Fly by Night, Fly by Day, Aircraft Animals Quiz

Answer: Bristol Bulldog

The Bristol Bulldog is a single-seat biplane dating back to the 1920s. It was used extensively by the Royal Air Force in the period between the two world wars and was retired in 1937, replaced by the Gloster Gauntlet. Douglas, a RAF pilot, was doing a spot of aerobatics, strictly unauthorised, when he crashed, losing both his legs.

The Bulldog was a fast plane, but had stability issues at low speeds. When he recovered from this near death experience he retook his flight tests, which he passed, but was medically retired.

When WWII broke out a few years later, he returned to the RAF and became one of the biggest names in pilot history for his heroism and extraordinary story. The other choices are unfortunately fictitious.

Answer: Kittyhawk

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was a single-engine, single-seater fighter plane from 1938. 13,738 of them were built and used extensively by the Allied Powers. The name changed to Kittyhawk for the models P-40D onwards. The plane had limitations in its ability to perform at high altitudes but was used to great affect as air superiority fighters. Post war analysis showed that despite being seen, after the effect, as a mediocre aircraft, over 200 Allied fighter pilots became 'Flying Aces' flying this craft.

A flying ace is a pilot credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft.

Answer: Peregrine falcon

The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was a single-engine tactical fighter in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. Hayabusa translates to peregrine falcon, a raptor known for its ability to achieve speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph) in its hunting stoop. Attaching the name to the aircraft bestows upon it the belief it will perform with agility and will cut through the air with extreme speed.

The Allies referred to the plane as 'Oscar' or 'Army Zero' as it looked very much like a Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the plane of the Japanese navy.

Answer: Fairey Swordfish

The Blackburn Shark was a carrier borne torpedo bomber and was the last biplane that Blackburn produced. It came into production in 1933 but was nearing obsolescence by 1937 when the Fairey Swordfish became available. During WWII, the Shark was still being used away from front line action and had a role to play in the Dunkirk Evacuation.

They were all finally retired in 1945. The Fairey Swordfish was a biplane torpedo bomber that was used by the RAF, the RACF, and the Royal Netherlands Navy throughout WWII.

It was involved in the attack of the battleship Bismarck. The Fairey Swordfish managed to sink more tons of Axis ships than any other Allied planes. The other choices were not names used by Fairey.

Answer: Hungary

The MAVAG Heja was a fighter aircraft. Seventy Italian Reggianne Re.2000 were delivered to the Royal Hungarian State Iron, Steel and Machine Works from Italy and were modified with Hungarian engines and other equipment. Due to an inability of the Hungarians to produce good insulation, the plane often suffered leaking fuel tanks.

It was also subject to poor stability and was dangerous at low altitudes. It did see combat on the Eastern Front but played more of a part in Hungarian air defense.

Answer: de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a twin-engine, shoulder-winged multirole combat aircraft that was one of the greatest aircraft of WWII. Its frame was, unusually, constructed of wood. This decreased the weight and increased the speed of the craft. Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfred Freeman was mocked by Lord Beaverbrook, the Minister of Aircraft Production, for encouraging Geoffrey de Havilland's design.

It became one of the fastest aircraft of its time in the world. It was involved in many aspects of war: tactical bomber, night bomber, pathfinder and flew in special raids. An attack on Berlin's broadcasting station on January 30th, 1943, by Mosquitos removed Hermann Goring from the airwaves.

Answer: It never saw combat

The 1944-produced Sea Wolf was a competitor to the Grumman TBF Avenger. Of the 180 that were built, none were involved in any combat. The prototype came into being 2 weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbour, but due to many delays in its production, it never really took off. After VJ Day any production of the aircraft was cancelled.

Answer: Stingray

The Supermarine Sea Otter was a biplane flying boat that was an improved version of the Supermarine Walrus and was originally known as the Stingray. The Stingray's main uses were maritime patrol and air-sea rescue. Supermarine was the manufacturer of the world-renowned Spitfire. In 1964, "Stingray" started as a TV series by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.

Answer: By catapult

The Curtiss SOC Seagull was an American-designed seaplane, used as an observation scout aircraft. It was launched from battleships by catapult, and then needed to be winched back aboard after landing in the sea. In order to be stored on a ship the wings were able to be folded against the fuselage.

Answer: Winston Churchill

"We have been defeated... we are beaten; we have lost the battle.... The front is broken near Sedan." Following this message from the French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud, Winston Churchill was flown to meet him in one of his favourite transport planes, the de Havilland Flamingo.

A twin-engine, high-wing monoplane airliner, there was room aboard for 3 crew and 12 to 17 passengers. The military version of this plane with seating for 22 soldiers was known as the Hertfordshire.