USAF/USN and pilot names printed near the cockpit

[artik]

I had noticed frequent appearances of pilots names near the cockpits, their occurrences are quite frequent and seen through many videos/images/movies for both navy and USAF.

For example:



Now I have questions:

1. Is this practice is for some pilots/planes for special cases or there is a common practice for common pilots? Are the names permanent (i.e. painted)?
2. Does it means that this particular plane is flown most if the time by this particular pilot and the other way around?
3. If (2) holds isn't it wasteful in terms of resources?

I know that during WW2 there was a practice where pilots had their "own" planes but it is strange to me that it carried to modern AF/Navy.

I served in IAF squadron (as ground crew) and we had no such an identity. Even squadron COs hadn't their "own" planes (even if have their preferences for particular planes). The assignments were quite dynamic and flexibly - especially considering the fact that planes do not need to sleep and having flexible assignments is actually a force multiplier.

[The Fugitive]

When I was in the Navy all of the planes has pilot names painted on. Also those that had Co pilots/rears had the Co pilots name painted on as well.

Changing a name on a plane was a 10 minute job. Air sander cleans the old name off and stencil a new one on.

[artik]

When I was in the Navy all of the planes has pilot names painted on. Also those that had Co pilots/rears had the Co pilots name painted on as well.

Changing a name on a plane was a 10 minute job. Air sander cleans the old name off and stencil a new one on.

Fascinating!

Does it means that the pilots flew mostly only these particular planes and nobody else had flown them (at least until the name was repainted)?

So it isn't common to switch planes.. Maybe during big exercises when the high sortie generation ratio is required the names were not "definite"?

And if a pilot is on an alert duty it is on alert with his own plane?

Does it also means that the same pilot and WSO always fly in a pair?

[Serenity]

Actually, it's rather uncommon to fly "your plane" (The one with your name). Every pilot has his name painted on one plane. I've seen a lot of hornets which sport one name per side (Not enough planes to have one per pilot), however you fly whatever plane happens to be up that day. Any pilot is equally likely to be assigned to any functioning airplane. The name is just there so you can say you've got one. At least that's my understanding.

[bozon]

Actually, it's rather uncommon to fly "your plane" (The one with your name).

In the IAF when someone asks you "why are you doing this XXX?" and makes you realize that you are doing something that is completely stupid or illogical, you can still save face by answering "to confuse the enemy...".

Does it means that this particular plane is flown most if the time by this particular pilot and the other way around?

No. This is just to confuse the enemy.

[Saxman]

During WWII, Navy and Marine pilots didn't generally have their "own" plane in the way the AAF guys did. For that matter, Marine SQUADRONS didn't always have their own aircraft, and you would have several VMFs sharing from a pool of machines. Individual pilots might still have had a favored ride, but otherwise they would generally fly whatever aircraft were operable.

I think the carrier squadrons were afforded a bit more luxury in this regard, but in general the squadron's aircraft were shared among pilots and it was rare to have individual machines (VF-17's Corsairs are one of the few examples I can think of where you really see pilots having an "assigned" aircraft).

Even with the AAF pilots, while they would have "their" individual plane, their plane might not always have been available so they would fly whatever was.

[XxDaSTaRxx]

Interesting. I didn't know that one plane is not always assigned to the same guy.

Let's just hope the wives aren't that way.  

EDIT: What is the point of having names on the Aircraft if not always flown the by the person who has their name on it? 

[DaveBB]

Even many 8th air force bomber squadrons didn't have permanent crews assigned to just one aircraft. 

[The Fugitive]

Fascinating!

Does it means that the pilots flew mostly only these particular planes and nobody else had flown them (at least until the name was repainted)?

So it isn't common to switch planes.. Maybe during big exercises when the high sortie generation ratio is required the names were not "definite"?

And if a pilot is on an alert duty it is on alert with his own plane?

Does it also means that the same pilot and WSO always fly in a pair?

I only knew a couple pilots onboard our ship and they did stick with their partner as a team. As for the planes, like I said it was easy to take a name off and stencil a new name on. So the crews would look at the duty roster, and paint the new names on the planes. It only takes a few minutes. Also, the planes they "use" aren't as pretty as those you see at the museums  They didn't have to be too picky about how pretty it looked. 

[Serenity]

Also, the planes they "use" aren't as pretty as those you see at the museums  They didn't have to be too picky about how pretty it looked. 

The exception being the COD The VRCs like to remind folks that other than the Blue Angels, they're the only ones in the Navy authorized to use high-gloss paint on their planes.