Special Sub-Topic: U.S. Military Aircraft Click Here To Play: U.S. Military Aircraft

The A-6 Intruder, also called the Prowler, was designed and manufactured by which company?

Grumman. The aircraft's first military flight was in 1963. It was designed as a first-pass attack aircraft for surface targets in any weather. The aircraft was primarily used by the Navy.

Which of the following was the name of the Lockheed C-5?

Galaxy. The C-5 Galaxy was designed as a heavy transport aircraft. When first flown in 1968, it was the largest aircraft of its kind. Built with four huge-thrusting General Electric jet engines, the aircraft could fly with a total weight of 769,000 lbs.

The 'Tweet' first flown in 1954, was designed as a pilot trainer and for attack missions. What was the military designation of the Tweet?

T-37. In 2004, the aircraft and Cessna Aircraft Company celebrated 50 years of the flying aircraft, as it was still in service.

Which of the following was a Marine Corps adoptee in 1969, and could take-off vertically?

AV-8. The Harrier was a simplified version of the RAF Harrier GR3. It was designed as a close air support attack aircraft, as it could fly like a conventional aircraft but take-off and land vertically also.

Which type of aircraft was the Super Jolly Green Giant?

Helicopter. Designed in 1965 by Sikorsky Aircraft, the Igor Sikorsky built H-53 helicopter was still performing in the War of Iraq in 2005. It was primarily used by the Marines and Air Force. The H-53 replaced the older Jolly Green Giant, H-3, which was a workhorse also in Vietnam.

The F-4 Phantom played a key role in the Vietnam War. Who manufactured this versatile aircraft?

McDonnell Douglas. The F-4A first flew for the military in February 1960. The aircraft was used by the Navy, Air Force, and Marines. The aircraft went through modifications over time to extend its capability. It had other names including the 'Wild Weasel'.

Which former Douglas passenger aircraft was modified and later became a military in-flight refueling aircraft for the Air Force?

DC-10. The DC-10, built in Long Beach, California in the 1970s, was looked at by Pentagon officials to relieve some workload from the KC-135 tanker aircraft. The new and modified KC-10 was first flown for the military in 1980, and was named 'The Extender'.

The A-10 Thunderbolt, Warthog, or whichever name silently given to it, was an integral part of the Persian Gulf and Iraq war. This tank killer designed aircraft was built by which company?

Fairchild. This close-support aircraft was literally built around the pilot. With its titanium cockpit, the pilot was well protected from ground fire. Although the aircraft was designed with a hydraulic flight control system, it can still fly and be controllable by the pilot without hydraulics if the aircraft is damaged. The military first took the aircraft in 1975, and it flew in the War of Iraq in 2005.

The Rockwell-built OV-10 was a rugged forward support and counter insurgency aircraft during the Vietnam War. Unique with its two vertical fins and high horizontal stabilizer, it was primarily used by the Air Force. What was the name of this aircraft?

Bronco. The OV-10 Bronco began combat duty in 1968 in Vietnam, and provided many escort services in rescue operations for helicopters seeking downed pilots. 'Dustys' (H-53 helicopters) and the Bronco went together like peanut butter and jelly.

Kelly Johnson and Lockheed's 'Skunk Works' designed the so-called SR-71 aircraft. Its first test flight on April 26, 1962, witnessed the aircraft far-exceeding all expectations. However, there is no such designation as the "SR", as it was built under the proper designation. When President Johnson unveiled the aircraft to television and the world, he mistakenly gave it the wrong name, 'SR-71'. What was the aircraft's actual military designation?

RS-71. The RS-71 label stood for reconnaissance/strike. To prevent any embarrassment to the President, all paperwork, maintenance and flying manuals were altered to help cover up the error of the President.