Aircraft Trivia Quiz

Ok.

Sticking with the theme of racing planes, who/what is the current record holder for a prop driven aircraft with floats, regular land plane, and multiple engine?

Yes WarHammer, that is correct!

2,400 horsepower in 1940 out of an inline engine was quite an accomplishment, eh?

Whatcha got fer us?

It has the lines of a Macchi ... and it looks like a racer.

Ooops, sorry for taking so long to return guys!

Here is a 'whatisit' type of question. Name the aircraft and the engine, and what was significant about the engine being used here?

simpilot34 wrote:

A footnote to mojo's answer is, Maj. Bernie Fisher's plane is in the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patt. Got to see it in '86 when I was there. Some may look at it and say it's just a Skyraider, BUT it's what the pilot has DONE in that Skyraider is why it's there.

I don't think I could have said it better myself....

mojodoctor wrote:

Ooh, I think I've got this one! During the Battle of A Shau on March 10, 1966, Maj. Bernard (Bernie) Fisher observed Major Dafford ("Jump") Myers crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.   Most of this was copied from the Skyraider Association web site.

Mojodoctor you are correct!

Major Fisher was the first USAF recepient of the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. He was also the first living USAF recipient of the medal. The actual aircraft flown on that mission is on display at the United States Air Force Museum.

Major Fisher's actions that day were nothing short of heroic.

The aircraft would make an interesting build because it is the earlier 2 seater version of the Skyraider, painted in a Light Gray over White scheme.

Ooh, I think I've got this one!

During the Battle of A Shau on March 10, 1966, Maj. Bernard (Bernie) Fisher observed Major Dafford ("Jump") Myers crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Most of this was copied from the Skyraider Association web site.

LtCOL William A Jones III, A-1H pilot, providing SAR cover for an F-4 pilot recovery.  Basically, he took ground fire instead of the SAR choppers.  Hit more than a few times, he attempted to eject, but only blew his canopy.  He lost his radio equipment and was badly burned, so he RTB'd and refused medical attention until he gave the exact location of the downed pilot, who was rescued later that day. 

He died prior to receiving the MoH in an aircraft accident in 1969. 

Thanks Brews!

Try this one:

The AD/A-1 Skyraider started out as a ground attack plane in Korea. However, it did serve in the Vietnam War with both the Navy and the Air Force, flying ground support missions and cover for Search and Rescue. One of the USAF A-1 ground support missions resulted in the pilot receiving the Medal of Honor.

Who was the pilot and what event lead to him receiving the Medal of Honor?  

oooh, you're flying close to the target!

Two EA were downed. According to the account in the question post, it was the Ensign that scored first, however, there is more significance to their mission than just scoring the first kill by a Panther, and they didn't score over Yak-9s. Most of the whole answer is among all the attempts so far.

Edit: I'll give it to Mattsix. The first Naval Jet mission in history claimed 2 Yak-7Us and a small fuel dump (amongst other trivial ground targets). USS Valley Forge was the carrier that launched them.

OTU

Brews wrote:

As Galland might say, "close, but no cigar". I'm looking for more information, and more correct information.

Okay...

Lt. (jg) Leonard Plog AND his wingman Ensign E.W. Brown, flying F9F Panthers,  were each credited with a "kill" in taking down a Yak-9 on July, 3 1950. Theirs were the first air to air "kills" recorded by US Navy jets.

July 3, 1950 was also signifigant becasue it was the combat debut of both the AD Skyraider and the F9F Panther.

July 3rd 1950.

The first air to air victory by a U.S. Navy jet, in the Korean War, was recorded by Lt. (jg) Leonard Plog. Flying a F9F-3 Panther of VF-51, Lt. Plog shot down a Yak-9.

Thanks for trying, but that's not the answer.

Combat account follows:

"... another Yak shooting at me. I thought "that dirty SOB is trying to kil me!" He had a perfect run on me but evidently had never shot at anything moving that fast before. I pulled up, watching him firing at me all the time, then ... (pulled in) behind him, very close. The next thing I saw was a terrific explosion and Yak parts flying around".

 What was significant about this event on 3 July, 1950?

The movie called it a Phoenix.  The movie's plot was thinly disguised to reflect the problems of the early DeHavilland Comet's unexplained crashes.

Tom S.

That'a right Brews!!  The Avro Ashton is the answer.  Now it's on you... 

Avro Ashton, obviously.

Not a plane that immediately springs to mind. :) 

eaglecentral wrote:

With that last giveaway hint, I'm embarrassed to name the airplane, however, in the spirit of trivia, I'll add that the movie was called Cone of Silence in Britain and Trouble in the Sky in the USA. Tom S.

You're right

With that last giveaway hint, I'm embarrassed to name the airplane, however, in the spirit of trivia, I'll add that the movie was called Cone of Silence in Britain and Trouble in the Sky in the USA.

Tom S.

trexx wrote:

I am guessing the Avro Tudor, it had a jet powerd variant (tudor 8). I pretty dang sure you are correct.  Unless... it's the AVRO Tudor 9

Almost there... The Tudor 9 prototype was significantly different from the other models, so AVRO desided to give it a new designation.  That new name (making her a new aircraft) is the answer.

It is not the Nene Vicking, since in this case, the Vicking was used as a test platform, and after the tests she was converted to piston again. 

trexx wrote:

I am guessing the Avro Tudor, it had a jet powerd variant (tudor 8). I pretty dang sure you are correct.  Unless... it's the AVRO Tudor 9

The Tudor 8 flew a full 5 months after the Nene Viking.

I am guessing the Avro Tudor, it had a jet powerd variant (tudor 8).

I pretty dang sure you are correct.

 Unless... it's the AVRO Tudor 9

Jgonzalez wrote:

Jgonzalez nailed that one! Ain't Wikipedia somethin'? " border="0" width="19" height="15" />  It's just like golf... It's not the wood what's important but knowing how to use it... Ok.  This jetliner flew way before the Comet and is considered to be the first true jetliner.  She never made it production (and was never intended to do so).  Her design was simply an adaptation of a not very famous piston engine airliner.  She had a peculiar engine nacelle geometry and the configuration was typical of first generation multi engined jet aircrafts.  One of the late prototypes was used as a pseudo-futuristic jetliner in a 1960's film. Which aircraft fits this description?

Avro Canada C-102 Jetliner?

Jgonzalez wrote:

...Although concidered an ACM it has no real tactical use...

Uhh... It's used to make an attacker overshoot. It results in a reversal of the pursuer becoming the pursuee.

AND FYI:

In regards to thrust vectoring:

At the Reno National Championship Air Races, The 2008 F-22 Raptor Demonstration... flew the Raptor into a loop and THE POINT OF THE NOSE STAYED IN ONE PLACE IN SPACE while the rear-end swung around to complete a loop!

RemcoGrob wrote:

Jgonzalez wrote: Vector thrusted aircafts like the X-31 can do it easily. I have seen both the thrust vectored Flanker variants and the X-31 fly demo's at the Paris airshow and the "WOW" factor was definitely there!

If anyone is interested, there are several examples of the Cobra, performed in a variety of aircraft, on YouTube.

20 years after Pugachev first performed the Cobra, it still is a crowd pleaser!