How Much Do You Know About Airplanes?

AUTO

By: Craig

6 Min Quiz

Image: YouTube

About This Quiz

Preparing for take off! If you've ever traveled in your lifetime, there's a big chance you've been on an airplane. This heavy machinery that can take you from Point A to Point B is often taken for granted, but not today! How much do you know about airplanes?

When you think about traveling before the 1900s, you'd probably get exhausted thinking about it! For domestic travel, people had few options other than horses. In the early 1800s, people were given bikes while they had to wait until the end of the century to travel by car.

International travel was another field entirely. When people wanted to travel outside the country, the only option was by water! Imagine being seasick for a 14-week journey from the United States to the UK. Fortunately for travelers, the first airplane came at the turn of the 20th century. 

Two brothers were able to create and pilot the first aircraft and the world of travel completely changed! Now considered the safest way to travel, you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who's never been on an airplane. This innovative creation forever changed history. How much do you know about airplanes?

Do you know the name of the two brothers who flew the first airplane? What about the first female to fly across the Atlantic? Do you know the difference between a 747 and 787?

If you do, this is the quiz for you! How much do you know about airplanes? Enough to pilot this quiz to a perfect landing? Let's find out!

Prepare for takeoff!

Flying has only been around for little over a century. Who were the first people credited with flying an aircraft?

The Wright Brothers are credited with the first-ever flight. It lasted a mere 12 seconds.

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The Wright Brothers named their aircraft in which they achieved the historic feat of flight. What was it called?

The Wright brothers named their first aircraft the Wright Flyer. It now resides in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C

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In what year did the Wright brothers achieve their feat?

The Wright brothers first managed to get the Wright Flyer off the ground on December 17, 1903. Many newspapers were not impressed with the news, saying the Flyer had not been in the air long enough for it to warrant space in their pages.

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Where did the Wright brothers achieve their first flight?

The Wright Brothers first flight took place on the beach at Kitty Hawk. Many other subsequent flights took place there as well.

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Besides inventing the first aircraft, what did the Wright brothers actually do?

It was in their bicycle shop that the Wright brothers worked on the theory of flight as well as constructing their first aircraft, the Wright Flyer.

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So how does an aircraft actually fly? Well, thrust generated by the engine overcomes the friction of the air (called drag) and creates ___?

Lift is crucial to flight, without it, an aircraft will never leave the ground.

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Which of these aircraft is a fighter plane from World War I?

The Fokker Triplane was a favorite of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. It was extremely maneuverable and could climb well.

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An aircraft wing is crucial in creating lift. It also has a unique shape. What is this shape called?

The wing shape is called the airfoil. This shape pushes air faster under the wing than over it, thus creating lift.

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Which of these aircraft is a fighter plane from World War II?

The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the most iconic aircraft ever built. It is easily recognized due to its elliptical wings.

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In a passenger aircraft, where is all the cargo placed?

Hauling people and their suitcases is serious business. That’s why cargo is weighed and stored in the cargo hold, so fuel calculations can be precise.

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Which of these is a modern-day 5th generation fighter aircraft?

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a stealth multirole fighter capable of a number of roles. It is currently in service with the U.S. Air Force.

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Aircraft have a number of control surfaces, each performing a certain function and moving the plane in a certain direction. While on the ground, what would a pilot use to turn the plane?

The rudder pedals operate the rudder on the rear of the aircraft. This is used to turn the plane left or right while on the ground.

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Which of these planes is a commercial airliner?

The Airbus A380 first entered service in 2007 with Singapore Airlines. It is the biggest passenger aircraft in the world today.

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In an aircraft, from where does the pilot fly the aircraft?

The cockpit is home to the pilot(s) who fly the plane. It is filled with all the instrumentation and parts they need to control the aircraft.

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Aircraft have a number of control surfaces, each performing a certain function and moving the plane in a certain direction. While in the air, which control surfaces bank the plane to turn left or right?

By moving the control stick to the right or left, the ailerons are moved up and down (each one moves opposite to the other). This causes the aircraft to bank and then turn.

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A number of important instruments are located in the cockpit. Which of these will the pilot use to tell the height at which the plane is flying?

The altimeter tells a pilot exactly how high the plane is off the ground. It needs to be calibrated on the runway and adjusted to the airport's height above sea level.

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Aircraft have a number of control surfaces, each performing a certain function and moving the plane in a certain direction. While in the air, which control surfaces make the aircraft climb or dive?

By moving the control stick either up or down, the elevator is moved either up or down. This causes the plane to climb or dive. Press forward to dive, pull back to climb.

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A number of important instruments are located in the cockpit. Which will the pilot use to fly the plane for him/her?

