Models - Reference
 
     

How do you say Paris in English? - London.

This sentence tries to transmit a very important issue for all Peoples, which is the pride on the own language. The Jewish people is not an exception to this, and with the creation of the state of Israel (and in fact, many years before that), a big effort was put to revive the Hebrew language. Taking a language that was dead for practical use for 2,000 years and putting it to everyday use may be one of the biggest achievements of this young state, and is unprecedented in all the history of mankind.

Over the years, many of the aircraft which served on the IAF received Hebrew names. In this table I present many of those planes and helicopters, their original name, the Hebrew name, its phonetics and translation. The table is by no means complete, and it is also not easy to make, since several planes (most notably the F-15, F-16, Mirage, etc.) have received diverse names depending on the original plane subtype and other factors. Since I am not an expert in the field, I will be glad to receive comments to this table and make it more complete.

I hope this table will be of interest (and amusement) for all IAF fans.

 

PLANES

Name
Sub-Types
Name - In Hebrew
Phonetics
Hebrew name meaning
Significado del nombre en Hebreo
Notes
Avia S-199 Messerchmidt
-
Sakin
Knife
Cuchillo
The first "real" IAF fighter plane.
Auster Autocrat
-
Primus
    Primus was the popular name of home gas furnaces, whose noise was similar to this small plane noise.
Dassault Super Mystere
-
 
Sa'ar
Tempest
Tempestad
(1)
Super Mystere B2
-
 
Sambad
 
Siglas del nombre
 
Mc Donell Douglas Phantom F-4
-
Qornas
Sledge Hammer
Maza
 
Mc Donell Douglas A4 Skyhawk
-
'Ayit
Eagle
Aguila
Dassault Mirage 3c
-
Shachak
Sky
Cielo
Boeing 377 Sratocruiser
-
Anak
Giant
Gigante
 
Dornier Do 27
-
Dror
Sparrow
Gorrion
 
Dassault Mirage 5 (IAI Nesher)
-
Nesher
Condor
Condor
(1)
Potez CM-170 Fouga Magister
Snunit
Swallow
Golondrina
The name Snunit was apparently suggested by Ben Gurion
Tzukit
Still in use for training, and by the IAF acrobatic team.
IAI Seascan    
Shachaf
Seagull
Gaviota
 
Boeing 707    
Re'em
Oryx
 
Lockheed C-130 Hercules    
Karnaf
Rinoceronte
 
Grumman OV-1 Mohawk  
Atalef
Bat
Murcielago
 
Grumman E2-C Hawkeye
   
Daya
Kite
Barrilete
 
Mc Donell Douglas F16 Fighting Falcon
A/B
Netz
Sparrow Hawk
Gavilan
C/D
Barak
Lightning
Rayo
Mc Donell Douglas F15 Strike Eagle
A/B/C
Baz
Falcon (!)
Halcon
F15I
Ra'am
Thunder
Trueno
IAI Kfir
C1 / C2 / C7
Kfir
Lion cub
Cachorro de leon
   
Lavi
Young lion
Leon Joven
 

HELLICOPTERS

Sikorsky Ch-53
Yasur
Eurocopter AS 565
Atalef
Bat
Murcielago
Bell 206 JetRanger
Sayfan
 
Bell 212 UH-1N
Anafa
Heron
Garza
Hughes Defender 500MD
Lehatut
Spell
Hechizo
Bell 209 Huey Cobra
Tzefa
Poisonous Viper
Vibora venenosa
 
Aerospatiale Super Frelon
Tzir'a
Wasp
Avispa
In service 1966 - 1992
Mc Donell Douglas AH-64 Apache
Peten
Cobra (!)
Cobra
 

Notes:

  1. The Sa'ar received this name after the original Super Mystere underwent extensive adaptations at IAI.
  2. The Nesher was completely built in Israel, by IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries); based on the plans of the Mirage 5, and after the ordered and payed Mirage 5 planes were embargoed by the French government.
Back to Models Page