Aircraft Trivia Quiz

ShuShui? the Japanese Komet. In the article in the FSM mag, it said Germany sent over a couple samples by U-boat, but the U-Boats got sunk or something?

ygmodeler4 wrote:

Is it a FW-190?

No.  As far as I know, nobody used Fw-190s operationally in the Pacific.  I'm not sure Japan even got any samples.  Japan did get a couple of He-100s which they based the Tony on, but they did not use the He-100s operationally, and none were built after the war.

This aircraft type was built in Germany (some also built under license), and was used operationally during the war.  The operational use was more than one or two airframes.

 Bill

Sorry, I know I'm out of turn, but I wanted to post this before I forget:

What was the first UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and what war was it used in?

espins1 wrote:

Ju-52?

 As usually is the case with these things, new information I didn't know comes up.  I wasn't thinking of the Ju-52, and I have never heard of any used in the Pacific region during the war. I could be wrong though.

I don't think any were built as late as 1983 though.  Some may have been restored in the 80s, but a new airplane of this type was actually built (by the original manufacturer) in early 1980s. 

Not too long ago, the grandson of the founder of the company flew the last one built.

Bill 

jinithith2 wrote:

Kikka maybe? the Japanese variant of the Me262?

The Kikka looked like an Me-262, but was completely home grown.  None were built in Germany.

Sorry... 

Bill 

This German built aircraft saw service in the Pacific region in World War II.  Some were built under license, but  some were built in Germany and shipped to the Pacific where they saw heavy service.  The last of them being retired in 1944.

 This plane also have the distinction of being the last World War II airplane produced.  The last one taking to the air for the first time in 1983.

 What is the plane type?

Bill 

wdolson2 wrote:

T_Terrific wrote:    OK This aircraft is considered the first true fighter-bomber, and was the first operational turbo-charged interceptor. Interestingly enough, it was initially developed as a twin-engined bomber-destroyer. Other trivia: The recognizable difference from the early marks and the later, most produced ones, was due to the fact that the first were literally hand-assembled since the initial order was for only 1000. For the later marks, the main modifications were made to facilitate mass-production. Tom T Sounds like the P-38. Bill

  You got it Bill!

As you know, you go next

Good guess gedenke.

   Tom

T_Terrific wrote:

OK This aircraft is considered the first true fighter-bomber, and was the first operational turbo-charged interceptor. Interestingly enough, it was initially developed as a twin-engined bomber-destroyer. Other trivia: The recognizable difference from the early marks and the later, most produced ones, was due to the fact that the first were literally hand-assembled since the initial order was for only 1000. For the later marks, the main modifications were made to facilitate mass-production. Tom T

Sounds like the P-38.

Bill 

 OK

This aircraft is considered the first true fighter-bomber, and was the first operational turbo-charged interceptor.

Interestingly enough, it was initially developed as a twin-engined bomber-destroyer.

Other trivia:

The recognizable difference from the early marks and the later, most produced ones, was due to the fact that the first were literally hand-assembled since the initial order was for only 1000. For the later marks, the main modifications were made to facilitate mass-production.

Tom T

alumni72 wrote:

You got it, Tom.  One of the shuttle astronauts conducted experiments (don't know if they were official or not) with a paper airplane on the Discovery back in 1985, I think.  There's footage of it here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4155906403369239603&q=playing+with+paper

That's funny, 'cause it actually would not need a wingspan for loft with zero gravity, only vanes like a rocket to guide it through air resistance.

Now I guess I gotta cook up another one.

Tom

You got it, Tom.  One of the shuttle astronauts conducted experiments (don't know if they were official or not) with a paper airplane on the Discovery back in 1985, I think.  There's footage of it here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4155906403369239603&q=playing+with+paper

Since a paper airplane can be flown anywhere, I would assume that this would pertain to the value of the real-estate involved.

I would guess that the world's most expensive real-estate is in Tokyo, Japan.

On the other hand, if the expense is due to the cost of being a passenger, then this would involve the Space Shuttle program (either the shuttle itself or the space station), since I do believe the SST Concorde's tickets were cheaper then a space flight per person.

Am I getting close or was this a facitious question?

Tom

OK, I came up withn something quicker than I expected.  It's a slight variation on the theme, though -

 Where was the most expensive flight of a paper airplane conducted? 

In other words, there was one particular paper airplane that was flown in a particular place.  The place where it was flown makes it the most expensive paper airplane flight ever.  Name that place.

I'm still trying to come up with a decent aircraft question.  That was a lucky guess on my part, and I didn't consider the 'have to ask the next question' aspect of the thread.

If need be I'll post a relatively easy one later today - I just don't want the thread to fall by the wayside.

alumni72 wrote:

I don't know how specific I need to be, but I'm guessing that its first use was in WW1 from a fighter trying to shoot down an observation balloon, where the observer was equipped with a nice, brandy-new parachute? (did I need to know names or even which country was shooting at which?)

