Lecture 14

Question 1

Who was the first known person to attempt flight according to legend?

Answer 1

Yuan Huangtou in AD 550, though there’s no solid proof of his flight.

Question 2

What was the Chinese military reportedly using for flight in the 1300s?

Answer 2

Large gliders or kites for spying on enemies.

Question 3

Who completed the first documented successful powered and controlled flight in 1852?

Answer 3

Henri Giffard.

Question 4

How far did Henri Giffard fly in his airship?

Answer 4

Approximately 28 kilometers.

Question 5

What made Henri Giffard’s flight significant?

Answer 5

It was long-distance, passenger-capable, and marked the start of belief in limitless technology.

Question 6

Who achieved the first electric-powered, controlled return flight?

Answer 6

Charles Renard and Arthur Krebs in 1884.

Question 7

What made Renard and Krebs’ flight revolutionary?

Answer 7

It returned to the starting point and used an electric motor, laying the foundation for air transport.

Question 8

Which country was the capital of aviation during the late 1800s?

Answer 8

France.

Question 9

Who was Clement Ader, and what did he contribute to aviation?

Answer 9

A French engineer who built mono-wing, propeller-powered aircraft with wheels for takeoff.

Question 10

Why is Clement Ader’s claim to flight controversial?

Answer 10

He paid off witnesses and had no solid evidence of a successful long-distance flight.

Question 11

What happened during the flight of Ader’s Avion III?

Answer 11

It took off under its own power but crashed shortly after takeoff.

Question 12

What components of Ader’s designs influenced future aircraft?

Answer 12

Mono-wing, landing gear, and propellers.

Question 13

Who introduced metal construction and internal combustion engines to airships in 1897?

Answer 13

David Schwarz.

Question 14

What powered Schwarz’s military airship?

Answer 14

Gasoline engines (Daimler) and hydrogen gas for lift.

Question 15

Who bought the designs and airship from David Schwarz’s widow?

Answer 15

Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.

Question 16

What type of airship became associated with Zeppelin?

Answer 16

Rigid-frame blimps (Zeppelins).

Question 17

How many Zeppelins were built, and what happened to them?

Answer 17

129 were built; all crashed and burned.

Question 18

Why were Zeppelins financially unsustainable?

Answer 18

They were enormous but carried few passengers and required massive hangars.

Question 19

What role did Zeppelins play for the Nazis?

Answer 19

Used for propaganda to demonstrate Nazi power.

Question 20

What made hydrogen unsafe for airships?

Answer 20

It combusts easily when exposed to air.

Question 21

What gave the Hindenburg its iconic silver color?

Answer 21

Rocket fuel components: cellulose nitrate and powdered aluminum.

Question 22

What was the true cause of the Hindenburg explosion?

Answer 22

The flammable paint used on its surface.

Question 23

Who was Percy Pilcher, and what was notable about his 1897 flight?

Answer 23

A British inventor whose airplane was the first to be captured on film.

Question 24

Who was Augustus Herring, and what was his profession?

Answer 24

A bicycle maker from Ohio who achieved successful biplane flights.

Question 25

How did the Wright brothers' early gliders compare to Herring’s?

Answer 25

They closely resembled Augustus Herring’s biplane designs.

Question 26

Why is it said that nobody truly 'invented' the aircraft?

Answer 26

Flight was a collaborative evolution among many inventors, engineers, and scientists.

Question 27

What shift in perception occurred after Giffard’s flight?

Answer 27

It sparked the belief that technology could achieve anything—even flight.

Question 28

What major difference separated airplanes from Zeppelins in terms of future success?

Answer 28

Airplanes were more practical and became the real future of flight.

Question 29

Who focused on how to control aircraft after takeoff rather than just achieving lift?

Answer 29

The Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville, who were bicycle makers.

Question 30

Who built the engine used in the Wright brothers’ first powered aircraft?

Answer 30

Charles Taylor, who was later excluded from recognition.

Question 31

What powered aircraft used Taylor’s engine and took flight for a few seconds?

Answer 31

The Wright brothers’ glider, assisted by a catapult.

Question 32

What was the initial public and government reaction to the Wright brothers' first flight?

Answer 32

There was little interest; no funding or awards were given.

Question 33

Where did the Wright brothers gain fame after being ignored in their home country?

Answer 33

They gained recognition after moving to France and showcasing a more advanced aircraft.

