The Thai Air Force system to designate aircraft and its serials is unique in the world and if you don't know this system
it is hard to comprehend why some aircraft wear such a lot of numbers and what they mean.
A Thai aircraft with a number combination like "B.Kh.19-25/38" / "40307" / "90020" is quite common, it only is a hard time
when you want to note down the complete serial while the aircraft is flying. The noting down is further complicated for
most spotters as the unique serial is written in the Thai language.
For example: An F-16A wears the RTAF serial number
บ.ข.๑๙- ๒๕ / ๓๘ (B.Kh.19-25/38):
บ. (B.)
means Boh = Aircraft, with ฮ (H) for Helicopters.
ข. (Kh.)
means Khoh = Fighter which is the primary role of the aircraft.
๑๙ (19)
means the 19th fighter type with the air force.
This number might be appended by a character to indicate another sub-type.
๒๕ (25)
means the 25th F-16A with the air force.
๓๘ (38)
means that this particular aircraft was delivered in the Buhdda year 2538 (=1995)
On the aircraft this serial is written in Thai characters. In publications the digits are written Roman style however.
The second number to identify an Air Force aircraft is its squadron code:
Mostly a five-digit number is used in which the first three digits indicate the squadron the aircraft is flying for and
the last two indicate a unique number within the squadron. The F-16A above is aircraft number 07 with the 403rd Squadron.
This code is not unique for a single aircraft.
Note that many aircraft like trainer aircraft and helicopters use a different code structure.
The third number often seen is a former American serial, like 90020 for FMS serial 90-7020 on the F-16.
Trainer aircraft generally use two different numbers for code, like "รร.09-37" / "09"
in which "09" stands for the 9th aircraft of the type with the Air Force and "37" the last two of the delivery year (Thai).
Below an overview is presented of aircraft identifications used by the Royal Thai Air Force. When known also the period is presented when the
aircraft type was active with the air force as well as the total number served.
ข - Khoh (Kh - Fighter)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ข.1
B.Kh.1
Nieuport Type 13m2
2461-2470
1918-1927
4
บ.ข.2
B.Kh.2
Nieuport Type 15m2
2461-2475
1918-1932
12
บ.ข.3
B.Kh.3
Spad type 7, 13m2
2461-2474
1918-1931
33
บ.ข.4
B.Kh.4
Nieuport-Delage 29L-1
2466-2478
1923-1935
12
บ.ข.5
B.Kh.5
Prachadhipok
2472-?
1929-?
1
บ.ข.6
B.Kh.6
Bulldog II
2474- ?
1931-?
2
บ.ข.7
B.Kh.7
Boeing 100 (P.12E)
2474- ?
1931-?
2
บ.ข.8
B.Kh.8
Heinkel He.45
2474- ?
1931-?
1
บ.ข.9
B.Kh.9
Hawk II
2477- ?
1934-?
12
บ.ข.10
B.Kh.10
Hawk III
2478- ?
1935-?
62
บ.ข.11
B.Kh.11
Hawk 75N
2480- ?
1937-?
12
บ.ข.12
B.Kh.12
Ki-27 Otsu
2485- ?
1942-?
12
บ.ข.13
B.Kh.13
Ki-43-2 Hayabusa
2486- ?
1943-?
