1. True or false: Production helicopters were used by the U.S. military during World War II.
2. A pilot is preflighting a Cessna 172 in the vicinity of thunderstorm activity when his skin suddenly begins to tingle and his hair stands straight up (à la boxing promoter Don King). What should he do?
3. On March 31, 1931, a TWA Fokker F.10, a trimotor airliner with wooden wings, came apart in midair and crashed near Bazaar, Kansas. Although this accident was best known for causing the death of a famous sports figure (as well as all others on board), it also led directly to the development of the DC–3. Who was the beloved sports figure who perished in this landmark accident?
4. While decelerating on the runway after landing, the reverse thrust used to assist in slowing jet aircraft typically is reduced or cancelled at an indicated airspeed of 60 to 80 knots. Why is reverse thrust normally not used below this speed?
5. From reader John Schmidt: What is the distance in nautical miles between these two airports: BINP and NZSP? (This is easier than you might think.)
6. During World War II, American paratroopers were advised to yell when leaping from their airplanes to relieve pressure on their ears and lessen nervous tension. Why was it popular to yell the word Geronimo?
7. From reader Noah Rights: On October 22, 2014, Bruce Tebo flew his Kinetic 130 at Weldon, California, and achieved a new world speed record for radio-controlled model gliders of
a. 205 mph.
b. 305 mph.
c. 405 mph.
d. 505 mph.
8. True or false: An airplane may not be flown in IFR conditions unless a pitot-static system check has been performed within the previous 24 calendar months.
1. True. The Sikorsky R–4 Hoverfly, the first production helicopter, entered military service in the China-Burma-India Theater in April 1944. This is where and when the first combat rescue was made by helicopter.
2. Lightning is headed his way. The pilot has a second or two to immediately drop to the ground in a ball and make as small a target as possible so that the bolt hopefully will strike something taller (such as the aircraft itself). It would be safer to get into the airplane, but there likely would not be sufficient time for that.
3. Knute Rockne, the legendary head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, was on his way to Los Angeles to participate in the production of the 1931 film, The Spirit of Notre Dame.
4. At low airspeeds, the turbulent flow of reversed air can re-enter the engine inlet, which can cause a compressor stall and damage the engine. Depending on engine location, low-speed reversing also increases the likelihood of ingesting foreign objects on the runway. Further, thrust reversing loses effectiveness at lower speeds.
5. You are being asked for the distance between the North Pole (BINP, Santa Claus International Airport) and the South Pole (NZSP, Jack F. Paulus Skiway). This distance is equal to 180 degrees (of latitude change) times 60 nautical miles/degree, which is 10,800 nm.
6. The practice originated at Fort Benning, Georgia, by members of the 505th Infantry Battalion who saw the 1939 motion picture Geronimo the night before their first jump.
7. D. A video of this remarkable flight can be viewed by going to YouTube and searching for “Dynamic Soaring New World Record.”
8. False. A pitot-system check is not required; only a static-system check is required.
Illustration by John Sauer