As far as I am concerned, you got the next go alumini

Of course I was thinking of a Nieuport 11 armed with baloon-busting rockets.

As for exactly who did what first to whom, that is in the same rhelm as exactly who was first with the forward mounted machine gun that could fire through the propeller, who was the first fighter ace, or who really got the Red Baron.

In all of those cases, there are more then one claim, and even confusion within each claim. As examples, with Roland Garros' first victories, it is disputed whether he was flying a Morane Saulnier parasol or mid-wing monoplane; the status of ace is disputed between Garros and Adolphe Pegoud, many dispute the validity of Garros' armor plates (since the bullet strikes did bend a crankshaft now and then and was abandoned for the overwing mounted Lewis) citing Anthony Fokker's invention of the interrupter gear, and nobody really knows what really happened to Baron Manfred von Richthofen since his machine was virtually destroyed by looters.

Make it a nice one

Tom

I don't know how specific I need to be, but I'm guessing that its first use was in WW1 from a fighter trying to shoot down an observation balloon, where the observer was equipped with a nice, brandy-new parachute?

(did I need to know names or even which country was shooting at which?)

 Well, since nobody wished to confirm or deny anyone's answers nor "take the next question", just to kick-off the new year with an easy one:

What was the generally accepted first use of the now common air-to-air missle in aerial warfare?

Hints:

1. Both the attacker and intended victum were in aircraft, although the target's pilot had a then-new safety feature to save his life with.
2. The target aircraft happened to be of the type that made it as desirable for a rocket attack as using a machine gun.

Bonus:

What was the then new safety feature for saving the target craft's pilot's life?

Tom

jeaton01 wrote:

gedenke wrote: Ok, here's one that I don't know, but am curious about... Which aircraft U.S. aircraft is credited with the most air-to-air victories? (total, not just one pilot) And to make it interesting, what about the other countries...UK, Germany, Japan......South Africa.....etc. For the US, the F6F, for other countries the Me-109. Off the top of my head, not researched. I don't know where I would get definitive numbers. John

Actually that is Naval victories for the F6F. The Army claims that the P-38 took out the most in the Pacific overall. So I guess it depends on whose bragging rights you feel like siding with.

In the E.T.O., The USAAF's top scorer was the P-51 Mustang.

As for other countries, I would guess the Zero for Japan, the Hurricane for the RAF (reputed to have destroyed more aircraft than any other type during WWII), for Russia I woud guess the Mig-3, for France the Dewtone, for Italy the Macchi-Castoldi MC-202 Folgore,and China the Curtiss Hawk III (as flown by famous aces such as Li Kwei-Tan). For various northeastern European countries such as Finland and Hungaria, the Bf-109 was their front-line fighter, so that one is aleady named. Poland's top aces went to Britain to soldier on and score high totals flying the Supermarine Spitfire.

How are we doing, gedenke?

  Tom

wdolson2 wrote:

Coming up with a question that is tough enough to get people thinking, but easy enough that it isn't virtually impossible is tricky.   Bill

That's one of the biggest challenges I face as an SAP Course developer and trainer.  It's very difficult to come up with good questions that adequately tests the students knowlege without being technical trivia questions.

Good stuff though gentlmen, we've had some interesting topics come up.

wdolson2 wrote:

Coming up with a question that is tough enough to get people thinking, but easy enough that it isn't virtually impossible is tricky.   Bill

I find it to be kind of a juggling act that forces me to put myself "in the other guy's shoes". One advantage I may have there is from my engineering background, where I learned to write instructions and procedures that could be understood with a minimum of questions from those that it is intended for.

Also, I seek to avoid questions that would only appeal to a very few "in the know", as that can turn-off others very fast, as they would tend to feel that there was an exclusive clique running the forum.

Tom

gedenke wrote:

Ok, here's one that I don't know, but am curious about... Which aircraft U.S. aircraft is credited with the most air-to-air victories? (total, not just one pilot) And to make it interesting, what about the other countries...UK, Germany, Japan......South Africa.....etc.

John

gemini wrote:

ok an apee is an Apprentice and the aircraft was the f-86 sabre y it was called an apee eater was because the air intake is on the front and during the korean war . (yes the korean war the south africans helped the americans flying f86s that the usaf had sold to the saaf (south african air force ) )there were some cases of a few seperate accidents that an aprentice would walk to close to the air intake during a engine test and needless to say they were killed when sucked up by the intake so the name apee eater was given to the sabres by there crews

Shooooooooooooooooooot

I was hoping it stood for "A happy pea eater", you know someone like myself that likes peas and mashed potatoes with his meatloaf dinner.

At least that was the first thing I thought of

Tom

Ok, here's one that I don't know, but am curious about...

Which aircraft U.S. aircraft is credited with the most air-to-air victories? (total, not just one pilot)

And to make it interesting, what about the other countries...UK, Germany, Japan......South Africa.....etc.

gemini wrote:

ok what does p in p51,p47,p40 and p38 stand for ?

 Pursuit

 Bill