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U.S. Aircraft History Trivia Quiz

An all multiple choice quiz about commercial and military aircraft throughout the aviation years of the United States. I hope that you enjoy it. :-)

A multiple-choice quiz by Nightmare. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Nightmare

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
204,459

Updated
Aug 05 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1749

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 99 (9/10), Guest 136 (9/10), Guest 5 (6/10).

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of the following aircraft flew first? Hint

Douglas DC-10

Douglas DC-9

Boeing 707

Boeing 737

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which Air Force aircraft was named, 'The Strato Fortress'? Hint

B-29

C-130

C-121

B-52

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Question 3 of 10

3. The B-17 was one of the most successful bombers during the WWII era. With different series of the B-17 manufactured, how many B-17G aircraft were made? Hint

381

4703

8680

906

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Question 4 of 10

4. The infamous year of 1903 saw Orville and Wilbur fly their aircraft for the world's first flight. What was this famous date in history? Hint

October 1

February 9

June 3

December 17

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Question 5 of 10

5. In the early 1930s, Boeing, Lockheed, and Trimotors were the top three aircraft manufacturers. The owner of Trimotors decided to get out of the business and quit. Who was this person? Hint

Harry Truman

Rogers Hornsby

Al Capone

Henry Ford

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Douglas DC-3 later became a military transport aircraft. Which of the following was this 'gooney-looking' aircraft? Hint

C-47

C-97

AT-33

P-51

7. In 1939, Trans World Airlines ordered 22 Lockheed Constellation aircraft for their fleet. However, all 22 were diverted to the US Army Air Corps as the C-69. Who owned TWA and tried to get an injunction to stop the military from getting his aircraft? Hint

George McGovern

James McDonnell

Howard Hughes

Nelson Rockefeller Sr

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Question 8 of 10

8. The C-119 was named the 'Flying Boxcar'. It first flew in 1950. Which company manufactured the Air Force C-119? Hint

Fairchild

Hewlett

Boeing

General Electric

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following did NOT exist? Hint

F-81

F-84

F-80

F-86

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Question 10 of 10

10. The U.S. Army Air Corps became the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1941. When did the USAAF become the completely independent U.S. Air Force? Hint

1951

1947

1954

1957

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Oct 22 2024 : Guest 99: 9/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following aircraft flew first?

Answer: Boeing 707

The others flew in the 1960s. The 707 first flew in 1954 and had a range of 4200 miles. Later purchased and modified by the Air Force, it would become the C-135 in different variations, including an air refuelling tanker aircraft. All the aircraft listed used Pratt and Whitney jet engines.

2. Which Air Force aircraft was named, 'The Strato Fortress'?

Answer: B-52

The symbol of U.S. military strategic power, the B-52 bomber was first delivered in production in 1954. Originally designed with a fighter-style cockpit, it was redesigned to have the pilot and co-pilot sit side-by-side. The aircraft flew with many upgrades and modifications for over 50 years.

3. The B-17 was one of the most successful bombers during the WWII era. With different series of the B-17 manufactured, how many B-17G aircraft were made?

Answer: 8680

The Seattle plant for Boeing manufactured 4035 of the B-17G. Douglas Aircraft Co. made 2395, while Vega manufactured 2250. The aircraft was named, 'The Flying Fortress'.

4. The infamous year of 1903 saw Orville and Wilbur fly their aircraft for the world's first flight. What was this famous date in history?

Answer: December 17

The town of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, was put on the map on this date, after Orville Wright stayed aloft for 12 seconds and 120 feet. Brother Wilbur attempted the flight just four days earlier but failed.

5. In the early 1930s, Boeing, Lockheed, and Trimotors were the top three aircraft manufacturers. The owner of Trimotors decided to get out of the business and quit. Who was this person?

Answer: Henry Ford

Ford inherited the aircraft company when he bought out the interest of other partners in the Stout Metal Plane Company. The Ford 2-AT was the first all-metal airliner in the United States.

6. The Douglas DC-3 later became a military transport aircraft. Which of the following was this 'gooney-looking' aircraft?

Answer: C-47

Named the 'Gooney Bird' (and others), it served the military during WWII and the Korean War. This two-engine propeller aircraft first flew in 1935. The DC-3 as a private aircraft, was also the aircraft that killed teen idol and television star, Ricky Nelson, due to a heater fire in the aircraft which resulted in a crash.

Answer: Howard Hughes

TWA would not see even one of these aircraft until 1945, one week after the war ended, and it was a model 49. They would go on to receive many more and become a major user of the Lockheed aircraft. Later, President Eisenhower's Air Force One aircraft would be a Constellation.

8. The C-119 was named the 'Flying Boxcar'. It first flew in 1950. Which company manufactured the Air Force C-119?

Answer: Fairchild

Fairchild Republic was competing with Boeing's C-97 and Douglas' DC-6 at the time. They could not and as a result, did not manufacture many of the C-119. Fairchild would later go on to sell many A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft to the military.

9. Which of the following did NOT exist?

Answer: F-81

From the F-80 Shooting Star, which was victorious in the first jet-to-jet air battle in November 1950, to the Thunder Jet F-84, to the F-86 Sabre, all these aircraft were instrumental during the Korean War. The F-84 and F-86 aircraft had swept wings.

10. The U.S. Army Air Corps became the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1941. When did the USAAF become the completely independent U.S. Air Force?

Answer: 1947

This official historic event took place on September 18, 1947, which separated the Army from the Air Force, into two independent forces of the U.S. government.

Source: Author Nightmare

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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