24
บ.ข.14
B.Kh.14
Spitfire Mk.XIVe
2493-2498
1950-1955
30
บ.ข.15
B.Kh.15
F8F-1, F8F-1B
2494-2503
1951-1960
204
บ.ข.16
B.Kh.16
F-84G
2499-2506
1956-1963
31
บ.ข.17
B.Kh.17
F-86F-30
2504-2515
1961-1972
54
บ.ข.17ก
B.Kh.17K
F-86L
2506-2509
1963-1966
20
บ.ข.18
B.Kh.18
F-5A
2510-curr
1967-curr
18
บ.ข.18ก
B.Kh.18K
F-5B
2509-curr
1966-curr
7
บ.ข.18ข
B.Kh.18Kh
F-5E
2521-curr
1978-curr
42
บ.ข.18ค
B.Kh.18Kh2
F-5F
2521-curr
1978-curr
6
บ.ข.19
B.Kh.19
F-16A
2531-curr
1988-curr
44
บ.ฃ.19ก
B.Kh.19K
F-16B
2531-curr
1988-curr
15
ขฝ - Khoh/Foh (KhF - fighter/trainer)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ขฝ.1
B.KhF.1
L-39ZA/ART
2537-curr
1994-curr
36
จ - Jhao (J - Attack)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.จ.1
B.J.1
Corsair V.93S
2477-2493
1934-1950
112
บ.จ.2
B.J.2
Ki-30 M103 Nagoya
2483-2494
1940-1951
25
บ.จ.3
B.J.3
SB2C-5 Helldiver
2494-2498
1951-1955
6
บ.จ.4
B.J.4
Fairey Firefly F Mk1,FR Mk1
2494-2498
1951-1955
12
บ.จ.5
B.J.5
OV-10C Bronco
2514-curr
1971-curr
32
บ.จ.6
B.J.6
A-37B Dragonfly
2515-2538?
1972-1995?
20
บ.จ.7
B.J.7
Alpha Jet A
2543-curr
2000-curr
20
บ.จธ.2
B.JTh.2
AU-23A
2515-curr
1972-curr
34
บ.จฝ.13
B.JF.13
AT-28D
2505-2531
1962-1988
80
บ.จล.2
B.JL.2
AC-47A,B,C,D Spooky
2521-2541?
1978-1998?
14
บ.จล.9
B.JL.9
GAF Nomad N22B
2525-curr
1982-curr
19
ชอ - ThOr
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ชอ.1
B.ThOr.1
Pazmany PL-2
2517-2532
1974-1989
1
ต (T - Observation/Reconnaisance)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ต.1
B.T.1
P.54 Survey Prince IIIA
2496-2503
1953-1960
1
บ.ต.2
B.T.2
Cessna O-1A, E, G Birddog
2510-2533
1967-1990
54
บ.ตข.18
B.TKh.18
RF-5A
2513-curr
1970-curr
4
บ.ตฝ.11
B.TF.11
RT-33A
2498-2539
1955-1996
8
บ.ตล.2
B.TL.2
RC-47A, B, C, D, Basler BT-67
2530-curr
1987-curr
6
บ.ตล.6
B.TL.6
Merlin IVC
2522-curr
1979-curr
3
บ.ตล.7
B.TL.7
IAI Arava EW M201TH
2523-curr
1980-curr
3
บ.ตล.9
B.TL.9
GAF N22B Nomad
2532-curr
1989-curr
3
บ.ตล.12
B.TL.12
Learjet M35A
2531-curr
1988-curr
2
ท (Th - Bomber)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ท.1
B.Th.1
Breguet 14A, 14B
2452-2480
1909-1937
5
บ.ท.2
B.Th.2
Boripatara
2470-2483
1927-1940
2
บ.ท.3
B.Th.3
Martin 139WSM B-108
2480-2524
1937-1981
6
บ.ท.4
B.Th.4
Nakajima MC12-19
2485-2524
1942-1981
9
ทอ (ThOr - Bomber)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ทอ.1
B.ThOr.2
RTAF-2
2500-2501
2500-2501
1
บ.ทอ.4
B.ThOr.4
RTAF-4 Chantra
2517-2532
1974-1989
12
บ.ทอ.5
B.ThOr.5
RTAF-5
2527-2528
1984-1985
1
ธ (Th - Utility/Liaison)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ธ.1
B.Th.1
Helio U-10A, B, D
2506-2529
1963-1986
20
บ.จธ.2
B.JTh.2
AU-23A
2515-curr
1972-curr
34
ผท (PhTh - Aerial mapping)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ผท.1
B.PhT.1
Cessna 411A
2525- ?
1982-?
1
บ.ผท.2
B.PhT.2
Be Queen Air B80
2525-2529
1982-1986
1
บ.ผท.2ก
B.PhT.2K
Be Queen Air A80
2525-2532
1982-1989
1
บ.ผท.3
B.PhT.3
Be King Air E90
2525-?
