how can I identify military planes flying overhead?

Answer 1

Learn to identify the plane is the simple answer! Study silhouettes of aircraft so you can recognise differant types. Areas to look at are;
Size,
How many, and position of, engines, (single, 2, 3, or 4 engines, on the wing, tail, centre-line of fuselage, nose etc)
Wing shape and position, (straight, swept, delta wing, high, mid or low mounted on the fuselage)
Tail configuration, (t-tail, single or double vertical fin etc)

Basically the only way you will know a military plane is to be familiar with them and be able to identify them by make & model, unless it's a fighter in which case the speed and noise it makes will give it away!!

Neopot2002 - since when is a jet not an airplane?? Airlines use jets too!

Answer 2

First do some research on military aircraft and look at photos of them. Then just look up!

I live about 100 miles east of San Francisco and the military aircraft I have seen around the area are UH-60s, CH-47s, and a C-17.

Answer 3

Just buy a couple books that specialize in military aircraft. Janes all the World Aircraft is a good on to have. There are also a few special books on this subject.


Learning them by sight is fun, but knowing their different sounds is a little tricky.

Answer 4

Typically by just looking at it. Military primarily use jets not airplanes.

Answer 5

The ones in my squadron have NAVY painted on the underwing.
Neopot2002, all jets are airplanes. Jets really the type engine it has. Turbo-Jet, Turbo-Prop, Turbo-Fan......

Answer 6

Vertiacal stabilizers. One or two. Shape. One engine or two.

Answer 7

There are actully books that teach you how. here is one example http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040206-9999_m1m06camppen.html

Answer 8

if the plane is going really fast and it is loud!!!!

Answer 9

Many of them are gray.