Fighter Pilot Slang R-Z (US Navy Version)

The last of the kickass fighter pilot slang list.  R-Z today.  A-F, G-J and L-P can be seen on earlier entries.

USN F/A-18A Hornet
Photo by Agustin Anaya

R2D2
A RIO (a reference to Luke Skywalker’s robot backseater in the Star Wars movies).

Scooter
Nickname for the A-4 Skyhawk.

Shoe
Short for “blackshoes,” a derogatory term for nonflying personnel; aviators wear brown shoes.

Spank or Shpank

What one does to a lesser opponent in a dogfight.

Tits Machine
A good, righteous airplane. Current airplanes need not apply, this is a nostalgic term referring to birds gone by. By all accounts the F-8 Crusader was a tits machine.

Up on the Governor

When someone is about to have a tantrum (term comes from the device that keeps the engine from overspeeding

Varsity Play for the Deck
A skillful landing attempt.

Vulture’s Row
A viewing gallery on an aircraft carrier’s island where you can watch flight operations.

Zero-Dark-Thirty
Technically a half-hour after midnight, but commonly used to describe any event that is scheduled to take place after midnight and before sunrise.

USN A-4E Skyhawk
Photo by Unknown