π Aircraft Design
What is the main job of an airplane's wings?
To create lift.
What was the first plane to fly faster than the speed of sound?
Bell X-1
What is the name of the US stealth bomber shaped like a flying wing?
B-2 Spirit
Who were the first people to achieve powered flight?
The Wright brothers
What force opposes lift in flight?
Weight (gravity)
What is a "canard" on an aircraft?
A small forward wing for lift and control.
Which commercial jet was the fastest ever built?
Concorde
What aircraft can take off vertically and fly like a jet?
V-22 Osprey
What year did the Concorde enter commercial service?
1976
What axis is controlled by the rudder?
Yaw
Why do commercial jets have winglets?
To reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.
What is the aircraft with the widest wingspan ever?
Stratolaunch Roc
Name a plane with variable-sweep wings.
F-111 Aardvark or B-1 Lancer
What was the first commercial jet airliner?
de Havilland Comet
What is the function of the elevator?
Controls pitch (nose up or down)
What type of engine powers the SR-71 Blackbird?
A turbojet/ramjet hybrid engine.
What is the highest altitude ever reached by a crewed airplane?
X-15, over 100 km.
Which transport jet can reverse using engine thrust?
C-130 Hercules.
What unique feature did the Boeing 747 have when introduced?
An upper deck βhumpβ for the passenger lounge and cockpit.
What is a Ram Air Turbine (RAT) used for?
Emergency power during electrical failure
What is the purpose of vortex generators on a wing?
To improve airflow and delay flow separation.
What plane holds the record for fastest air-breathing manned flight?
SR-71 Blackbird (Mach 3.3)
What does "fly-by-wire" mean in modern fighter jets?
It uses electronic signals instead of mechanical linkages.
What aircraft was designed as the U-2βs high-speed successor?
SR-71 Blackbird
What is the CoandΔ effect and how is it used in aircraft?
Itβs the tendency of airflow to stick to surfaces; used in lift-enhancing designs.