Besides, the Air Force already has had a Rapier in its historical inventory: the XF-108 Rapier escort fighter/interceptor, a parallel development of the XB-70 Valkyrie strategic bomber. The program died pretty much alongside the Valkyrie project, but that was a part of the Air Force (developmental) inventory, and therefore “Rapier” counted. Any new Rapier would be a “II”.
Might as well save some of these for upcoming aircraft. You don’t know when you might need them. (And yes, Rapier is no knife, it’s a dueling sword. The heck?)
Naming planes after birds of prey has the issue that you run out of the familiar or cool ones - Eagle, Raptor, Osprey, Falcon, various types of Hawk… Owl?? Condor, just as long as nobody remembers it’s a scavenger. Nobody will want Vulture. And who the heck outside the birdwatchers’ club even knows what a Krestel is.
I would say things like “Wraith” should be saved for stealth attack aircraft and such. Make it something that comes in the night and scares the bejeezus out of you and you can’t fight it.
And whenever there is a true A-10 successor, name it the Sledgehammer or the Ripper, don’t get subtle.
Well, the F-23 is a stealth aircraft. And it’s not inconceivable that, like the F-22, the F-23 might might be adapted for service, or even have a formal dedicated variant as, a ground-attack aircraft.
Even thought the F-16 is officially the Fighting Falcon, most USAF guys call it Viper so the snake thing is still viable.
I’d fly a Vulture, it sounds vaguely ominous like a gunship, like something in HALO. Also, eagles are quite frequently carrion eaters, too so it’s not like the vultures are alone in that regard.
Kestrel was the name the RAF gave to the development prototypes of what later became the Harrier. So it would probably have to be Kestrel II.
The Kestrel is the most common hawk in the uk and can be seen hovering over fields all the time.
