From the Book
This early aviation pioneer and advocate for air power, a U.S. Army Air Corps officer, was court-martialed for his outspoken criticism of the military's lack of investment in aviation. He is widely considered the father of the modern U.S. Air Force.
Who is Billy Mitchell?
This instrument, a type of gyroscope, provides the pilot with a visual representation of the aircraft's pitch and roll attitude relative to the horizon.
What is the attitude indicator (or artificial horizon)?
What was the name of the Soviet supersonic transport that was a contemporary to the Concorde and was nicknamed the "Concordski" by Western observers?
What was the Tupolev Tu-144?
What are the 4 atmospheric layers in ascending order?
What is the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere?
The first American to orbit the Earth, he later became the oldest person to go to space when he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998 at the age of 77. Who was he?
Who is John Glenn?
What is the name of the principle, a core tenet of rocketry that allows a rocket to move in the vacuum of space without air to push against?
What is Newton’s Third Law of Motion?
This American aircraft, the first wide-body jet, was also the first twin-engine airliner to be certified for ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards), allowing long-haul flights over water.
What was the Boeing 767?
During World War II, CAP's Coastal Patrol flew missions to protect Allied shipping from enemy submarines. What was the common name for the mission where CAP pilots would fly unarmed to spot and report U-boats to the military?
What is the "Coastal Patrol" or "U-Boat Patrol"
What is the standard, hourly weather report for an airport that provides information on wind, visibility, and precipitation.
What is METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report)?
With 352 confirmed aerial victories, this German pilot is the highest-scoring fighter ace in history, a record that remains unbroken.
Who is Erich Hartmann?
The FAA's Part 107 regulations govern the commercial use of small UAS. What is the maximum a small UAS can weigh to operate under these rules?
What is 55 pounds?
This is the point at which all four aerodynamic forces—lift, weight, thrust, and drag—are considered to be concentrated.
What is the center of pressure?
What was the name of the first jet-powered aircraft to be flown, a German plane that took to the skies in 1939?
What was the Heinkel He 178?
This term refers to the rate at which temperature decreases with increasing altitude in the atmosphere, a key factor in stability.
What is the Lapse Rate?
This pilot, a veteran of two space shuttle missions, was the first African American to command a space shuttle in 1992.
Who is Frederick D. Gregory?
A satellite in this specific type of orbit maintains the same position relative to the Earth's surface, making it ideal for communication and weather monitoring.
What is Geostationary Orbit (or Geosynchronous Orbit)?
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber program was officially known by this acronym, which stands for a specific type of technology.
What is Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB)?
This Soviet experimental vehicle, nicknamed the “Caspian Sea Monster” used what type of aerodynamic phenomena to fly?
What is Ground Effect?
What type of front is characterized by a rapid ascent of warm, moist air, often leading to the development of powerful thunderstorms, squall lines, and other severe weather phenomena?
What is a Cold Front?
This man, often called the "Father of the Boeing 747," was a Boeing engineer who led the team that designed and built the world's first jumbo jet.
Who is Joe Sutter?
The Civil Air Patrol's Aerospace Education program offers a variety of educational products. The six modules that introduce cadets to the fundamentals of aviation and space, including aircraft systems and rockets, are collectively known by what name?
What are the Aerospace Dimensions?
What is the name of the engine on the Concorde, which was a unique turbojet with a variable geometry intake and exhaust nozzle?
What was the Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593?
This American fighter pilot, a member of the Lafayette Escadrille and later the "Hat in the Ring" Squadron, was the first ace to shoot down five enemy planes over the span of just three days.
Who is Captain Eddie Rickenbacker?
A pilot flying in the northern hemisphere encounters a low-pressure system. Due to the Coriolis effect, the wind will circulate in a specific direction around the low. What direction is it?
What is counterclockwise?
While Chuck Yeager is credited with being the first to break the sound barrier in level flight, who was the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound?
Who is Jacqueline Cochran?