Aircraft Trivia Quiz

simpilot34 wrote:

Bear and the Bison?

That is correct simpilot. The Tu-95 Bear and the M-4 Bison both came about because of this request. One would think the Tu-16 Badger was the other plane but it isn't. The Badger was designed before this request, and the Badger wasn't designed to bomb targets in the United States. It was designed to bomb US installations in Europe and Asia as well as bomb NATO targets in those continents. Over to you simpilot34.

You are partially correct osher. One is indeed the Tu-95 Bear, but the IL-28 is incorrect.

Thanks davros. I actually had no idea the Gladiator ever had a three blade propellor until I saw that photo on wikipedia.

The question:
When the Cold War was in full swing in the late 40's and early 50's, the U.S. was introducing their new B-47 and B-52 to supplement and eventually replace the B-36 as well as the introduction of Britain's V-Bombers. To compete with these new aircraft, the USSR issued a request for a new strategic bomber capable of bombing the U.S. and to replace the Tu-85. There were guidelines specifying that a certain engine or combination of engines must be used on the aircraft. Two planes that were designed to meet these requirements entered production and have seen active service. What are the two aircraft?

I think that this is an easy enough question. The second plane could be challenging though.

WarHammer25 wrote:

Gloster Gladiator at Malta?

We have a winner! I think its performance, over Malta, proves that an old 'plane in good hands can, often, be better than a new one in poor hands.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Gladiator#Malta

Anyway; your turn to step up to the plate now WarHammer25.

Sorry for the delay in setting a new challenge. It seems that this part is harder than answering the question.

Anyway here it is.

Although considered obsolete at the start of WW2; this aircraft managed to make laasting impression in one theatre of war. Its propellor was changed from twin blade to three blade to improve climb performance and its pilots were able to fool enemy into thinking were facing many more than they actually were.

Can you name it and also where it had its finest hour?

Dang!

I never research my own questions enough before posting. I was looking for the Gemini, Vostok and Columbia Shuttle (only the first four flights) as the answers possible but forgot Gagarin ejected. I don't think the Buran actually had the seats installed on it's only 'flight', but I'm probably wrong about that too!

Over to you davros.

The Russian shuttle Buran?

 I know the Vostok rocket that took Gagarin into space had an ejection seat in it because he used it to eject after re-entryand landed under his own parachute. This would disqualify it as an answer to your question.

Not the Mercury capsule as it used the rocket propelled escape tower.

Another try?

Okay here is another easy one!

Name one of the three fastest vehicles to be fitted with an ejection seat, but never used?

mojodoctor,

Yes.  Curtiss was flying a souped-up Golden flyer, stripped of excess weight and ready to race.  Bleriot gave him a run for the money.  The competion was keen, but in the end the stopwatches gave the race to Curtiss by only seconds.

 The next question is yours.

Tom Shema

Curtiss Golden Flyer?

mojodoc,

The third part is inversely correct.  Bleriot was Curtiss's rival at this even held August 28th 1909 in Reims, France, however it wasn't Louis who brought home the Bennett Cup or set the record.

What airplane was Curtiss flying?

 Tom Shema

Happy New Aviation modeling Year to all of you plastic scratchers out there!

The first question of the New Year is:

One hundred years ago (I won't give the date because it will make this easy question too easy, but it happend in 1909) this pioneer aviator set a speed record of a blistering 47.06 mph (75.48 km/h) at a landmark internation aviation event.  Theodore Roosevelt was there to witness this triumph. 

1. who set this speed record?

2. what airplane was he flying?

3. who was his chief rival?

Tom Shema

Yup, that's it!

This one is in the markings of the U.S. Border Patrol.

What have you got for us Tom?

G'day mate!  The airplane in the picture is a GAF Nomad.

It was designed in 1965 and first flown in 1971 by the Government Aircraft Factory in Australia which later became Aerospace Technologies of Australia Ltd. (ASTA).  The idea was to spur the growth of an indiginous aircraft industry in Australia.

Boeing purchased the rights to the aircraft when it bought the Rockwell group in 1996 and recently (June 08) Boeing sold the airworthiness certificate to Gippsland Aeronautics Pty Ltd. in Morwell, Victoria, Australia.

There are currently 54 GAF Nomads flying.  Gippsland hopes to build and sell 200 aircraft.

Tom Shema

No 60, it is not a Caribou.

This aircraft was in production for fourteen years and served with the militaries of several different nations. It was originally intended for both military and civilian use. Earlier this year, intentions for a return to production were offered and it may just go forward!

 Is that a "Caribou"?

                      60

Let's try an easy one to keep things rolling along!

Whatisit?

Where dat?

South of the equator and west of the 0 Longitude line. Pacific Ocean to the left. Runway code 9/27

Here you go Brews:

To achieve her transatlantic ambition Elsie Mackay bought a Stinson Detroiter, having been impressed by the aircraft during Ruth Elder's failed 1927 transatlantic attempt (despite an oil leak causing the failure 300 miles over the Atlantic^[15]). It was shipped from the USA to England and delivered to the Brooklands motor racing track, which at the time was also used as an airfield. She named it 'Endeavour'.^[4] It was a monoplane with gold tipped wings and a black fuselage, powered by a 9 cylinder, 300 h.p. Wright Whirlwind J-6-9 (R-975) engine, with a cruising speed of 84 m.p.h.^[16]

In early March 1928 the Daily Express discovered that Captain Hinchliffe and Elsie were preparing for a transatlantic attempt by carrying out test flights at RAF Cranwell and were staying at The George Hotel in Leadenham^[17] near Grantham. The story was silenced by Elsie's threatened legal action as she intended to depart in secret while her father was in Egypt, having promised her family she would not make the attempt.^[3]

At 8:35am on March 13th 1928 'Endeavour' took off from Cranwell Airdrome, Lincolnshire,^[18] with minimal fuss as Walter had told only two friends he was going and Elsie registered under the pseudonym of 'Gordon Sinclair'.^[1] Approximately 5 hours later, at 1.30pm the Chief Lighthouse keeper at Mizen Head on the south west coast of Cork Ireland saw the monoplane over the village of Crookhaven, on the great circle course for Newfoundland.^[18] A French steamer later reported seeing them still on course,^[1] but nothing else is known. A crowd of 5,000 is reputed to have waited for them at Mitchell Field, Long Island.^[2] In December 1928, 8 months later, a single piece of identifiable undercarriage washed ashore in North West Ireland