The Harrier isn't called the Dave, it's the British nickname for the F-35. The origins are a little obscure but apparently the members of PPRUNE were less than impressed by the choice of Lightning II (US)/Lightning (UK) as the aircraft's name. Apparently someone suggested that 'they might as well have called it Dave'.![]()
Look on the bright side - allegedly the Americans were originally going to call it the Spitfire, until the RAF officers on the programme rather heatedly insisted that only one aircraft could ever bear that name...