| Designation | Official, Popular Name(s) | Manufacturer | 1st Flight or Appearance | Role(s)/Notes |
RA Atlantic 1931 USMC transport - redes. TA
BR Bee Line 1922 USN racer
RB (C-93) Conestoga Budd 1942 USN all-steel transport
CR (R-6) Curtiss 1921 USN racer - AKA CF
RC Kingbird Curtiss 1931 USMC transport
R2C (R-8) Curtiss 1923 USN biplane racer - AKA F2C - development CR-1
R3C-1 Land-Racer Curtiss 1925 joint Army-USN biplane racer - AKA F3C
R3C-2 Sea-Racer Curtiss 1925 R3C-1 with pontoons
R4C (C-30) Condor Curtiss 1934 USN/USMC transport - counterpart USAAC C-30
R5C (C-46) Commando Curtiss 1942 USN/USMC transport C-46
RD (C-21) Sinbad, Dolphin Douglas 1931 USN/USMC/USCG amphibian transport
to Army as C-21
R2D Douglas 1934 USN/USMC transport civilian DC-2-125
R3D (C-110) Douglas 1939 USN/USMC transport civilian DC-5
R4D (C-47) Skytrain, Dakota Douglas 1938 USN/USMC C-47
R4D-3/4 Skytrooper Douglas 1941 USN C-53
(C-53)
R4D-8 Super DC-3, Skytrain Douglas 1952 USN/USMC/USCG equivalent C-47F (USAF
(C-47F/ II evaluation modified C-47) - later C-117
C-117)
R5D (C-54) Skymaster Douglas 1942 USN/USMC transport C-54
R6D Liftmaster Douglas 1950 USN transport civilian DC-6
(C-118)
RE Skyrocket Bellanca 1932 USN/USMC light transport/amb. - similar to JE
RK Kinner 1936 USN transport
R2K Fairchild 1936 USN transport
RM (C-3) Martin 1952 USN/USCG VIP transport VC-3
RO (C-23) Altair Lockheed 1931 USN C-23
R2O Electra Lockheed 1940 USN UC-36
(UC-36)
R3O (C-37) Electra Lockheed 1937 USN C-37
R4O Lockheed 1941 USN high-speed staff transport
R5O Lodestar Lockheed 1942 USN/USMC civilian Lodestar
(C-56/59/60)
R6O Constitution Lockheed 1945 USN transport
R7O (C-69) Constellation Lockheed 1952 USN transport USAF C-69 - later R7V
16
RQ (C-8) Fairchild 1948 USN transport - redes. JQ
R2Q Fairchild 1950 USN transport - redes. J2Q
R4Q Flying Boxcar Fairchild 1947 USMC C-119 tactical transport
(C-119)
RQ (C-81/ Reliant Stinson 1935 USCG radio testing C-81
AT-19)
R3Q Reliant Stinson 1935 redes. RQ
RR (C-3) Ford 1931 USN/USMC multirole transport - redes. JR
RS (C-6) Sikorsky 1930 USN/USMC amphibian transport - redes. PS
RT Golden Goose Northrop 1935 USN VIP transport
16
R6V Constitution Lockheed 1945 USN transport - redes. R6O
R7V Warning Star Lockheed 1954 USN redes. R7O - transport, photographic
(C-121) recon. USAF C-121C
R8V Hercules Lockheed 1958 USCG designation C-130 when ordered - later
(C-130) SC-130, HC-130
RY (C-87) Liberator Cons. Vul. 1943 USN/USMC C-87/PB4Y-1 (-1/2), PB4Y-2 (-3)
transport
R2Y Cons. Vul. 1945 modified RY
R3Y Tradewind Convair 1952 USN - transport P5Y flying boat, later
air-refuelling tanker
R4Y Samaritan Convair 1957 USN/USMC transport C-131
(C-131)
R-1 Eng. Div.- 1921 racer - rebuilt VCP
Verville
R-1 Platt- 1941 tandem rotor helicopter
LePage
R-2 Curtiss 1915 Army biplane observation/light attack
R-2 Tho.-Mor. 1921 racer - modified MB-6
R-2 Kellett 1941 redesignated G-1
R-3 Curtiss 1916 USN modified, larger wingspan Curtiss R-2
R-3 Eng. Div.- 1922 racer
Sperry
R-3 Kellett 1941 reengined Kellett R-2
R-4 Curtiss 1918 Army reengined/modified Curtiss R-2 - similar
to R-3
R-4 Loening 1922 racer
R-4 (HNS) Hoverfly, Vought-Sik. 1942 1st full-production US helicopter-
Flying Eggbeater, Frustrated Palm Tree redes. to H-4
R-5 Thom.-Mor. 1922 parasol wing racer
R-5 Vought-Sik. 1944 Air Rescue Service helicopter - redes.
