From the Archives - March 2000

When we think about how far air travel and space travel have come since the first drawings of da Vinci to the most recent flight of the space shuttle, we are truly amazed. Now imagine what can be coming in the next century or even just in the next ten years! It is mind-boggling.

While those thoughts are in your head, why not have a little fun with a little aviation/space trivia test? The questions are in random order and are taken from three national sources of aviation and space information.

1. What aviation safety device predates the advent of the flying machine?

2. The first U.S. airmail was between which two cities?

3. What is the name of the first woman in space?

4. What famous single-seat aircraft designed during World War II had an engine with the name of a famous magician?

5. What was the name of the first U.S. satellite launched in 1958?

6. Who was the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air, and in what year?

7. Who was the pilot who first flew to Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound)?

8. What Minnesota natural product is a part of every current space shuttle orbiter, and what is the product part of?

9. What Upper Midwest city has three hometown scheduled service airlines?

10. Who are the Tuskegee Airmen?

11. Who made the first nonstop flight from New York to Paris?

12. What are the names of the two primary authors of the Minnesota Aviation History Book?

13. What notable Minnesota TV personality is in the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame?

14. What aviation record was held by Minnesota pilot Florence Klingensmith in 1931?

15. Name two great Minnesota pilots who each flew the P-47, and P-51 and who each had four kills during World War II in Europe.

16. What is the name of the famous Minnesota test pilot who was best known for flying the P-80, the F-90 and F-94 jets?

17. What famous Minnesota aviator made parachute jumps into the state fairgrounds in the 1930’s?

18. What type of aircraft did Capt. Ray Miller and Gen. W.F. Rhinow fly to Washington to successfully petition for an Air National Guard charter in 1920?

19. What famous aviation event took place on the campus of the University of Minnesota in 1936?

20. Who was the first woman to fly into “physiological space” (over 45,000 feet), in what year and in what craft?

ANSWERS:

1. The parachute, designed in the 16th century by Leonardo da Vinci. 2. New York City and Washington D.C. 3. Valentina Tereshkova. 4. P-51 Mustang, Merlin engine. 5. Explorer 1. 6. Amelia Earhart, 1928. 7. A. Scott Crossfield. 8. Sand, used in manufacture of shuttle re-entry tiles. 9. Minneapolis: Northwest, Mesaba and Sun Country. 10. America’s first African American aviators and mechanics of World War II. 11. Charles Lindberg. 12. Noel Allard and Gerald Sandvick. 13. Sherm Booen. 14. Number of consecutive loops, 1,078, June 1931. 15. Ken Dahlberg and James Michaud. 16. Tony LeVier from Duuth. 17. Chuck Doyle. 18. Oriole. 19. Successful launch of the first helium balloon by Jean and Jeanette Piccard. 20. Jeanette Piccard, 1934, Piccard balloon.