Whered the "Fagot" come from?

[randombeaner]

Just out of curiosity why was the designation of the
MiG-15 "Fagot"? I know that because it was a jet fighter the name had two have two sylables, but then again why was falcon dropped ?

I rather say I want a MiG-15 Falcon then a MiG-15 Fagot, and have my freind make a lame joke "It figures". Don't worry I got him back!

edit: but then again what would we call the F-16?

[SilverFox441]

"Fagot: had no sexual connotations when the name was chosen. It also had the benefit of being a name that was unlikely to be used as a callsign for a freindly flight or A/C type, while retaining an easily understood and unique sound.

[Woodlouse2002]

I'm sure the fact that the F16 being called the Falcon had something do to with it.

[randombeaner]

yeah but wasn't the F-16 created after

I thought it might have been the work of an angry pilot!

it would be a funny story thogh

[Woodlouse2002]

I dunno. But if as you say the name Falcon was dropped then it was still probably due to the F16.

[Hagar]

The F-16 is from a completely different generation. It first flew in 1976, almost 30 years after the MiG 15. I'm not sure when the F-16 was first named the Fighting Falcon but I doubt they would ever meet in combat.  I think SilverFox got it right. Most NATO codenames are unusual for a very good reason. The name Fagot had a completely different meaning when it was allotted.

[quote]fag

[randombeaner]

ohh I forgot about that fagot!

kindof reminds me of the phrase in romeo and Juliets intro
"Give me my sword, HO!" Ha I love pissing off my english teacher

[Felix/FFDS]

Wasn't "fagot" the term for a cigarette?  

NATO terms for fighters were two-syllable words starting with "F".  Probably Falcon wasn't on the list of useable words because it would be a word that "could" be used for an Allied airplane.

[Hagar]

Wasn't "fagot" the term for a cigarette?

Never heard it. The British slang for a cigarette is a fag. Like many smokers of my generation I still use this term. I don't know the origin. It could be a shortened version of fagot & equally misunderstood these days. Life is so complicated for us old fogeys. LOL