Famous Firsts Trivia Quiz

Answer: Charles Elwood Yeager

Chuck Yeager was the first person to break the sound barrier. On October 14, 1947, while flying the experimental Bell X-1, he hit mach 1.07 at an altitude of 13,700m (45,000 ft). Yeager accomplished this event over the skies of Muroc Air Force Base, California. Interestingly, Yeager was able to break the sound barrier while nursing two broken ribs (when he fell off a horse two days earlier), having a broom handle as an extra lever to close the aircraft door secure (as he was in so much pain he couldn't close it unassisted); and shampoo rubbed over the canopy of the aircraft. To prevent the windshield from frosting over, Yeager's crew chief, Jack Russell, rubbed the rocket aircraft's canopy with Drene shampoo.

Mach 1, the speed of sound, is 758 mph (1,220 kph) at sea level. It decreases with altitude.

Answer: Betrand Piccard and Brian Jones

On March 20, 1999, Betrand Piccard of Switzerland and Brian Jones of England became the first balloonists to successfully circumnavigate the earth on a non-stop, non-refuelled flight. It took them 19 days, in a balloon named the Breitling Orbiter 3, to fly from the Swiz Alps to Mauritania, North Africa.

However, on July 2, 2002, Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo around the world in a hot air balloon.

Answer: London, England

The first city to use traffic lights was London, England in 1868. These lights, invented by J. P. Knight, were near the House of Commons at the intersection of Bridge Street and George Street.

Answer: Miami Dolphins, 1972

The 1972 Miami Dolphins, led by head coach Don Shula, and fullback Larry Csonka, were the first NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated. The '72 Dolphins went 17-0 while being led by replacement quarterback Earl Morrall, and defeated the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII. The starting quarterback, Bob Griese, returned for Super Bowl VII.

Answer: Charles Lindbergh

On May 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Lindbergh, in an aircraft called "The Spirit of St. Louis," arrived in Paris, after a 33 hour flight from New York.

Answer: Neil Armstrong

On July 21, 1969, while on the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. Another member of the Apollo 11 mission, Edwin Aldrin, Jr., watched as Armstrong touched down on the lunar module "Eagle", into the Sea of Tranquillity.

Answer: Frederick Albert Cook

In 1908, Frederick Albert Cook, an American explorer, was the first person to claim to have made it to the North Pole. One year later Cook's claim was disputed by Robert Peary. However, the only real evidence is the two men's written records. Studies by scientists and the United States Congress discredited Cook's inadequate records and gave credit for first reaching the North Pole to Perry.

Answer: Jay Berwanger

Jay Berwanger was the first person to win college football's Heisman Trophy award. He won it while playing halfback at the University of Chicago. The Heisman Trophy, voted on by a poll of sportwriters and sportscasters, is presented annually by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City to the nation's outstanding college football player.

Answer: Roger Bannister

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first person to break the four-minute mile with a time of 3:59.4 in Oxford, England.

Answer: Sir Barton

In 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three Triple Crown races-Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. History shows that the phrase "triple crown" wasn't used for this feat until Charles Hatton used it in 1930.