bird: airplane?

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Dagobertoto

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Español, Jalisco
In CNN, American Morning, Major General James "Spider" Marks talks about US F-15 fighter jet crashing in Libya, Marks:" In this case, with an Osprey as a part of the attack package coming in to recover the two downed crew members, there also has to be an element of communications and coordination that takes place -- unless these guys are totally isolated and they are on their own. They are talking to the bird, which we have to assume." >


bird: (US) an airplane or satellite. In combat, may refer to an air-to-air missile; strategic context implies an ICBM.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Glossary_of_military_slang

Is bird here a slang word for airplane?
 
    • Dagobertoto said:
    In CNN, American Morning, Major General James "Spider" Marks talks about US F-15 fighter jet crashing in Libya, Marks:" In this case, with an Osprey as a part of the attack package coming in to recover the two downed crew members, there also has to be an element of communications and coordination that takes place -- unless these guys are totally isolated and they are on their own. They are talking to the bird, which we have to assume." >


    bird: (US) an airplane or satellite. In combat, may refer to an air-to-air missile; strategic context implies an ICBM.
    http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Glossary_of_military_slang

    Is bird here a slang word for airplane?
    Click to expand...

    It is. The would-be rescuees have to be in communication with the Osprey, a VTOL/STOL aircraft, which is coming to get them.
     
    Alxmrphi said:
    Bird is also slang for helicopter that you can hear in military movies.
    Click to expand...

    Really? I'm familiar with whirlybird (which I've never heard anyone use), but I've always thought of bird as fixed-wing aircraft. Maybe that's just me ... or perhaps things have changed and I didn't notice. :)
     
    Copyright said:
    Really? I'm familiar with whirlybird (which I've never heard anyone use), but I've always thought of bird as fixed-wing aircraft. Maybe that's just me ... or perhaps things have changed and I didn't notice. :)
    Click to expand...

    Yeah I remember they were called birds in Tears of the Sun, with Bruce Willis.
    He's in Africa trying to get picked up out of the warzone, and it was part of the dialogue.
     
    Copyright said:
    Really? I'm familiar with whirlybird (which I've never heard anyone use), but I've always thought of bird as fixed-wing aircraft. Maybe that's just me ... or perhaps things have changed and I didn't notice. :)
    Click to expand...

    The Osprey, which is the aircraft specifically named here,



    is sort of a hybrid between fixed-wing and helicopter. The wings tilt up to a helicopter-like position, then later swivel back down to act like fixed wings.
     
    In the Air Force a bird was anything that could fly, including a bird, which had the official designation of "B-1RD". Even cruise missles or ICBM's when I was in SAC.
     
    in aviation (which I have been involved in for 30 years) only the DORKS call airplanes “birds”. ONE guy at my current employer-a major US airline, says it. And he is a complete nerd. None of the cool kids say it.
     
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