Special Sub-Topic: History of Flight Click Here To Play: History of Flight

Who designed the Hurricane?

Sir Sydney Camm. The Hurricane was designed by Sir Sydney Camm. It was made with a metal frame and covered with fabric, so it was easy to repair.

Who designed the Spitfire?

RJ Mitchell. The Spitfire was designed by RJ Mitchell was made completely from aluminium.

Who was the first person to fly in a hydrogen filled balloon?

Jay Charles. Its first flight was on the 1st December 1783 and travelled 43kms. It was witnessed by 100,000 people, one of them being Marie Antoinette.

When was the first unmanned flight performed?

25th April 1783. It was performed by the Montgolfier Brothers using a hot air balloon.

When was the first manned flight performed?

September 1783. It lasted 25 minutes and travelled 9 km.

Ballonets are what?

Bags of air. Helium is used in these bags. Hydrogen used to be used until they discovered helium was better because it isn't flammable!

When the ballonets are full, the balloon will...

Ascend. When the ballonets are full, the ballon will ascend becuase the air inside is less dense so it rises.People often confuse how this works becuase they think the balloon will be lighter if it is more empty

When the ballonets are empty the balloon will...

Descend. This is because there is more air than helium inside so as air is dense, the balloon will sink. People often get confused with this because they think the balloon will be heavier as it is more full

When did the Hindenburg explode?

1937. It exploded at its moorings.

Who was first to fly the English Channel?

Louis Blériot. He flew from Calais to Dover in a monoplane on 25th July 1909.

Who designed the synchronised machine gun?

Anthony HG Fokker. Designed by Anthony HG Fokker(1890-1939), it shoots bullets between the propellors on a plane.

The monoplane, Eindecker, and the successful Trimotor F-7 airliners, were designed by whom?

Anthony HG Fokker. The Eindecker was built in 1908. It was a type used by Germany as a fighter aircraft

Who flew the first non-stop transatlantic flight?

Alcock and Brown. Sir John William Alcock and Sir Arthur Whitten Brown flew the first non-stop transatlantic flight on the 14-15 of June 1919. It lasted 16 hours and 27 minutes. It was from Newfoundland in Canada to Clifden in Ireland. They crash landed. They did it in a converted Vicker Vimy bomber.

Who designed the Lancaster?

Roy Chadwick. It was built by Sir (Edwin) Alliot Verdon Roe(1877-1958). He had also built the first British seaplane to take off from the water, and in 1912, the first aircraft with a enclosed cabin.

Who was the first woman to fly solo in a Gypsy Moth?

Amy Johnson. She did it in 1930. She flew from England to Australia. It took 19 1/2 days, but was only 3 days short of the record.