Pilot Callsigns

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.

Add your callsign to the list

Most recent additions

Wrong Way

 (added: 19 Jun 2008)

Kiernan "Wrongway" Butz. Landing (as directed) on runway 29 while another aircraft was on short final for opposing runway 11. I landed safely, but the other pilot had to make a go-around. In my defense, I'd been advised by ATC that 29 was the active . . . but the name regrettably stuck!

Skids

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

One guy at Edwards AFB had the name 'Skids' after I guess in UPT he managed to put the plane down/wheels up.

Mama

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

First name Joe. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Head-Up

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Ltjg. "Head-Up" Joas

Hollywood

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Given to me by my MTI back at Lackland when he found out I had auditioned for the Disney Channel and other acting agencies before joining the Air Force. It followed me through Tech School at Sheppard AFB and Luke AFB.

Slider

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Last name "Dekok"

SuperTard

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Numerous/continuous acts of buffoonery...

BULIT

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Had one of my pilots completely trashed coming home from the sandbox stopping in Moron, Spain when we called a taxi there was another guy in it. The passenger was a real jerk and picked a fight with him, he whooped him pretty good and threw him back in the taxi. Hence the name BULIT, Beat Up Lithuanian in Taxi

Water

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Cdr. (then Ltjg.) Paul "Water" Mallon (VF-151, mid-'70s)

Long Distance Duck

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

I got this nickname because I use the last drop of fuel from my tank. I almost crashed with my F-16 when my wingman had a malfunction - I helped him land and my engine ran out of fuel the second I hit the ground.

Blaze

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Caught on fire in the base kitchen

Statch

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Lets just say I liked them young and leave it at that

BDU

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Not the quickest guy in the squadron. Short for Big Dumb Unit - pronounced "Badoo"

Moe Lester

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Brother in law flew the 16 in Korea. Went out with a girl there who turned out to be a 16 y/o and from then on he was called Moe Lester. They didn't want to put molester on his helmet, so they gave it a "proper" name. He had 3 variants, "Moe", "Lester", and of course "Moe Lester".

THOR

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

The men and women in the 120th FS are known as "Redeyes." There was a Pilot by the name of T. who slept with one of his female counterparts. They ended up getting married, but T's callsign ended up as "THOR" and it stood for "T. Had One Redeye."

SWAT

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

The current AMXS commander and pilot for the 120th FS. Babe Ruth had the nickname SWAT when he was traded to the Yankees long ago. It was considered the best trade in baseball history. Captain Jim "SWAT" Collins flew C-21s out of Peterson AFB, CO when he was traded to the 120th FS in return for a female pilot. It was considered the greatest trade in the 120th Fighter Squadron's history.

Pinky

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

My ears resembled those of the rat from "Pinky and the brain".

TMS

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

True story... I had to cut a combat sortie due to what I like to refer to as a 'DFAC (Dining Facility) initiated early return'. There was no way I was of any tactical use, let alone flying the sortie itself. I made it back to Base X, made it down the ladder, and thankfully the Crew Chief was waiting there with a garbage bag because I didn't make it to the port-a-john. I was named "The Mad Shxxxxx"!

Statutory

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Last name Rape - and he was also the Guidon bearer in boot camp

Sheehanjob

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Flight school buddy of mine who's last name was Sheehan. It just came to me one day, while looking at the flight board, so I did some letter rearrangment. Needless to say, it caught on fast.

Inya

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Last name is Hass - go figure.....

Tickles

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Attractive female viper pilot I met at Nellis once. First name was Tess. Thought it was pretty clever ;)

Tubby

 (added: 18 Jun 2008)

Striking resemblance to one of the Teletubbies

Stretch

 (added: 6 Jun 2008)

Well I was doing my aviation course through cadets and I am 6 foot 2 so they had to order me a special flight suit and had to move the seat back in the cockpit for me etc... :)

Banya

 (added: 6 Jun 2008)

I was new to the squadron and going through MQT and was looking for a car. My flight commander was selling his VW jetta, so we haggled on a price. We came to an impasse, when I said my wife and I would take him and his wife out to dinner as a tie breaker. So, it came from the episode of Seinfeld when Jerry gives Kenny Banya an Armani suit, and Banya has to take Jerry to dinner - or something like that. I tell the girls in the Nellis club that it means "long like vine" in Swahili.