Question 34

Which aircraft was sold to the military as the first functional warplane?

Answer 34

The Flyer 3, which was purchased by the U.S. Army.

Question 35

What resulted from the Wright brothers’ international fame and patents?

Answer 35

They faced multiple lawsuits, with many accusing them of copying existing designs.

Question 36

What eventually rendered the Wright brothers' technology obsolete?

Answer 36

New innovations in aircraft design, especially those used in military applications.

Question 37

Which war first established the airplane as a successful technology?

Answer 37

The First World War, where aircraft became a key military tool.

Question 38

Who was responsible for German aircraft innovation during WWI?

Answer 38

Anthony Fokker, who created planes with synchronized guns and high maneuverability.

Question 39

What innovation allowed machine guns to fire through spinning propellers?

Answer 39

A timing mechanism that briefly paused the firing to avoid hitting the blades.

Question 40

How were WWI pilots often connected to each other socially?

Answer 40

Many were from the same elite backgrounds or related by family.

Question 41

Which aircraft was designed specifically for women pilots during WWI?

Answer 41

The Curtiss Stinson Special, flown by Katherine Stinson.

Question 42

Who trained Katherine Stinson in aviation?

Answer 42

The Wright brothers.

Question 43

What aircraft became widely available for public purchase after WWI?

Answer 43

The Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny,” which was affordable and used for flight training.

Question 44

Why were Jenny aircraft accessible and popular post-war?

Answer 44

They were cheaper than motorcycles and easy to repair.

Question 45

Why did early aircraft construction limit flight altitude?

Answer 45

They used wood and fabric, which couldn't handle high-altitude conditions.

Question 46

What materials gradually replaced wood in aircraft construction?

Answer 46

Metal frames covered in fabric, then full aluminum bodies in advanced designs.

Question 47

Which German aircraft featured full aluminum construction and a cannon through the propeller shaft?

Answer 47

The Bf-109.

Question 48

What unusual design element defined the American P-39 Airacobra?

Answer 48

Its engine was placed behind the pilot to accommodate a front-mounted cannon.

Question 49

Where were P-39 aircraft eventually sent due to design limitations?

Answer 49

They were given to Russian forces.

Question 50

Which British aircraft was heavily armed but eventually replaced?

Answer 50

The Hawker Hurricane.

Question 51

Which aircraft replaced the Hurricane in British and Allied forces?

Answer 51

The Spitfire and the P-51 Mustang.

Question 52

What limited the effectiveness of propeller aircraft at higher speeds?

Answer 52

Mechanical limits of propellers led to the development of jet engines.

Question 53

Where was most early jet engine work being done during this time?

Answer 53

In Nazi Germany.

Question 54

Who conducted one of the earliest known successful powered flights over long distances?

Answer 54

Henri Giffard, with a steam-powered airship.

Question 55

Which pair created a battery-powered aircraft that could return to its departure point?

Answer 55

Charles Renard and Arthur Krebs.

Question 56

Why is Clement Ader a controversial figure in aviation history?

Answer 56

He claimed to achieve flight but provided no verified proof; witnesses were allegedly paid off.

Question 57

What did Ader’s aircraft feature that influenced later airplane design?

Answer 57

Mono-wing layout, propellers, and landing gear.

Question 58

Who built a gas-powered airship using metal and hydrogen for military use?

Answer 58

David Schwarz.

Question 59

Who acquired Schwarz’s airship designs and became known for rigid airships?

Answer 59

Count Zeppelin.

Question 60

Why were Zeppelins financially unsustainable despite their popularity?

Answer 60

They were massive, expensive to maintain, and couldn’t carry enough passengers to be profitable.

Question 61

How were Zeppelins used by the Nazis?

Answer 61

As propaganda tools to demonstrate national power and unity.

Question 62

Why was hydrogen problematic in airship design?

Answer 62

It’s highly flammable and could easily explode upon contact with air.

Question 63

What made the Hindenburg especially dangerous?

Answer 63

It was coated in materials similar to rocket fuel, leading to its catastrophic explosion.

Question 64

What aspect of early flight was captured on film by Percy Pilcher?

Answer 64

One of the first film recordings of a human-piloted aircraft.

Question 65

What did Augustus Herring contribute to aviation?

Answer 65

He built early biplanes that influenced later designs, including those of the Wright brothers.