December 25, 2012

Expert Level Aviation Quiz: Hush-Kwiz Mk II

Try this delightful, challenging aviation quiz! Answers at bottom of page.

(The results for the first Hush-Kit quiz will be revealed this week, if you haven’t entered NOW is your chance.)

1. In what year was the first mail delivered by air?

2. What is Harrison Ford’s favourite aircraft?

3. How many kills were scored by the most successful fighter pilot to wear
spectacles?

4. What aircraft was nicknamed ‘The Whistling Shithouse”?

5. What was the flyaway cost of an RF-4C Phantom in 1965?

6. The last confirmed kill by a biplane occurred in what year? What were the
nationalities of the aircraft involved?

7. Which US-built aircraft scored the most kills in the Second World War?

8. Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding was not:
a) A vegetarian?
b) A spiritualist?
c) A single parent?
d) A teetotaller?

9. What links the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the Hawker Hurricane and the Fairey
Swordfish floatplane?

10. Which of the following names were considered by NATO for the Tupolev Tu-22 before it decided on ‘Blinder’?

a) Bulldog
b) Beauty
c) Bastard
d) Brickbat

11. Identify this aircraft

ANSWERS

1. The first air mail was delivered in 1785 form Dover to Calais in a balloon manned by John Jeffries and Jean Pierre Blanchard. Only one letter out of a sack. The rest got chucked over the side along with the brave crew’s clothes. Nonetheless it counts.

2. Harrison Ford‘s favourite aircraft is the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Beaver. Obviously.

3. Otto Kissenberth scored 20 kills in glasses. Interestingly his last kill was scored in a captured Sopwith Camel. He is one of three known spectacle-wearing aces, the others being Walter Kykpe and Kurt Wintgens.

4. Whistling Shithouse was the Supermarine Stranraer so named for the weird noise that the on-board toilet made in flight.

5. The flyaway cost of an RF-4C Phantom II in 1965 was 2.3 million dollars which equates to approximately 17 million today apparently. This looks like pretty good value compared to, say, the F-22. Where is the RF-22 Photo-Raptor anyway?

6. 1944. An Insurgent Slovak Avia B-534 shot down a Hungarian Junkers Ju 52.

7. Bell P-39 Airacobra

8. As you know, Dowding was not a teetotaller.

9. All these aircraft have made successful un-arrested carrier landings. A whole squadron in the case of the Hurricane.

10. NATO considered both ‘Beauty’ and ‘Bastard’ for the Tu-22. ‘Beaut’y was considered too praiseworthy for an ‘enemy’ aircraft. Hilariously ‘Bastard’ was considered not to convey enough respect. Whereas ‘Blinder’ is just fine because putting out someone’s eyes is obviously miles better than being an illegitimate child, or quite good-looking.

11. The IAe 24 Calquin, though I suspect that’s too easy.

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Have a look at 10 Best fighters of World War II , top WVR and BVR fighters of today, an interview with a Super Hornet pilot and a Pacifist’s Guide to Warplanes. Was the Spitfire overrated? Want something more bizarre? The Top Ten fictional aircraft is a fascinating read, as is The Strange Story and The Planet Satellite. The Fashion Versus Aircraft Camo is also a real cracker. Those interested in the Cold Way should read A pilot’s guide to flying and fighting in the Lightning. Those feeling less belligerent may enjoy A pilot’s farewell to the Airbus A340. Looking for something more humourous? Have a look at this F-35 satire and ‘Werner Herzog’s Guide to pusher bi-planes. In the mood for something more offensive? Try the NSFW 10 best looking American airplanes, or the same but for Canadians.

2 comments

March 6, 2018 - 6:33 pm Elijah

Just found your site via your youtube video. Congratulations on the new direction. Really really amazing stuff on hushkit.Best fighters of WW2 was great, best-looking American airplanes was BRILLIANT. Get that commentator (or writer) back on commentary with multiple shots of each airplane, please.

Minor point on the exam answer #2, is it the DHC-1 (Chipmunk) or the Beaver (DHC-2). Current answer is a splice of both.

Thanks for all the wonderful work!

- March 6, 2018 - 6:54 pm Hush Kit
  
  Thanks Elijah! The narrator is in Peru for a few months, in the meantime we will find something people. Correction noted.