[Atlas Sneezed]

so if you do a model F15 do you have to get a copywriter not just from the manufacture but also from the tire maker

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It's about trademarks (e.g. "F-15") and not replicating the airplane. Of course, they need to explain how a trademark covering aircraft applies to the sale of children's models. Totally different classes of goods, and the use on different goods does not diminish the value of the trademark (it arguably increases it.)

[SauronOfMordor]

I have on my office wall a calendar showing US war planes. Should the aircraft manufacturors get a royalty when a picture of one of their planes appears on a poster or calendar? I don't think so.

What is a model, except a three-dimensional reduced-size image of the plane?

[Old Student]

The model designation is provided by the military, not the company, as part of the contracting process. The F-111D that I worked on was built by General Dynamics, while the EF-111 Raven was rebuilt from older models of F-111 by McDonnel-Douglas, IIRC.

[norton]

"It's about trademarks (e.g. "F-15")"

Doubt it, F-15 is a USG assigned designation, "Eagle" is a company specific "common name" (usually or often not used in life - "fighting Falcon" (gag) versus Hoover, "Thunderbolt II" versus Hog...).

Boeing could complain about "dreamliner" or 787, but it'd be really, really, dumb (who cares about modeling passenger haulers?).

I don't have a clue about what would be the reason for such a stupid brouhaha, but it could kill what is already a lagging industry/hobby/learning tool.

PS: Clearing out my folk's house; found three trunks full of '50 - '70s kits, motors, and assorted parts, I'm already started with a "new' control line fighter I'll probably build and never fly...the BEST therapy.

[P-Marlowe]

The Term F15 is the term given to the Airplane by the Military. It is not a trademark.

IMO the jet design and the name of the Jet are in the public domain the second they contract to sell the plane to the US Military. It is commissioned by the military and thus if there are any trademark rights, they belong to the taxpayers.