(HO2S/HO3S) to H-5
R-6 Curtiss 1918 USN/Army biplane -1st torpedo bomber flying
boat
R-6L Curtiss 1918 USN/Army Liberty-engined R-6
R-6 (CR) Curtiss 1922 Army biplane racer - development CR
R-6 (HOS) Hoverfly II Sikorsky 1944 improved/modified R-4 - redes. to H-6
R-7 Curtiss 1922 modified R-6
R-7 Eng. Div. 1944 cancelled Army racer
R-7 Sikorsky 1944 modified R-6
R-8 (R2C) Curtiss 1923 USAAF R2C
R-8 Kellett 1943 tandem rotor helicopter
R-9 Curtiss 1918 redesignated R-6L
R-9 Firestone 1944 lightweight helicopter
R-10 Kellett 1945 reengined R-8
R-11 Rotorcraft 1944 lightweight helicopter
R-11 Hughes 1948 redes. F-11 - photographic recon.
R-12 Bell 1944 development from autogyro to helicopter -
later H-12
R-12 Rainbow Douglas 1948 redes. F-12 - high-altitude recon.
R-13 Sioux Bell 1947 USAAF-procured utility helicopter for Army -
later H-13
R-14 Firestone 1946 proposed helicopter
R-15 Reporter Northrop 1948 redes. F-15
R-16 Transporter Vertol 1946 USAAF/USAF/Army tandem rotor SAR helicopter -
later H-16
R-16 Stratofortress Boeing 1948 initial designation RB-52
RA-2 Savage North Amer. 1962 recon. A-2 (AJ)
RA-3 Skywarrior Douglas 1962 recon. A-3 - redes. A3D-2P
(A3D-2P)
RA-5 Vigilante North Amer. 1962 ECM, jamming, photo recon., tanker A-5 (A3J)
RA-7 Corsair II Vought 1980 cancelled recon. RA-7
RAH-66 Comanche Boeing/ 1991 LHX contract winner - low-observability armed
Sikorsky recon. helicopter with internal weapons bay H-66
RB-17 Flying Fortress Boeing 1948 redes. F-9 (B-17)
RB-26 Invader Douglas 1948 redes. FA-26
RB-29 Superfortress Boeing 1948 photo recon. B-29 - redes. FB-29
RB-35 Flying Wing Northrop 1947 recon. B-35
RB-36 Peacemaker Convair 1950 recon. B-36
RB-45C Tornado North Amer. 1949 photo. recon. B-45C
RB-47 Stratojet Boeing 1955 photo. recon. B-47
RB-49 Flying Wing Northrop 1950 recon. B-49 - 9th B-35 mod. with
4 pod-mounted turbojets, and two jets in the wing
RB-50 Superfortress Boeing 1954 photo. recon. B-50
RB-52 Stratofortress Boeing 1955 recon. B-52 - redes. R-16
RB-54 Superfortress Boeing 1948 proposed recon. B-54
RB-57 Canberra, Martin/G.D. 1954 recon. B-57D-F
Patricia Lynn (RB-57E)
RB-58 Hustler Convair 1959 recon. B-58 - later converted to TB-58
RB-66 Destroyer Douglas 1953 recon. B-66
RB-69 Neptune Lockheed 1954 USAF electronic recon. P2V-7U
(P2V)
RC-7 Caribou DHC 199? Army mod. C-7A - recon. suite/extended range
RC-12 Huron Beech 1983 USN/USMC/Army ELINT, ECM, battlefield
surveillance C-12
RC-45 Expeditor, Navigator, Beech 1948 USAF/Army photographic recon. - redes. USAAF
(SNB-5P) Bugsmasher (SNB) F-2(1948)/USN SNB-5P(1962)
RC-47 Lamp, Dakota, Douglas 1950 recon. C-47 w/flash bombs
Skytrain
RC-54 Skymaster Douglas 1962 USN redes. R5D-3, USCG RC-54V
(R5D-3)
RC-121 Warning Star Lockheed 1955 AEW/ELINT C-121 - later TC-121
(R7V)
RC-130 Hercules Lockheed 1968 recon. C-130
RC-131 Samaritan Convair 1956 recon. C-131
RC-135 Chipmunk, Boeing 1964 survey/mapping, ELINT C-135
Hog Nose (-135M), Lead Sled (-135U)
RF-4 Lightning Lockheed 1943 redes. F-4
RF-4 Phantom II McDonnell 1962 multisensor recon. F-4 (F4H)
RF-5E Tigereye Northrop 1968 multirole recon. F-5
RF-8 Photo Crusader Vought 1962 redes. F8U-1P - photo. recon. F-8 (F8U-1P)
(F8U-1P)
RF-9J Cougar Grumman 1962 redes. F9F-8P - photo. recon. F-9 (F9F-8P)
