USAF Serials

[SteveS]

Harry - not stupid at all,

The first two digits are the year the a/c was registered. So a KC-135 at Mildenhall might be 58-0471. Implying it was the 471st a/c to be registered in 1958. Hence it's quite easy to guess the first digit - an F-22 will be a 0, F-15 will be an 8 or 9 (from the 80s or 90s) etc. I think.

HTH

[Mike]

Hi Harry,the USAF system is a nightmare to understand - read through this and it will become easier for you.

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SteveS]

I would say have a look through MAM - There's unlikely to be two aircraft the same with the same last five numbers, exactly ten years apart. Then you've got your serial!

Steve

[Mike]

I would say have a look through MAM - There's unlikely to be two aircraft the same with the same last five numbers, exactly ten years apart. Then you've got your serial!

Steve

It doesn't always work that way Steve,please read through the link I've mentioned and all will become clear(ish) !

For example I've seen a Phantom with "41002" on it's tail (real serial was 64-1002),another F-4 with 74-039 on it's tail (74-1039).

Some of the confusion lies on how many aircraft were ordered during the "fiscal" year - during the Vietnam war these were in the 1,000s,a classic example of this is 64-14854 which is a Mildenhall based C-130 which reads "44854" on it's tail.Confused yet ?

I am !

There should be a university degree available for those that want to do the course !

[SteveS]

Sorry Flaps, you link was TL;DR

[Mike]

Sorry Flaps, you link was TL;DR

Uh !

[SteveS]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tl%3Bdr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm using the language of "The Kids" to annoy you.

[Mike]

[SteveS]

Shouldn't we be stopping stuff going off topic?

[alnewhaven]

Pretty sure one of the last F-4G deployments through Lakenheath in the early 90s, there were two Phantomss, both carrying the same last 4,and both FY 69.

Then AMC and ACC use different presentation styles. All good fun

[POL]

If I may wade in to this!

The USAF work in a few ways when it comes to serials, tactical (TAC/SAC) aircraft will have "AF", the Fiscal Yar (The year the order for the aircraft s placed, not the year it is built or delivered! Hence the two F-35's that are flying are FY07!) and the last 3 of the serial.

Quite a lot of them are easy to work out, most F-15A/B/C/Ds are FY-0xxx (E.g. 86-0166, as below), the F-15Es are slightly harder as the USAF changed how the serials worked a bit and have a leading number now too! (00-3000, shown as 00-3000 on the aircraft)



Transports (MAC) are the last number of the FY and the serial, or a part thereof (For the most part). KC-135s are the easiest to work out, low first number = 1960s vintage (FY60, FY61, FY62, FY63, FY64), high first number is 1950s vintage (FY57, FY58, FY59)

61-0314:


Hercules sort of work the other way, and as there's so many they're a pain! For the most part though, a high serial is older. However, as some aircraft use TAC/SAC and some MAC serial presentations, it further confuses things! (64-0525 = 40525, 62-0835 = AF62-835) and so on an so forth. Biz-jets, C-17s and KC-10s, etc. use MAC presentations, and C-17s use the construction number as the last 3 of the serial (07-7179 = 77179, c/n P-179)

FY64 aircraft are a little out of sync as there's so many of them they went to 5 number serials (RC-135s are a prime example; 64-14845 is displayed as AF64-845)

So, confused yet? As for working out what is what, it really is a case of trying to remember them

[alnewhaven]

was bored so looked up BARG for 1994. 69-0286 and 69-7286, both F-4Gs departed Lakenheath that October, for Wright Patt. Both were presented as 69-286 on the tail.

Then theres the SR-71 which were thought to be FY64 for long but now turn out to be 61- ie 61-7951 not 64-17951

[POL]

Is there evidence to prove the SR-71 FY's now?

[MarkL]

Hi

You MUST check out this fantastic WWW for a full and exhaustive explaination...check it out, 'nuff said

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html


Mark

EDIT

Just seen someone posted this already. Ignore )))

[Mike]

Hi

You MUST check out this fantastic WWW for a full and exhaustive explaination...check it out, 'nuff said

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html


Mark

Ermmm.....have a look at the 3rd post in this thread.

[MarkL]

Errmmm look at my edit

*Hugs*

Mark

[Mike]

Errmmm look at my edit

*Hugs*

Mark

Hugs to you too fella.

[alnewhaven]

Is there evidence to prove the SR-71 FY's now?

Well I checked the aforementioned Mr Baughers site and got:

