Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: spitfiremkv on May 21, 2005, 07:13:58 PM

Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: spitfiremkv on May 21, 2005, 07:13:58 PM
Do you refer to an aircraft by 'he' or 'she'?
Most people refer to airplanes as a 'she', but I think of them as masculine for some reason, except for the B17 which I think of as a 'she'.
But fighters, I find it hard to refer to the Glacier Girl, for instance as a she. It's just weird.
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Sp4de on May 21, 2005, 07:24:20 PM
"it"
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Raptor on May 21, 2005, 08:04:32 PM
most nose art names gives the plane a girls name (actually, i cant think of any with a guy's name), so I would say "she"
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: john9001 on May 21, 2005, 09:27:25 PM
cars, boats and airoplanes have no sex, they are all "it"
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: spitfiremkv on May 21, 2005, 09:34:26 PM
most people call boats and airplanes 'she'.
I tend to think of boats as 'she' and airplanes as 'he'.
people get attached to these vehicles and they can't call them 'it' anymore.
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Angus on May 22, 2005, 08:57:37 AM
They're ladies ;)
Just like yachts.
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Maverick on May 22, 2005, 10:47:08 AM
My old Comanche was definately a she. If I didn't pay enough attention to it she would break something. Sometimes she'd wait until we were on the way home from the annual inspection and break something or just glitch out the landing gear temporarily. We went over the gear with a fine tooth comb but never did find that gremlin. When she was being nice she was a real sweetheart. When she was in a bad mood she was a real *****.
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Pooh21 on May 22, 2005, 01:47:49 PM
She cause they are yummy

B-17s
P-39s
110s
109s
190s
hurris


unless its a spit(VI+),nik or lala, then its a s/he cause they all outflame Richard Simmons
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: AKFokerFoder+ on May 22, 2005, 03:09:32 PM
An Airplane being a ship of the sky is usually referred to as “she” or “her.”

In the American language, it is also acceptable to refer to an airplane in the neuter gender.  I am not sure of the gender usage in English speaking countries, as I am not that familiar with the English language.  Although I love their country, and the Brits are fun people, and they make good beer. You just have a hard time translating what they are saying sometimes, especially with a couple of pints in them :)  Also, they spell things funny, like Centre.

I often refer to my plane in the neuter gender; such as “You @#$@$ piece of S#*(^  !!!!!”
Title: Re: airplane: he or she
Post by: HoHun on May 22, 2005, 03:12:40 PM
Hi Spitfiremkv,

>Do you refer to an aircraft by 'he' or 'she'?

I'm sure there is an ancient convention in English, too, that requres reference to (named) ships in female gender. This convention often is extended to aircraft as well.

In German, it's the same. However, as German is not as systematical as English in gender allocation, it's slightly more confusing as for example "Komet" ("Comet") is usually "he", but when used as aircraft name becomes "she".

In German, messing this up is a tell-tale sign of laymanship :-)

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)
Title: Re: airplane: he or she
Post by: AKFokerFoder+ on May 22, 2005, 03:14:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by spitfiremkv
but I think of them as masculine for some reason, except for the B17 which I think of as a 'she'.
But fighters, I find it hard to refer to the Glacier Girl, for instance as a she. It's just weird.


You may want to talk to your therapist about this.  There may some gender confusion issues you need to work out.  :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: spitfiremkv on May 22, 2005, 04:44:58 PM
maybe you should give me a 'hand'
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Holden McGroin on May 23, 2005, 12:03:32 AM
el aeroplano. l'aeroplano

it's masculine in the latin derived languages.
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Angus on May 23, 2005, 08:30:51 AM
Hehe, the German language also refers to a girl as "it" because of the grammar rules, - Madchen is "it" because it ends with "chen", and everything ending with "chen" is "it"


It, the Girl :D
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Guppy35 on May 23, 2005, 01:55:04 PM
"She"  A picture is worth a thousand words :)  The 51 image of "The Enchantress" shows it clearly

My favorite fighter pilot book is called "Nanette" by Edwards Park.  He describes it as his love affair with that P39 he called Nanette.


Dan/CorkyJr
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/169_1116369372_the-enchantress.jpg)
Title: Re: airplane: he or she
Post by: paulieb on May 23, 2005, 02:30:46 PM
Quote
Originally posted by spitfiremkv
Do you refer to an aircraft by 'he' or 'she'?


Depends if i'm pitching (shootting) or catching (getting shot). :rofl
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Halo on May 23, 2005, 04:13:24 PM
Seems pretty clear: you get in an airplane, ride an airplane, mount an airplane, get into an airplane, guide an airplane, fly an airplane, drive an airplane, get your jollies or a buzz in an airplane, shoot in an airplane ... and usually steer with your joystick.

And then there's the maternal airplane that takes care of you, never lets you down, completes you, nurtures your every need, and carries you to heights you could never otherwise reach.  

And aesthetically?  Your airplane is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, and you don't feel complete without her.  Her sensuous curves, throaty purr, lulling hum, and sometimes passionate roar, gorgeous color, and that place where you feel so much at home, the ... cockpit ... no wonder it's called an ideal marriage of man and machine.  

For most guys, airplanes are definitely feminine.
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: Angus on May 23, 2005, 05:38:50 PM
what did capt. Flasheart say?
Get inside her and take her to heaven and back seven times a day :rofl
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: SELECTOR on May 23, 2005, 07:15:47 PM
its an it....calling it he or she is as bad as calling your car he or she... totally gay
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: gear on May 23, 2005, 09:50:14 PM
Well????
(http://www.dragonbbs.com/members/ww8566/WW2_-_B-24_Nose_Art_16.jpg)
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: straffo on May 24, 2005, 03:10:40 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Holden McGroin
el aeroplano. l'aeroplano

it's masculine in the latin derived languages.

I agree it's a "le" or a "un" but not a "la" or a "une"
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: MOIL on May 24, 2005, 04:35:25 AM
Quote
Originally posted by gear
Well????
(http://www.dragonbbs.com/members/ww8566/WW2_-_B-24_Nose_Art_16.jpg)


Well,  it just goes to show what I've been saying all along. Most planes met their doom from AA fire NOT other A/C! Now where's my Miss Ostie
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: JimBear on May 24, 2005, 01:03:51 PM
Since your sitting in the Cockpit it better be a She
Title: airplane: he or she
Post by: mussie on May 24, 2005, 01:26:51 PM
I always refer to my bikes and my car as she...

If I had a plane it would be the same.