(F9F-8P)
RF-14 Tomcat Grumman 1981 proposed recon. F-14
RF-16 Fighting Falcon G.D. 1990 replacement RF-4C w/ATARS pod
RF-18 Hornet McDD 1988 proposed recon. F/A-18
RF-51 Mustang Nor.Am. 1948 redes. FP-51
RF-61 Reporter Northrop 1948 redes. FP-61 / F-15
RF-80 Shooting Star Lockheed 1948 redes. FP-80
RF-84F Thunderflash Republic 1963 camera recon. F-84, FICON (under wing of B-36) - redes. F-96
RF-86 Sabre North Amer. 1957 recon. F-86
RF-87 Blackhawk Curtiss 1948 redes. FP-87
RF-100 Super Sabre, Slick North Amer. 1954 unarmed high-speed recon. F-100
Chick
RF-101 Voodoo McDonnell 1954 all-weather recon. F-101
RF-104 Starfighter Lockheed 1975 recon. F-104
RF-105 Thunderchief Republic 1960 recon. F-105
RF-110 Spectre, Phantom II McDonnell 1962 recon. F-110 - later RF-4C
RF-111 Aardvark Gen. Dyn. 1970? recon. F-111
RG-8 Schweizer 1989 surveillance & law-enforcement glider G-8
RH-3 Sea King Sikorsky 1962 USN carrier-based MCM H-3 - converted SH-3
RH-46 Sea Knight Boeing 1962 USN/USMC MCM H-46
RH-53 Stallion Sikorsky 1972 USN carrier-based MCM H-53
RL-23D Seminole Beech 1959 ELINT/redes. L-23D with SLAR - later RU-8D
RL-26 Commander Aerodesign 1960 Army recon. L-26 with SLAR - later RU-9
ROE Hiller 1958 USMC lightweight dismantable one-man
helicopter (rotorcycle)
RON Gyrodyne 1958 USMC rotorcycle
RP-3 Orion Lockheed 1970? recon. P-3
RP-35A Guardsman Seversky 1943 redes. P-35A - Restricted from combat
RP-38 Lightning Lockheed 1940 P-38 mod. with cockpit on port boom to test
effects of non-CG placement on pilot
RP-39 Airacobra Bell 1940 advanced trainer P-39Q
RP-43 Lancer Republic 1943 redes. P-43 - Restricted
RP-63 Pinball Bell 1945 manned target aircraft P-63 - thickened
skin designed to withstand frangible bullet fire
RQ-1 Predator General 199? medium altitude reconaissance UAV Q-1
Atomics
RQ-2 Pioneer IAI 199? short-range tact. recon. UAV Q-2
RQ-3 DarkStar Lockheed- 199? low-observable high-alt. recon. UAV Q-3
Martin/Boeing
RQ-4 GlobalHawk Teledyne 1998 heavy payload, high-alt., long endurance recon. UAV Q-4
Ryan
RQ-5 Hunter TRW/IAI 1999 redes. BQM-155 UAV Q-5
RQ-6 Outrider Alliant 200? Army recon. UAV Q-6
Techsystems
RQ-7 TUAV AAI 200? Army recon. tactical UAV Q-7
RQ-8 Firescout Northrop 200? DARPA/Navy recon., target designation UAV Q-8
Grumman/Ryan Aeronautical
RQ-9 Predator B General 200? modified RQ-1; larger, reengined, proposed Hellfire-armed
Atomics
RS-2C Tracker Grumman 1962 photographic recon. - redes. S2F-2P
(S2F-2P)
RS-70 Valkyrie North Amer. 1963 competitor SR-71 (RS-71) - recon. B-70 -
non-standard des.
RS-71 Blackbird, Habu Lockheed 1964 actual des. of SR-7117 - non-standard des.
RT-33 T-Bird Lockheed 1954 photographic/tactical recon. T-33
RU-1A Otter De Havil. 1970? EW support U-1A
RU-8D Seminole Beech 1962 Army - redesignated RL-23D
RU-9 Commander Aerodesign 1962 Army - redesignated RL-26D
RU-21 Ute, Huron Beech 1966 Army electronic surveillance U-21/civilian
King Air (B), Super King Air (J; Huron)-
RU-21J redes. 1979 to C-12L
RU-38 Twin Condor Schweizer 1995 USCG U-38 - mod. RG-8A for recon. of surface vessels -
2 larger engines, twin-boom, tricycle gear
RV-1 Mohawk Grumman 1963? ELINT OV-1 - Quick Look I/II program
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