PREYBIRDS

Preybirds is term used in Lepos for both fighter airplanes (regardless of type or mission) and their pilots. Originally, Leposian flyers painted silhouettes of bird of prey wings on their Bees as a symbol of their dominancy over the sky in the mid 1763, during the initial months of the Last War. As formal organization of Air Force was created later in October, this fashion spread rapidly. The combat airmen (period name for fighters) wanted to distinguish themselves from scouts and bombers and to emphasize their exceptionality. The fact that Argosian flyers learned to afraid this marking also helped.

The staff officers tried to stop this fashion several times. From the moment of establishment of the Air Force, preybird marking was officially banned. Nevertheless, the fighters never followed directions about standard camouflage schemes. The wings were also very popular in press, helping the pilots to follow their tradition. Journalists also started to use term "preybird" instead of combat airman (or oversea terms fighter and interceptor). This quickly became common for both public and flyers. Facing this level of public support of the wings, the High Command of the Air Force finally resigned, making this painting official by General Air Force Order 1/13101764.

By this order, effective from the November of 1764, Leposian fighters of all types (but not other types of aircrafts, and only ground-based fighters) are using silhouette of various birds of prey as official marking on the wings instead of common roundel. Markings of the rudder and fuselage, however, were same for all military aircrafts.

Despite changes in technology and tactics, the wings are still exclusive marking for Leposian fighter aircrafts, even in times of supersonic jets armed with guided missiles.