Flying in a Storm Trivia Quiz

Answer:

The habit of using weather-related names for aircraft, and especially fighters, is international, as will be seen.

Dassault Ouragon (hurricane): This was a French fighter-bomber that made its first flight in 1949, and saw service with the air forces of France, India, Israel and El Salvador. With the Israeli Air Force it took part in the Six Day War in 1967. It was finally retired, by the Salvadoran AF, in 1985.

Dassault Rafale (gust of wind): This multirole, twin-engine jet fighter first flew in the mid-1980s, and has continued to be produced for both naval and air force use into the 21st century. Besides its native France, it has served the forces of Egypt, India and Qatar to name a few.

HAL HF-24 Marut (spirit of the tempest; a storm deity): Designed by German engineer Kurt Tank, and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Marut was a jet fighter and ground attack aircraft, serving the Indian Air Force between 1967 and 1990.

Hawker Hurricane: This single seat fighter was the workhorse of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Battle of Britain (1940). Designed by Sydney Camm, the Hurricane first flew in 1935 and remained in production until 1944 in both the UK and Canada.

Hawker Typhoon: Also designed by Camm, the Typhoon was meant to eventually replace the Hurricane, but in the end fulfilled a slightly different role as a fighter-bomber. Only about 3500 were built between 1941 and 1945 (about one fifth the number of Hurricanes). Both Hawker types were flown by the RAF and other Commonwealth air forces.

Kawanishi N1K Kyofu (strong wind): The Kyofu was the floatplane variant of the Japanese Navy's N1K fighter, with the land-based craft being the Shiden (violet lightning, another stormy name). In service from 1943 until 1945, they were known to the Allied forces as "Rex" and "George" respectively.

Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (gale): The Hayate made its first flight in 1943, and served with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service until the end of World War II. It was a single seat fighter, known to the Allies as "Frank", and said by some to have been Japan's best fighter of the war.

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt: The P-47 Thunderbolt flew with the US Army Air Forces in both the Pacific and European theatres in WWII. Nicknamed "Jug" it was a fighter-bomber, also utilised by the RAF and other air forces. Though production ended in 1945, it was still in service with the Peruvian AF until its retirement in 1966.

VL Myrsky (storm): This was a Finnish fighter used in combat against Soviet forces in the 1940s, making its first flight in 1941. Fewer than 100 were built, before final retirement in 1947.

Westland Whirlwind: Described as a "heavy" fighter, the Whirlwind was a single-seat, twin-engine aircraft, armed with cannons. First flying in 1938, it served with the RAF from 1940 until 1943, when it was withdrawn from service, even though it had been successful in its role.

Of the incorrect options, one was named for a flea (Floh), three for birds (Fulmar, Calquin, a South American eagle, and Hayabusa, a peregrine falcon) and one for an arrow (Freccia).