The autopilot switch will toggle auto pilot on and off. When on, it will keep the plane in straight and level flight.

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Aircraft have a number of control surfaces, each performing a certain function and moving the plane in a certain direction. What is used to make the plane fly faster or slower in level flight?

By pushing the throttle forward, the engine will rev faster and increase in power, making the aircraft fly faster. The opposite is true if you move the throttle backward.

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If an aircraft has retractable wheels, how would you raise them after take off and lower them for landing?

The landing gear selector controls the landing gear, putting it for landing and up after take-off. Don’t toggle it when you are on the ground, however!

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The speed of sound was broken by USAF pilot, Chuck Yeager in 1947. What is the speed of sound in miles per hour?

Chuck Yeager was a veteran of World War II and after his feat, became a world renowned test pilot for the U.S. Air Force.

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What aircraft was Chuck Yeager flying when he broke the speed of sound?

Yeager was flying the Bell X-1 Experimental Aircraft when he broke the sound barrier. It was purposely built for the task.

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In a passenger aircraft, in what section of the plane do the passengers sit?

All passengers sit in the fuselage section of the aircraft. It is normally arranged in sections for first-class passengers, business-class passengers, and economy-class passengers.

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Who was the first person (an American) to cross the Atlantic Ocean, flying from Long Island to Paris, France, in 1927?

Charles Lindberg undertook the flight on May 20, 1927, in an aircraft called 'The Spirt of St Louis.'

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How long did it take Charles Lindbergh to complete his flight across the Atlantic?

The flight was completed in 33 ½ hours, a fairly long time for a single pilot to be in the air.

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How much money did Charles Lindbergh receive for his feat?

Charles Lindbergh winnings of $25,000 was sponsored by Raymond Orteig, a Frenchman who had moved to New York in 1912.

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Which of these is a transport aircraft?

The Lockheed Galaxy is one of the main transport aircraft in the U.S. armed forces. It can carry up to 175,000 kg.

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Who was the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic in 1932?

Amelia Earhart gained fame around the world when she crossed the Atlantic, flying from Newfoundland to Ireland in around 15 hours in 1932.

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Amelia Earhart went missing in 1937 while trying to _____?

While trying to circumnavigate the globe in 1937, Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were lost over Howland Island in the Pacific.

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Millionaire Howard Hughes once built one of the largest aircraft ever made. This massive seaplane named the ‘Spruce Goose’ flew briefly in 1947 and never again. To keep it light, it was made of wood. What wood was used to make it?

The ‘Spruce Goose’ was airborne for a brief period, covering a mile before Hughes, an accomplished pilot, landed the plane.

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Which Hollywood superstar portrayed Howard Hughes in the movie, "The Aviator"?

Leonardo DiCaprio played the role of Howard Hughes in the Martin Scorsese movie, "The Aviator."

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A number of important instruments are located in the cockpit. Which will the pilot use to tell how fast the aircraft is flying?

The airspeed indicator will tell the exact airspeed of the aircraft. Crucial at all times, but especially when landing as too low an airspeed will cause the aircraft to stall.

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Aircraft often experience a phenomenon whereby the plane shakes and rattles as it flies through the air. This is caused by ____?

Turbulence is a natural occurrence that can cause an aircraft to shake around. In some cases, it can cause dramatic altitude loss. That is why it is important to remain buckled into your seat.

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To become an ‘ace’ in both World War I and II, a pilot had to shoot down how many enemy aircraft?

After downing five enemy aircraft, a pilot was considered an 'ace.' The most aircraft shot down in a career was 352 by Eric Hartmann, a German pilot during World War II.

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Which of these aircraft is a fighter plane from World War I?

The Sopwith Camel was a British aircraft serving in the Royal Flying Corps. It was a very agile fighter and more than a match for most German planes.

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Which of these aircraft is a fighter plane from World War II?

The North American P51 Mustang is one of the most famous fighters of the war. It gave the American bombers protection on their daylight raids over Germany.

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Which of these aircraft is a modern-day, 5th generation fighter aircraft?

The Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine stealth fighter in service with the United States Air Force.

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Which of these planes is a commercial airliner?

The Boeing 747 came into service in 1970 when it first flew with Pan American Airways. It is one of the most recognizable passenger aircraft in the world.

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Which of these is a transport aircraft?

The An-225, a Russian-built transport aircraft, is the biggest cargo plane in the world today. It can carry up to 250,000 kg.

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Which of these is a transport aircraft?

In service with armed forces around the world since 1954, the Lockheed Hercules is primarily used as a transport plane for either troops, equipment or both.

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