Technical data

APPENDIX B
STANDARD AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT MARKINGS
B.1 NATIONAL STAR INSIGNIA.
a. Dimensions. (Figure B-1.) The dimensions of the insig-
nia shall be determined by the diameter of the circum-
scribed circle which is standardized in multiples of 5
inches.
(1) The width of each end of the rectangle shall equal 1/2
the radius of the circle; the length shall equal 1 radius
(excluding border).
(2) The width of the horizontally centered at each end of
the rectangle, shall equal 1/6 of the radius of the
circle (excluding border).
(3) The width of the insignia outer bar shall equal 1/8 the
radius of the circle (excluding border).
(4) Construction of the five pointed star may be accom-
plished by marking off five equal distant points on
the circumscribed circle and connecting each point to
the non-adjacent points.
b. National Star Insignia on Aircraft Wings. Each insignia
will be positioned at a point inboard from each wing tip
equal to 1/3 the distance from the wing tip to the
wing-fuselage mating point. The border of the insignia
will be tangent to the movable control surface cut-out.
(1) The wing insignia may be moved in the minimum
required distance to avoid structures which would
alter the insignia pattern. However, symmetry will be
maintained with the USAF marking on the opposite
wing surface.
(2) Normally, the wing insignia shall be positioned so
that in normal flight attitude the top point of the star
points forward and a line through the center of the
insignia and the top star point is parallel to the
direction of flight.
(3) On swept wings or wings of variable sweep aircraft,
the National Star Insignia shall be positioned as
illustrated in Figure B-2. The insignia or any part
thereof shall not extend to movable flight control
surfaces. The insignia shall be applied so that the line
through the center and the top point of the star is
perpendicular to the constant 50% chord line of the
wing.
(4) The National Star Insignia selected for the wing shall
not exceed a maximum diameter of 60 inches nor
have a minimum diameter of less than 20 inches
(excluding border). The diameter of the circum-
scribed circle will be the standard size closest to but
not exceeding 75% of the distance between the wing
leading edge and the moveable surface cut-out at the
point of application.
c. National Star Insignia on Aircraft Fuselage. The insignia
may be moved forward or aft the minimum distance
required to avoid transparent material, or areas exposed
to extreme heat or fluids which would scorch, deterio-
rate or otherwise damage the insignia. The insignia may
extend over doors and emergency exits, but the insignia
shall not extend over the window areas or other such
openings which would change the design of the insignia.
NOTE
The insignia will be the standard size closest to,
but not exceeding, 75% of the fuselage height at
the point of application. The diameter of the blue
circle will not exceed 50 inches nor be less than
15 inches. Symmetry will be maintained when
applying the insignia on each side of the fuselage.
d. National Star Insignia on Helicopters. The National Star
Insignia will be applied on vertical surfaces so that in
normal flight attitude the top point of the star points
upward; on horizontal surfaces the top point of the star
will point forward in the direction of flight.
B.2 U.S. AIR FORCE MARKING.
a. Letter width shall be equal to 2/3 the letter height except
that the width of the letter “I shall be equal to 1/6 of the
letter height.”
b. Letter stroke and spaces shall be equal to 1/6 the height,
except that the space between “period” and “A” shall be
1/3 letter height.
c. The space between AIR and FORCE shall be one letter
width.
TO 1-1-8
B-1