Lockheed SR-71A
These are often erroneously listed as being 64-17950/17955.
61-7950 (c/n 2001) destroyed by fire Jan 10, 1967 during brake system evaluation
at Edwards AFB. Pilot Art Peterson survived
61-7951 (c/n 2002) operated by NASA as YF-12C and assigned a spurious
serial number 60-6937 (which had been assigned to a CIA A-12).
Now at Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ.
61-7952 (c/n 2003) lost Jan 25, 1966 near Tucumcari, NM during test flight from Edwards AFB. Pilot
Bill Weaver survived, RSO Jim Zwayer killed.
61-7953 (c/n 2004) lost Dec 18, 1969 near Shoshone, CA during test flight from
Edwards AFB. Pilot Joe Rogers and RSO Gary Heidelbaugh ejected safely.
61-7954 (c/n 2005) lost Apr 11, 1969 on runway at Edwards AFB during takeoff.
Pilot Bill Skliar and RSO Noel Warner escaped without injury.
61-7955 (c/n 2006) on display at Edwards AFB. For years, there were rumors that this plane
had been sent to the UK for test flights from Mildenhall in 1983, and was
painted as 17962 for the duration.
61-7956/7957 Lockheed SR-71B
These are often listed as being 64-17956/17957, but there is controversy about this. Numerous observers
report that the true serials should be listed in FY 1961
61-7956 (c/n 2007). To NASA as 831. Currently stored at Edwards AFB. To be shipped to
Kalamazoo Air Zoo, MI where it will be put on display. Seen Jun 25, 2004
at Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, MI. In 2007 was at Kalamazoo Air Zoo.
61-7957 (c/n 2008). Lost Jan 11, 1968 following fuel cavitation during approach to Beale AFB. Instructor
Robert G. Sowers and student David E. Fruehauf ejected safely.
61-7958/7980 Lockheed SR-71A
These are often listed as being 64-17958/17980, but there is controversy about this. Numerous observers
report that the true serials should be listed in FY 1961
61-7958 (c/n 2009). Used to set 15/25 speed record of 2193.167 mph July
27/28, 1979. Now on display at Warner Robins AFB, GA
61-7959 (c/n 2010) now on display at Eglin AFB, FL
61-7960 (c/n 2011) now on diaplay at Castle Air Museum, CA
61-7961 (c/n 2012) on display at Hutchinson, KS museum
61-7962 (c/n 2013) in storage at Palmdale, CA. Delivered to Imperial War Museum at Duxford, UK and was
unveiled for public display in Hangar 1 Apr 11, 2001.
61-7963 (c/n 2014) now at Beale AFB on display.
61-7964 (c/n 2015) now on display in atrium of SAC Museum, Ashland, NE
61-7965 (c/n 2016) lost Oct 25, 1976 during night training sortie near Lovelock
NV following INS gyro platform failure. Pilot St Martin and RSO Carnochan ejected safely.
61-7966 (c/n 2017) lost Apr 13,1967 after high speed stall during night refuelling near Las Vegas, NV
Pilot Boone and RSO Sheffield both ejected safely.
61-7967 (c/n 2018) transferred to NASA in July 1999. In flyable storage at Edwards AFB. Delivered to
8th AF Museum, Barksdale AFB, LA Dec 2003.
61-7968 (c/n 2019) now at Virginia Aviation Museum at Richmond International Airport. On permanent
loan from USAF Museum.
61-7969 (c/n 2020) lost May 10, 1970 after refuelling near Korat RTAFB when a high-speed stall occurred.
Pilot Lawson and RSO Martinez ejected safely.
61-7970 (c/n 2021) lost Jun 17, 1970 following midair collision with KC-135Q tanker near El Paso, NM.
Pilot Buddy Brown and RSO Mort Jarvis ejected safely.
61-7971 (c/n 2022) to NASA as 832. Now at Evergreen Aviation Educational Institute,
McMinnville, OR
61-7972 (c/n 2023) set New York to London record of 1 hr 54 min 56.4 sec Sept
1, 1974. Set Los Angeles to Washington, DC record of 1 hr 4 min 20 sec,
west to east coast in 1 hr 7 min 54 sec. Reported Summer 2008 at NASM, Udvar-Hazy Center. NASM
claims that their plane actually has serial number 64-17972.
61-7973 (c/n 2024) damaged July 21, 1987 while being demonstrated at RAF Mildenhall. Now on display at
Palmdale Airport. Noted Fall 2003 at Blackbird Airpark, Palmdale, CA.
61-7974 (c/n 2025) lost Apr 21, 1989 while outbound from Kadena AB, Okinawa following engine explosion
and complete hydraulic failure. Pilot Dan E. House and RSO Blair L. Bozek both ejected safely.
61-7975 (c/n 2026) on display at March Field Museum, CA.
61-7976 (c/n 2027) on display at WPAFB Museum, OH
61-7977 (c/n 2028) lost Oct 10, 1968 at end of runway at Beale AFB following
a wheel explosion and runway abort. Pilot Gabriel A. Kardong rode the aircraft to a standstill, RSO James
A. Kogler ejected. Both survived. Cockpit was saved from the wreckage, was restored
and is now on display at Boeing Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA
61-7978 (c/n 2029) lost July 20, 1972 during landing accident at Kadena AB,
Okinawa. Pilot Dennis R. Bush and RSO Jimmy Fagg escaped unhurt.
61-7979 (c/n 2030) now at Lackland AFB, TX on display
61-7980 (c/n 2031) to NASA as 844. Placed on static display in front of Dryden Flight
Research Center Sep 2002.

I am sure I read somewhere that confirmation was obtained from flight manuals?

[POL]

Haha, I looked at the FY64 page and it gives;

64-17950/17984
Some references have these as being assigned to Lockheed SR-71A. There is controversy about this. Numerous observers, claim that these serials should actually be in FY 61 as 61-7950/61-7984. The tail numbers are of the format 17950/17984. It seems more reasonable that the serials ought to be ifn FY 61, since the FY is usually the year in which the plane was ordered. The SR-71 was revealed in 1964.

Don't think it's confirmed, just a "strong rumour" and "common sense"

[alnewhaven]

Well asked the question on another group Im in and got this reply

My son was assigned to Det 2, 9 RW when the SR-71 program was reactivated at Edwards AFB in the mid-1990s. To ensure they painted the correct FY tail number (as required by ACC) they called Lockheed to verify the numbers were in fact FY-61.