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Quiz about USAF Aircrew Call Signs
Quiz about USAF Aircrew Call Signs

USAF Aircrew Call Signs Trivia Quiz


Since the creation of the US Air Force, many a pilot, navigator, or flight test engineer has earned a call sign, which is a nickname they are called at work. But how do they get them? Take this quiz and see if you can figure it out!

A multiple-choice quiz by djsgal. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
djsgal
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
268,937
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
9 / 10
Plays
1773
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (10/10), Guest 137 (5/10), Guest 174 (10/10).
This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.
1. A pilot's call sign is usually created by either a play on the pilot's given name, based on a career or personal life incident, or on the pilot's personality. I will give you the clues about the pilot, and see if you can figure out the call sign from the clues. These are all real call signs from people that our family knows, so I've tried to keep the personal info to a minimum!

First one: Sometimes an aircrew member will share a name with a celebrity, from which will follow a call sign. For instance, if a pilot's given name is Don Johnson, what would be a good choice for his call sign?
Hint

Magnum
LA Law
Blues
Vice

2. A pilot that we know had an incident where he accidentally scraped the tail of his jet upon landing. Imagine the result of metal scraping on the concrete runway, and what call sign did this pilot earn? Hint

Sparky
Nightfall
Slim
Chevy

3. Sometimes a call sign will be a play on words based on the last name of the pilot, and these are usually the most clever ones. Our friend whose last name is "Frank", has which call sign? (This one is most like a brain teaser.) Hint

Furter
Scooby
Chip
Vampire

4. Occasionally a pilot will transition his career from flying a large, heavy airplane to flying a small fighter jet. In a heavy aircraft the mission is often hours and hours long, with plenty of time and room in the cockpit for meals. As a reference to a pilot's previous lifestyle (where they can actually eat in the plane), what call sign will they be given when they arrive at their new fighter squadron? Hint

Goose
AJ
Spork
Lefty

5. If your last name is "Fry", which do you suppose would be your call sign? Hint

Simba
Yank
Frenchie
Pi

6. One pilot we knew was a little slow when it came to matters of the brain, and often didn't notice things that were right in front of him. If you watched TV cartoons in the 1970s, you will recognize his call sign. Hint

Superman
Garfield
Panther
Magoo

7. The flight doctor of a squadron usually has a medically related call sign, like "Bones". Can you guess the call sign of the flight doc we knew whose last name was "Pendon"? Hint

Scapula
Wrist
Achilles
Skull

8. Sometimes the call sign will be ironic: in direct contrast to what the pilot actually is or does. For instance, one aircrew member was supposed to be reading the map while he and some other pilots tried to make their way into a large city in a rental car. They ended up completely lost, and the "navigator" earned himself an ironic call sign. Can you guess it? Hint

Magellan
Sunny
Happy
Bingo

9. Another pilot friend of ours has the last name of Gilbreath. It's not much of a leap to figure out his call sign based on his last name. Can you figure out which animal goes with Gilbreath? Hint

Dog
Mouse
Ape
Fish

10. Finally, one pilot I know has had no less than 5 call signs. Every time he moves to a different squadron he acquires a new one. Someone suggested that he be given a call sign to illustrate the fact that no call sign ever sticks to him. With that clue, which call sign do you suppose was suggested? Hint

Teflon
Showtime
Rico
Tool


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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. A pilot's call sign is usually created by either a play on the pilot's given name, based on a career or personal life incident, or on the pilot's personality. I will give you the clues about the pilot, and see if you can figure out the call sign from the clues. These are all real call signs from people that our family knows, so I've tried to keep the personal info to a minimum! First one: Sometimes an aircrew member will share a name with a celebrity, from which will follow a call sign. For instance, if a pilot's given name is Don Johnson, what would be a good choice for his call sign?

Answer: Vice

Don Johnson was the actor who played Sonny Crockett in the 80's TV crime drama, Miami Vice. Make sense?
2. A pilot that we know had an incident where he accidentally scraped the tail of his jet upon landing. Imagine the result of metal scraping on the concrete runway, and what call sign did this pilot earn?

Answer: Sparky

Apparently, the sparks did fly. Not an uncommon call sign, actually; either wing or tail scraping can earn a pilot that nickname.
3. Sometimes a call sign will be a play on words based on the last name of the pilot, and these are usually the most clever ones. Our friend whose last name is "Frank", has which call sign? (This one is most like a brain teaser.)

Answer: Furter

Frank Furter. He's quite a "hot dog", too! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
4. Occasionally a pilot will transition his career from flying a large, heavy airplane to flying a small fighter jet. In a heavy aircraft the mission is often hours and hours long, with plenty of time and room in the cockpit for meals. As a reference to a pilot's previous lifestyle (where they can actually eat in the plane), what call sign will they be given when they arrive at their new fighter squadron?

Answer: Spork

A "spork" is a reference to the type of eating utensil that is like a spoon and a fork in one, and often comes in prepackaged meals from the flight kitchen...no fighter pilot ever gets to eat a meal in the cockpit!
5. If your last name is "Fry", which do you suppose would be your call sign?

Answer: Frenchie

"Frenchie" Fry...hey, it's not much of a stretch but it works!
6. One pilot we knew was a little slow when it came to matters of the brain, and often didn't notice things that were right in front of him. If you watched TV cartoons in the 1970s, you will recognize his call sign.

Answer: Magoo

Mr. Magoo was a cartoon about a bumbling little old man who was blind as a bat. A perfect call sign for this pilot.
7. The flight doctor of a squadron usually has a medically related call sign, like "Bones". Can you guess the call sign of the flight doc we knew whose last name was "Pendon"?

Answer: Achilles

"Achilles" Pendon, like achilles tendon! Not only is it a play on words, but has that medical flair, too.
8. Sometimes the call sign will be ironic: in direct contrast to what the pilot actually is or does. For instance, one aircrew member was supposed to be reading the map while he and some other pilots tried to make their way into a large city in a rental car. They ended up completely lost, and the "navigator" earned himself an ironic call sign. Can you guess it?

Answer: Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a 16th century world explorer, making the first circumnavigation of the earth. You can even purchase GPS navigational equipment for your car that is called "Magellan". Clearly, this guy was no Magellan.
9. Another pilot friend of ours has the last name of Gilbreath. It's not much of a leap to figure out his call sign based on his last name. Can you figure out which animal goes with Gilbreath?

Answer: Fish

A "Fish" most certainly could have "gill breath" (Gilbreath)!
10. Finally, one pilot I know has had no less than 5 call signs. Every time he moves to a different squadron he acquires a new one. Someone suggested that he be given a call sign to illustrate the fact that no call sign ever sticks to him. With that clue, which call sign do you suppose was suggested?

Answer: Teflon

Teflon is that great substance on the bottom of cookware to keep foods from sticking. Funny enough, "Teflon" didn't stick to him either!
Source: Author djsgal

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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