AIRFORCE SLANG

A - ALPHA B - BRAVO C - CHARLIE D - DELTA E - ECHO F - FOXTROT G - GOLF H - HOTEL I - INDIA J - JULIET K - KILO L - LIMA M - MIKE

N - NOVEMBER O - OSCAR P - PAPA Q - QUEBEC R - ROMEO S - SIERRA T - TANGO U - UNIFORM V - VICTOR W - WHISKEY X - X-RAY Y - YANKEE Z - ZULU

adult n: A senior officer.

airedale n: A naval term for a member of the aviation community.

American gloves n: Pockets.

angels n: Altitude of an aircraft in thousands of feet.

auger-in v: To bore a hole in the ground with an aircraft while still at the controls.

bandit n: An enemy aircraft.

barn n: A hangar.

basement n: The hangar deck of an aircraft carrier.

bat decoder n: The current airborne communication codes on one sheet of paper which is carried on all fight operations.

bat turn n: A tight, high-G change of an aircraft's heading.

Big Chicken Dinner n: A Bad Conduct Discharge.

bingo n: A term used to indicate that an aircraft's fuel is at the minimum to return to the preplanned airfield.

bingo field n: Land-based runway to which carrier aircraft can divert if necessary.

bird n: A rocket, guided missile, satellite, or airplane.

bird dog n: Forward air controller, usually in a small, maneuverable single-engined prop airplane.

blower n: Afterburner.

blue water ops n: Carrier flight operations beyond the reach of land bases.

boards out tr.v: Speed brakes extended.

bogey n: An unidentified flying aircraft.

bone dome n: A white flying helmet.

bounce n: An unexpected attack on an aircraft.

bowser n: An aviation fuel truck.

Bravo Zulu n: Praise for a good job.

bubba n: Fellow squadron member.

bumf n: Paperwork from headquarters.

bumf paper n: Toilet paper.

buster v: Hurry up; go as fast as possible.

buy the farm Phrasal Verb: To die, especially suddenly or violently. He bought the farm.

catshot n: A carrier takeoff assisted by catapult.

cherubs n: Altitude of an aircraft in hundeds of feet.

clag n: Clouds.

cold nose adj: Radar turned off.

cone head n: Aviation student.

crabfat n: A naval term for anybody connected with aviation, referring to the application of crabfat as a preservative of canvas in early aircraft.

deck n:
1. The deck of a boat or aircraft carrier.
2. The ground.
tr.v. decked, decking, decks
To knock down. He decked his sparring partner
Idioms:
hit the deck
1. To get out of bed.
2. To fall or drop to a prone position.
3. To prepare for action.

dirty adj: Aircraft configured for landing with gear and flaps down.

dodo bird n: Ex-flight sergeants of the RCAF. The Dodo bird is an extinct bird, as is the flight sergeant.

driver n: Pilot.

electric jet n: The F-16 Fighting Falcon, so nicknamed because of its fly-by-wire controls.

erk n: An air force non-commissioned member.

FAG n: Fighter Attack Guy; derogatory term for F/A-18 Hornet pilots.

fairy n: A name for anyone in aviation.

falcon codes n: Numerical codes used to indicate ones displeasure or to pass a rude comment over the radio or messages.

fangs out adj: Ready for combat action.

fighter cop n: An airweapons controller.
[From Fighter Control and Operator].

file 13 n: An aircraft's garbage can.

fishhead n: A member of the navy.

fitter n: An aeroengine technician.

flathatting n: The act of unauthorized low-level flying or stunt flying.

flight line n: The area of the airfield where the aircraft are parked during active flying operations.

FLIPs n: Flight maps.
[From Flight Information Publications].

furball n: A confused aerial engagement with many combatants.

gomer n: A dogfight adversary.

gong n: A medal.

gong show n: A display of medals.

goon up
Phrasal Verb:
To foul up.

grease monkey n: A mechanic, especially one who works on motor vehicles or aircraft.

green apple n: The control knob for the cockpit's emergency oxygen supply.

gung ho adj: Extremely enthusiastic and dedicated.

hangar queen n: An aircraft that spends more time in maintenance than it does flying.

hawk circle n: The orbiting stack of aircraft waiting to land on the aircraft carrier.

heater n: A Sidewinder missile which homes in on heat sources.

homeplate n: One's home aerodome.

hop n: A mission or flight.

hot adj: Under enemy fire,with regard to an area.

hot LZ n: A landing zone under enemy fire.

jink v: To maneuver an aircraft violently to avoid a threat.

jock n: Pilot.

joystick n: The control stick of an aircraft.

judy n: A combat pilot's radio call signalling that the quarry is in sight and the pilot is taking control of the intercept.

juice n: Aviation fuel.

lawn dart n: A nickname for the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

lights out adj: Radar off.

loud handle n: The Lever or grip that fires an ejection seat.

milkrun n: A routine mission.

mort adj: Simulated death in air combat practice.

mud-mover n: A low-level attack aircraft such as the A-6 Intruder.

mule n: An aircraft tractor used on airfields.

music n: An electronic jamming signal intended to deceive radar.

no-load n: An underachiever.

nugget n: An inexperienced aviator.

Old Man, the n: Base commander.

padlocked adj: To have an enemy aircraft firmly in sight.

painted adj: Scanned by radar.

Paul Bunyan n: A large cargo storage container used by Air Transport Group.

pigeon n: A member of the air force.

pond n: The Atlantic Ocean.

pongo n: A member of the Army.

poopy suit n: A cold water immersion suit worn by aircrew on an aircraft carrier.

prang n: An aircraft accident.

punch out v: To eject from an aircraft.

recon n: Reconnaissance.

rhino n: Nickname for the F-4 Phantom.

rigger n: An airframe technician.

roof n: The flight deck on an aircraft carrier.

rustpicker n: A member of the navy.

sacred cow n: A Boeing 707.

scope dope n: An Airborne Interceptor Navigator.

sheriff n: The Orderly officer.

shooter n: The catapult officer.

snic n: Any personnel responsible for setting the priority for snow removal on an airfield.
[From Snow and Ice Committee].

sprog n: A student pilot.

still n: A pilot under training.

swan n: An easy course or an easy posting.

tank v: To refuel.

Tango Uniform adj: Code for "Tits Up"; broken.

Texaco n: An aerial tanker.

throttle back
Phrasal Verb:
To slow down.

tiger n: An aggressive pilot.

top off
Phrasal Verb:
To fill up with fuel.

trap n: An arrested landing on an aircraft carrier.

trash hauler n: A transport aircraft aircrewman.

turkey n: Nickname for the F-14 Tomcat.

twirly n: Anti-collision beacon on an aircraft.

vulture's row n: The main viewing gallery on an aircraft carrier.

wash out
Phrasal Verb:
To not make the grade at flight school.

Whiskey Charlie
Idiom:
Code for "Who Cares?".

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Idiom:
Code for "What The Fuck".

zoom bag n: A flight suit.