Largest Collection of Military Pilot Nicknames / Call Signs

kimberlyanne546

kimberlyanne546

Final Approach
Joined
Jun 9, 2011
Messages
7,730
Location
California
Display Name
Display name:
Kimberly
I did a little research last night when creating my new website since I wanted to come up with a name (not Kimberly).

Google led me to this site which has over 1,000 nicknames and the stories behind them:

http://www.f-16.net/callsigns.html

I found several stories about female pilots, but it was hard to find any that weren't too offensive, so I narrowed it down to only two. I picked "Drone" of the two.

1. NADS


NADS

Woman Marine Hornet backseater went to hang with guys in a "gentleman's club" while in a foreign country. She decided she was more athletic than any of the girls on stage. Got up on stage, swung around the pole, promptly lost her grip, flew off stage and went headfirst into a chair, resulting in a Harry Potter like scar on her forhead and a new callsign - NADS for "Not A Decent Stripper"


2. Drone


Drone

Well, if it's unmanned she's gotta be a drone - squadron's first female viper driver...
 
No, no... You have to let US pick one for you. That's the way it works!
 
Last edited:
write-stuff said:
No, no... You have to let US pick one for you. That's the way it works!
Click to expand...
Exactly.

And many call signs tend to come as a result of something bad or at least humorous that you did. I guarantee the guy with the c/s 'BRINA' did NOT select his own.
 
Not just the military, also the fire department (I was called "Airborne" for years because I fell off a ladder during a training exercise early on) and the Hash House Harriers (which all tend to be cruder than your typical military call sign).

I have a friend who's a marine general now. His last name is Heinz, and while I expected some joke about pickles, ketchup, or 57, it turns out his handle is "Duncan" (say it with his last name a few times).
 
Yup -- your squadron-mates must pick it. You get no input and definitely no power of disapproval. So...



...what do we think Kimberly's tactical call sign should be?
 
Last edited:
flyingron said:
I have a friend who's a marine general now. His last name is Heinz, and while I expected some joke about pickles, ketchup, or 57, it turns out his handle is "Duncan" (say it with his last name a few times).
Click to expand...
Doesn't take but once to recognize Duncan Hines.
Duncan Hines was an American pioneer of restaurant ratings for travelers. He is best known today for the brand of food products that bears his name
Click to expand...
BTW, if your last name is Gibson, you will be nicknamed "Hoot."
 
Def not Drone, I know a Drone and I'll just leave it at that. You need a different name - all the guys are right, you don't get to pick your own. And you have no veto power.
 
Indeed. But perhaps to be fair those of us who were hung with call signs should relate their backstory.


I was "Cart" due to an unfortunate episode while in a cast on my left ankle and foot from a nasty sprain. I was discovered one night drunk and crutchless by my "friends" who loaded me into a shopping cart. Not satisfied with the speed of advance I supposedly berated their poor performance which resulted in four inebriated Coasties running while pushing me...and subsequently dumping me out numerous times. The scrapes and brusies the next morning were the perfect complement to a staggering hangover. My old name, "Bear" ,was retired and i was "Cart" from then on.
 
Last edited:
Argh that was not my intention with this thread but it looks like the F-16 sites "three rules of call signs" are coming true:



The Three Rules of Callsigns

1. If you don't already have one, you will be assigned one by your "buddies".

2. You probably won't like it.

3. If you complain and moan too much about 1. and 2., you'll get a new nickname you'll like even less!


So, how do you get a callsign?

Do something stupid or have it fit with your last name.

Obvious examples, 'Crash' or LT 'Cheese' Kraft. Sometimes it's based on a physical appearance thing like 'Carrot'. After you've earned the respect of your buddies, you'll get a more 'heroic' callsign.
 
More awesome ones:

SNAG

Second Marine Corps female WSO assigned to the same squadron as the first - Still Not A Guy (See NAG)

NAG





Not A Guy First Marine Corps F/A-18 female weapon system office (WSO)
 
We have a few pilots in my area with "callsigns" that have zero military experience. One destroyed 5 aircraft after landing and is now called "Ace". One is a very large instructor ... the other instructors chide that this CFI's call sign becomes "heavy" no matter what AC type they're flying (i.e. Cessna 172 Heavy). Tower laughs as everyone tries to get in the pattern behind this CFI and respond "#2 to land behind the heavy".:D
 
These are way too fun:

Manstew

Was at a hotel in a foreign country where the squadron was put up on deployments. In addition, the hotel hosted airline stewardess' in-training. Initially, I was operating solo macking on a half-a-dozen airline stewardess in a hot tub all to myself. But then all of a sudden...a squady rolled in, got in the tub, spread his arms out on the rail with one of them landing behind me looking as if he put his arms around me. I moved away but it was too late. I was ****ed off he showed up and it set the stage for a scene on par with Broke Back Mountain. I was branded as the guy that boils in hot water.
 
If she knew the story behind "Lady Malibu," she wouldn't even think about suggesting it. In any event, she needs to go zip-lip on this or she's gonna be "Gabby."
 
