ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

United States military aircraft serial numbers

Okay kiddo, so when the United States military gets a new airplane or helicopter, they give it a special number that makes it different from all the other planes. It's like giving each toy in your toy box a name or a number so you can tell them apart.

Now, the numbers they use are really long and have lots of letters and numbers in them. They start with letters that tell you which type of plane it is, like if it's a fighter jet or a cargo plane. Then there are some numbers that tell you which exact plane it is, almost like its own special ID number.

Now, this number is really important because it helps the military keep track of all their planes and know which ones are where. It helps them know when they need to repair a plane or when they need to send it somewhere else to help in a mission.

So next time you see a military plane flying in the sky, remember that it has its own special number that makes it unique and helps the military keep track of it!