How Much Do You Know About Airplanes?

By: Craig
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
How Much Do You Know About Airplanes?
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?
Richard Branson
Howard Hughes
Jon Henry
Orville and Wilbur Wright
The Wright Brothers are credited with the first-ever flight. It lasted a mere 12 seconds.
The Wright Brothers named their aircraft in which they achieved the historic feat of flight. What was it called?
Gertrude
Daisy
That Darn Machine
The Wright Flyer
The Wright brothers named their first aircraft the Wright Flyer. It now resides in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C
In what year did the Wright brothers achieve their feat?
1903
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.
1952
1919
1935

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Where did the Wright brothers achieve their first flight?
London, England
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
The Wright Brothers first flight took place on the beach at Kitty Hawk. Many other subsequent flights took place there as well.
Paris, France
Antartica
Besides inventing the first aircraft, what did the Wright brothers actually do?
Firemen
Policemen
They owned a bicycle shop
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.
Politicians
So how does an aircraft actually fly? Well, thrust generated by the engine overcomes the friction of the air (called drag) and creates ___?
CO2 emissions
A noise
Lift
Lift is crucial to flight, without it, an aircraft will never leave the ground.
Tiny bubbles

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Which of these aircraft is a fighter plane from World War I?
Boeing 767
Fokker Triplane
The Fokker Triplane was a favorite of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. It was extremely maneuverable and could climb well.
Bell Jetranger
Airbus A300
An aircraft wing is crucial in creating lift. It also has a unique shape. What is this shape called?
Square
Circle
Oval
Airfoil
The wing shape is called the airfoil. This shape pushes air faster under the wing than over it, thus creating lift.
Which of these aircraft is a fighter plane from World War II?
Robertson E50
Cessna
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the most iconic aircraft ever built. It is easily recognized due to its elliptical wings.
Lockheed Hercules

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In a passenger aircraft, where is all the cargo placed?
Galley
Cockpit
Fuselage
Cargo hold
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.
Which of these is a modern-day 5th generation fighter aircraft?
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
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.
Douglas DC-3 Dakota
Hawker Hurricane
Sopwith Camel
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?
Flaps
Aileron
Elevator
Rudder pedals
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?
Sopwith Strut
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 first entered service in 2007 with Singapore Airlines. It is the biggest passenger aircraft in the world today.
Supermarine Swift
Hawker Typhoon
In an aircraft, from where does the pilot fly the aircraft?
Cockpit
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.
Fuselage
Tail section
Galley
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?
Elevator
Throttle
Ailerons
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.
Flaps

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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?
Engine fuel mix switch
Rudder indicator
Altimeter
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.
Rev counter
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?
Throttle
Elevator
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.
Flaps
Ailerons
A number of important instruments are located in the cockpit. Which will the pilot use to fly the plane for him/her?
Altimeter
Rudder indicator
Autopilot switch
The autopilot switch will toggle auto pilot on and off. When on, it will keep the plane in straight and level flight.
Rev counter

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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?
Ailerons
Elevator
Flaps
Throttle
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.
If an aircraft has retractable wheels, how would you raise them after take off and lower them for landing?
Landing gear selector
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!
Radio toggle switch
Landing light switch
Flap selector
The speed of sound was broken by USAF pilot, Chuck Yeager in 1947. What is the speed of sound in miles per hour?
450 mph
762.27 mph
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.
300 mph
150 mph

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What aircraft was Chuck Yeager flying when he broke the speed of sound?
Bell X-1 Experimental Aircraft
Yeager was flying the Bell X-1 Experimental Aircraft when he broke the sound barrier. It was purposely built for the task.
Jumbo Jet
Cessna
Wright Flyer
In a passenger aircraft, in what section of the plane do the passengers sit?
Fuselage
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.
Cockpit
Storage Bay
Galley
Who was the first person (an American) to cross the Atlantic Ocean, flying from Long Island to Paris, France, in 1927?
Kurt von Spiegel
Theodore Roosevelt,
Harry Styles
Charles Lindbergh
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?
33½ hours
The flight was completed in 33 ½ hours, a fairly long time for a single pilot to be in the air.
10 hours
1 hour
5 days
How much money did Charles Lindbergh receive for his feat?
$100 million
$15
$100
$25,000
Charles Lindbergh winnings of $25,000 was sponsored by Raymond Orteig, a Frenchman who had moved to New York in 1912.
Which of these is a transport aircraft?
Hawker Hurricane
Bell Cobra
Lockheed Galaxy
The Lockheed Galaxy is one of the main transport aircraft in the U.S. armed forces. It can carry up to 175,000 kg.
Supermarine S6

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Who was the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic in 1932?
Curley Sue
Marilyn Munroe
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart gained fame around the world when she crossed the Atlantic, flying from Newfoundland to Ireland in around 15 hours in 1932.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Amelia Earhart went missing in 1937 while trying to _____?
Fly across the Sahara
Circumnavigate the globe
While trying to circumnavigate the globe in 1937, Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were lost over Howland Island in the Pacific.
Fly to Nevada
Land on an aircraft carrier
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?
Spruce
The ‘Spruce Goose’ was airborne for a brief period, covering a mile before Hughes, an accomplished pilot, landed the plane.
Pine
Willow
Oak

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Which Hollywood superstar portrayed Howard Hughes in the movie, "The Aviator"?
Elijah Wood
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio played the role of Howard Hughes in the Martin Scorsese movie, "The Aviator."
Arnold Vosloo
Will Smith
A number of important instruments are located in the cockpit. Which will the pilot use to tell how fast the aircraft is flying?
Rev counter
Airspeed indicator
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.
Autopilot switch
Control yoke
Aircraft often experience a phenomenon whereby the plane shakes and rattles as it flies through the air. This is caused by ____?
Thick clouds
Big raindrops
Turbulence
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.
High winds

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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?
5
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.
15
20
25
Which of these aircraft is a fighter plane from World War I?
Lockheed Galaxy
Airbus A330
Boeing 747
Sopwith Camel
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.
Which of these aircraft is a fighter plane from World War II?
North American P51 Mustang
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.
Jumbo Jet
Beechcraft Bonanza
Bell 222

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Which of these aircraft is a modern-day, 5th generation fighter aircraft?
Sopwith Pup
SPAD
Fokker Dr. 1
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
The Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine stealth fighter in service with the United States Air Force.
Which of these planes is a commercial airliner?
Douglas DC-4 Skymaster
Hawker Tempest
Supermarine Seafire
Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet
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.
Which of these is a transport aircraft?
Cessna Skylane
Beechcraft Bonanza
Piper Cub
Antonov An-225
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?
Ercoupe 145
Lockheed Hercules
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.
Bolton-Paul Defiant
Fairey Battle
You Got:
/40
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