1982-?
1
บ.ผท.4
B.PhT.4
Turbocommander 690A
2525-?
1982-?
1
ฝ - Foh (F - Trainer)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ฝ.1
B.F.1
Nieuport Type 23m2
2461- ?
1918-?
12
บ.ฝ.2
B.F.2
Nieuport Type 18m2
2461- ?
1918-?
12
บ.ฝ.3
B.F.3
Piper PT-1
2471- ?
1928-?
1
บ.ฝ.4
B.F.4
Avro 504N
2473- ?
1930-?
12
บ.ฝ.5
B.F.5
Corsair
2482- ?
1939-?
10
บ.ฝ.6
B.F.6
Tachikawa Ki-36
2485- ?
1942-?
44
บ.ฝ.7
B.F.7
Miles Magister Mk.I
2490-2495
1947-2952
20
บ.ฝ.8
B.F.8
AT-6A, B, C, D, F, G
2491-2517
1948-1974
220
บ.ฝ.9
B.F.9
DHC-1 Chipmunk
2492-2532
1949-1989
66
บ.ฝ.10
B.F.10
DH.82A Tiger Moth Mk2
2494-2504
1949-1961
34
บ.ฝ.11
B.F.11
T-33A Shooting Star
2498- ?
1955-?
46?
บ.ฝ.12
B.F.12
Cessna T-37B
2504-2538?
1961-1995?
22
บ.ฝ.13
B.F.13
T-28D Trojan
2505-2527
1962-1984
40
บ.ฝ.14
B.F.14
Cessna T-41D (R172E)
2511-curr
1968-curr
13
บ.ฝ.15
B.F.15
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260MT
2516-2542?
1973-1999
18
บ.ฝ.16
B.F.16
CT/4A/B Airtrainer
2517-curr
1974-curr
30
บ.ฝ.16ก
B.F.16K
CT/4E Airtrainer
2542-curr
1999-curr
24
บ.ฝ.17
B.F.17
Chantra
2517-2532
1974-1989
12
บ.ฝ.18
B.F.18
Fantrainer 400
2531-2541
1988-1998?
5
บ.ฝ.18ก
B.F.18K
Fantrainer 600
2531-2541
1988-1998?
15
บ.ฝ.19
B.F.19
Pilatus PC-9
2534-curr
1991-curr
22
บ.ฝ.20
B.F.20
Diamond DA42
2552-curr
2009-curr
6
พ (Ph - civil)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.พ.1
B.Ph.1
Cessna 150H
2531-curr
1988-curr
4
ร (R - Glider)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ร.1
B.R.1
Hoffman H-36 Dimona
2526-2537
1983-1994
10
บ.ร.2
B.R.2
Grob G.109
2532-2537
1989-1994
?
Kuabkum (K - Controll)
serial
type
service period
number
B.K.1
Saab 340AEW
2553-curr
2010-curr
1
ล - Loh (L - Transport)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ล.1
B.L.1
Beechcraft C-45B, C-45F
2490-2502
1947-1959
7
บ.ล.2
B.L.2
C-47A,B,C,D Skytrain
2489-curr
1946-curr
32
บ.ล.3
B.L.3
C-54 Skymaster
2503-2503
1960-1960
2
บ.ล.4
B.L.4
C-123B Provider
2507-2532
1964-1989
22
บ.ล.4ก
B.L.4K
C-123K Provider
2516-2542
1973-1999
20
บ.ล.5
B.L.5
BAe748-208
2508-curr
1965-curr
7
บ.ล.6
B.L.6
Swearingen Merlin IVA
2521-curr
1978-curr
2
บ.ล.8
B.L.8
C-130H, C-130H-30
2523-curr
1980-curr
12
บ.ล.9
B.L.9
GAF N22B Nomad
2525-date
1982-date
19
บ.ล.10
B.L.10
DC-8-62AF
2525-2532
1982-1989
3
บ.ล.11
B.L.11
B737-2Z6
2526-curr
1983-curr
1
บ.ล.11ก
B.L.11K
B737-3Z6
2533-2536
1990-1993
1
บ.ล.11ข
B.L.11Kh
B737-4Z6
2538-curr
1995-curr
1
บ.ล.11ค
B.L.11Kh2
B737-8Z6
2550-curr
2007-curr
1
บ.ล.13
B.L.13
A310-324
2534-curr
1991-curr
1
บ.ล.14
B.L.14
Alenia G.222
2538-curr
1995-curr
6
บ.ล.15
B.L.15
Airbus 319-115CJ
2547-curr
2004-date
1
บ.ล.16
B.L.16
ATR72-212A
2552-curr
2009-date
4
บ.ล.17
B.L.17
Saab 340B
2553-curr
2010-date
4
ว (W - UAV)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ว.1
B.W.1
Slyeye Type R4E-30
? - ?