When I read NADS I wondered if it was short for gonads......

And was does "BRINA". Imply?

I always thought mine should be "do over". But as you say, it's foisted upon you by your compadres/comadres so, I don't have a CS either which is fine. I've never been in the service.
 
Jeanie said:
When I read NADS I wondered if it was short for gonads......

And was does "BRINA". Imply?

I always thought mine should be "do over". But as you say, it's foisted upon you by your compadres/comadres so, I don't have a CS either which is fine. I've never been in the service.
Click to expand...

Why should yours be do over?
 
Ron Levy said:
If she knew the story behind "Lady Malibu," she wouldn't even think about suggesting it. In any event, she needs to go zip-lip on this or she's gonna be "Gabby."
Click to expand...

She was warned.
Kimberly, you just learned how call signs are determined.
 
Ron Levy said:
If she knew the story behind "Lady Malibu," she wouldn't even think about suggesting it. In any event, she needs to go zip-lip on this or she's gonna be "Gabby."
Click to expand...

Actually, Ron, that is why I have suggested it - !

I have been to a lot of POA gatherings and met a lot of pilots and heard a lot of stories.

Maybe I heard the story wrong but it came up when I first joined in 2011. A reference was made (and some still say) that I don't exist etc.

Kimberly
 
PilotAlan said:
She was warned.
Kimberly, you just learned how call signs are determined.
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but in my case I'm the one who needs to use it so I don't have to. Goodyear has a story behind it, and so does Gabby, neither one good. Oh well. I guess you're right.
 
I had the honor of being named by an F16 squadron (I have never been in the Air Force). The rules were:

1) Anything goes as long as it does not dishonor the Air Force
2) You must be able to say it on CNN

I had no choice in what my name was, however I was able to bribe my way out of one possible selection and drink my way out of another. I couldn't get of bed for two days after the naming and in true honorable fashion, two guys from the squadron brought over flowers to my wife on my behalf as a way of apologizing for what a useless mess I was the next day.
 
write-stuff said:
Kimberly, what's your last name?
Click to expand...

Exactly what I have worked for years to keep offline.....

Sorry.

Though I did once get a nickname from two security guards based on my last name. They called me by an abbreviation of my last name since guys always call each other by their last names.
 
I can PM it to you but know when you google me I am apparently a famous athlete or a CA attorney.
 
Wingsofglass said:
I had the honor of being named by an F16 squadron (I have never been in the Air Force). The rules were:

1) Anything goes as long as it does not dishonor the Air Force
2) You must be able to say it on CNN

I had no choice in what my name was, however I was able to bribe my way out of one possible selection and drink my way out of another. I couldn't get of bed for two days after the naming and in true honorable fashion, two guys from the squadron brought over flowers to my wife on my behalf as a way of apologizing for what a useless mess I was the next day.
Click to expand...

The only rule about AF callsigns that I can recognize is that they have to be something that a home-schooled mama's boy could bring home to the folks at Church on Sunday morning. That or the senior dudes that just pick "cool" sounding ones like "Razor" or "Slayer" or something equally as ridiculous. On the Navy side, normally it is 1) something embarrassing, 2) makes fun of some facet of your personality or persona, 3) is a clever play on your name, or 4) is an acronym that cannot be explained on CNN. There are some really great ones, but a lot are just dumb. Having sat on a few callsign review boards, normally a few get cut that are simply far too un-PC to ever fly with the skipper, and then a bunch of really dumb last minute ideas that get a lot of interest from the department heads. Normally it ends up being among the first ones that have come up. The other caveat is that it has to roll off the tongue well like a name.....2-3 syllables max I'd say.
 
No. The really bad callsign guys and gals get an "alternate" for use around the squeamish. ;)
 
Well, you know how if you don't do something quite right the first time you say "do over" ... Well, in aviation I have had a lot of those times :-)

Folks talk about CFIs who won't admit their mistakes or if they don't remember or know something, I am not one of those. I admit when I mess up and make a point of explaining that practice and perseverance and a willingness to learn is important - perfection only exists in an imaginary world.
 
35 AoA said:
The only rule about AF callsigns that I can recognize is that they have to be something that a home-schooled mama's boy could bring home to the folks at Church on Sunday morning. That or the senior dudes that just pick "cool" sounding ones like "Razor" or "Slayer" or something equally as ridiculous. On the Navy side, normally it is 1) something embarrassing, 2) makes fun of some facet of your personality or persona, 3) is a clever play on your name, or 4) is an acronym that cannot be explained on CNN. There are some really great ones, but a lot are just dumb. Having sat on a few callsign review boards, normally a few get cut that are simply far too un-PC to ever fly with the skipper, and then a bunch of really dumb last minute ideas that get a lot of interest from the department heads. Normally it ends up being among the first ones that have come up. The other caveat is that it has to roll off the tongue well like a name.....2-3 syllables max I'd say.
Click to expand...
I forget, are you a regular or Super Hornet guy?

You ever flown with a guy with the c/s POTY?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top