Aviation history buffs - what font is this?

[Eclipse]

On the wing?

[a2capt]

If you mean this:

Then download the attached TTF.

[Eclipse]

Awesome, THANKS!

[SarDragon]

It didn't start out as a typeface, pre se.

The spec for making the letters and numbers was based strictly on dimensions and proportions.

For a given height, the character shall be x percent of that height, and the lines shall be y percent. The corners shall be 45 degrees, with the hypotenuse being z length, on the outside, and proportional on the inside. There were also specs for the wide and skinny letters, related to standard width.

The spec allowed layout on the side of a plane with just a ruler, scissors, and tape.

Somewhere out there on the intertubes are the various services' manuals on doing insignia painting.

[edit]

FWIW, this is close, but not totally correct. The lines are too narrow, and it doesn't kern correctly.

[Eclipse]

Close enough for government work, as they say (which is actually the opposite of its original meaning).

Looks great where I'm using it.

[4fhoward]

I have found this search helpful in finding different fonts I have wanted to use.
http://www.fonts.com/FindFonts/SearchBySight.htm

[SarDragon]

This is the mil-spec for A/C markings"

http://www.scribd.com/1Anonymouspatriotusa/d/12930959-Navy-Aircraft-Colors-Markings

Pages 51 and 52 have the lettering details.

[sardak]

Air Force aircraft markings are contained in TO 1-1-4, several versions of which can be downloaded from here: http://www.usaf-sig.org/index.php/downloads/category/7-color-markings-related

It's interesting that although similar, the USAF and USN letters aren't the same. The USAF also gives its lettering instructions in a much simpler format than the Navy. An example of the USAF lettering is on page A-8 (pdf page 20) of part 2 of the 1985 TO. The markings for an O-1 and T-41 are given in 1985 part 5.

The history of AAF/USAF aircraft markings is available from the Air Force Historical Studies Office: http://www.afhso.af.mil/questions/topic.asp?id=1960

Mike