? - ?
6
ส (S - Liaison)
serial
type
service period
number
บ.ส.1
B.S.1
Fairchild 24J, 24K
2481-2498
1938-1955
7
บ.ส.2
B.S.2
Rearwin M9000KRT Deluxe
2481-2498
1938-1955
2
บ.ส.3
B.S.3
Piper L-4J, L-4H
2490-2502
1947-1959
38
บ.ส.3ก
B.S.3K
Piper PA-11 Cub Special
2492-2505
1949-1962
2
บ.ส.4
B.S.4
Stinson L-5, L-5B
2490-2502
1947-1959
38
บ.ส.5
B.S.5
Beechcraft M35 Bonanza
2494-2497
1951-1954
2
บ.ส.6
B.S.6
Grumman Widgeon JRF.5
2494-2499
1951-1956
6
บ.ส.7
B.S.7
Cessna 170B
2497-2502
1954-1959
9
ฮ - Hoh (H - Helicopter)
serial
type
service period
number
ฮ.1
H.1
Westland Dragonfly srs.1A
2493-2497
1950-1954
3
ฮ.1ก
H.1K
Sikorsky YH-5A
2494-2497
1951-1954
1
ฮ.2
H.2
Hiller 360X
2493-2495
1950-1952
1
ฮ.2ก
H.2K
Hiller UH-12B
2495-2505
1952-1962
4
ฮ.3
H.3
Sikorsky S-55 (H-19A)
2497-2508
1954-1965
8
ฮ.4
H.4
Sikorsky S-58 (H-34B)
2505-2519
1962-1976
65
ฮ.4ก
H.4K
Sikorsky S-58T Twinpack
2505-2546
1962-2003
19
ฮ.5
H.5
Kaman HH-43B Huskie
2505-2513
1962-1970
4
ฮ.6
H.6
Bell UH-1H Huey
2511-curr
1968-curr
37
ฮ.6ก
H.6K
Bell UH-1N
2519-2542
1976-1999
2
ฮ.6ข
H.6Kh
Bell 412
2525-curr
1982-curr
2
ฮ.6ค
H.6Kh2
Bell 412(HP)SP
2534-curr
1991-curr
3
ฮ.6ง
H.6KNg
Bell 412EP
2541-curr
1998-curr
8
ฮ.7
H.7
OH-13H Sioux
2515-2515
1972-1972
9
ฮ.8
H.8
Bell 206B-3
2538-curr
1995-curr
9
ฮ.9
H.9
AS332L-2
2539-curr
1996-curr
9
ฮผฑ (HPhT - Mapping Helicopter)
serial
type
service period
number
ฮผฑ.1
HPhT.1
Bell 206B Jet Ranger II
2525-curr
1982-curr
1
ฮผฑ.2
HPhT.2
Kawasaki-Bell 47G-3B-114
2525-2525
1982-1982
1
Group unknown
serial
type
service period
number
#.1
Breguet 111
2456-2461
1913-1918
3
#.2
Nieuport IIN/IVG
2456-2461
1913-1918
4
The Navy designation system
The Navy uses a serial system which always includes the operational squadron. Often the FMS serial number, construction
number or Bureau Numbers are also carried on the aircraft. For example:
1407/159288 is an A-7E of 104sq U Tapao
2313 is a Westland Lynx 203sq U Tapao
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