sea King drawing for the Super Frelon on the next page; the inclusion of recognition info on the Su-15 Flagon, the IL-28 Beagle, and many other long-retired aircraft; the omission of many actual operational aircraft; and the overall terrible quality of the drawings (most distorted beyond recognition).

It's so bad I suspect deliberate sabotage somewhere along the line.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Erm. Sure seems like a joke, but it isn't April 1.

"Son, why didn't you shoot down that J-20?"

"Sir, its an F-35. Here, look in the Visual Aircraft recognition guide, see?".

 

[CJGibson]

Hmmm...and I thought there was no need for a reccy book...seems I was wrong. At least they didn't describe helicopters as 'The ones with the fuzzy tops.'

Chris

 

[CiTrus90]

...

The MiG-27 is illustrated with a Tornado 3 view.

The AJ-37 is illustrated with a Tornado 3 view too.

"Look under your seats everyone!!

You get a Tornado! And you! And you!!"


Please, somebody tell me this is not a real military publication.

Please.

 

[TomS]

I wish I could. It's on the Army's website.

http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/tc3_01x80.pdf

 

[Arjen]

The 2006 guide, while not perfect (SH-3 drawing with a Super Frelon tag) has mostly undistorted images and some rather nice photos. In the 2016 guide, all the photos are gone, any aircraft shown is also shown in the 2006 guide. I'm completely baffled by the 2016 guide being published. In all respects, it's worse than 2006 guide.
http://fas.org:8080/irp/doddir/army/fm3-01-80.pdf

 

[CJGibson]

Nothing will beat Derek Wood's World Aircraft Recognition Handbook. The landscape one, not that portrait format pretender from a couple of years ago.

However, for NATO and Warsaw Pact stuff, my favorite is the Flykendingsbog, produced for the Luftmelderkorpset in Denmark.

Chris

 

[Arjen]

I have the 1979 and 1986 WARH editions. Compared to them, the 2006 guide is a joke. The 2016 guide - a bad joke.

 

[Bill Walker]

Does anybody know if the version distributed within the US military matches this public version? This almost looks like deliberate mistakes, to reduce the value of the document to outsiders.

 

[TomS]

It's official. But there are other tools for actual recognition training.

 

[Ray]

It would appear that the budget cutbacks are in effect. This pub must have been subcontracted to a bunch of Jr. High school students.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Whoever compiled it, sure needs a good aircraft recognition guide.