posted 06-08-2005 11:57 PM               

#2 - Who was the first person to break
the sound barrier?

#3 - Who was commander of the first
Space Shuttle launch?

#4 - Name all five launched Space
Shuttles.

#5 - Who was the first person to walk
on the Moon?

#6 - What was the name of Charles
Lindbergh's plane?

#7 - What year did astronauts first
set foot upon the Moon?

#8 - What were the first names of
the Wright brothers?

#9 - Who was the first U.S. astronaut
to orbit the Earth?

#10 - How many people have walked on
the Moon?

#11 - Who was Elvis' manager?

#12 - What is the title of the only
Beatles cartoon movie?

#13 - What hotel did Elvis sing about?

#14 - What was Elvis' middle name?

#15 - In what town did the Beatles
originate?

#16 - What is Elvis' daughter's name?

#17 - What year did Elvis die?

#18 - What is Elvis' house called?

#19 - What is Elvis' wife's first
name?

#20 - Name all four Beatles' first
and last names.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
And now the answers and survey results
in the percentage correct:

#1 - Who was the first person in space?
Yuri Gagarin - 14%

#2 - Who was the first person to break
the sound barrier?
Chuck Yeager - 31%

#3 - Who was commander of the first
Space Shuttle launch?
John Young - 0%

#4 - Name all five launched Space
Shuttles.
Columbia, Challenger, Discovery,
Atlantis, Endeavour - 3%

#5 - Who was the first person to walk
on the Moon?
Neil Armstrong - 69%

#6 - What was the name of Charles
Lindbergh's plane?
The Spirit of St. Louis - 31%

#7 - What year did astronauts first
set foot upon the Moon?
1969 - 54%

#8 - What were the first names of
the Wright brothers?
Orville & Wilbur - 57%

#9 - Who was the first U.S. astronaut
to orbit the Earth?
John Glenn - 23%

#10 - How many people have walked on
the Moon?
12 - 9%

#11 - Who was Elvis' manager?
'Colonel' Tom Parker - 26%

#12 - What is the title of the only
Beatles cartoon movie?
'Yellow Submarine' - 54%

#13 - What hotel did Elvis sing about?
'Heartbreak Hotel' - 66%

#14 - What was Elvis' middle name?
Aron - 49%

#15 - In what town did the Beatles
originate?
Liverpool - 40%

#16 - What is Elvis' daughter's name?
Lisa Marie - 66%

#17 - What year did Elvis die?
1977 - 40%

#18 - What is Elvis' house called?
Graceland - 66%

#19 - What is Elvis' wife's first
name?
Priscilla - 69%

#20 - Name all four Beatles' first
and last names.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney,
George Harrison, Ringo Starr
- 51%

So how'd you do?
The best of my survey got 85% correct, the worst just 5%.
Feel free to use this survey yourself where you live. It'd be interesting to see how other states and countries respond.
Rob

posted 06-09-2005 01:15 AM               

Interesting results, but a small nitpick with question No. 20: Ringo's real first name was Richard (Starkey), and Paul McCartney's first name was actually James (James Paul McCartney)

posted 06-09-2005 08:13 AM               

I am especially surprised so many knew Elvis' middle name.

posted 06-09-2005 08:34 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rob Joyner:

#2 - Who was the first person to break
the sound barrier?

#2 - Who was the first person to break
the sound barrier?
Chuck Yeager - 31%

---

Ummm I hate to throw a monkey wrench in here, but this answer is incorrect - it's "Wheaties" Welch, or one of the Wright Field test pilots who did Me-262 testing after WWII (and before 1947) who remarked in after flight reports of routinely doing this in dives.

This is a whole discussion in and of itself but I suggest reading Al Blackburns book "Aces Wild: The Quest for Mach 1". Yup the same AL Blackburn who was a test pilot with Al Shepard and went on to North American doing F-100 ZEL test flights. Now THERES some grit!

posted 06-09-2005 08:44 AM               

It's funny that the issue of the general public's knowledge of the space program has come up so often recently because I was intending to post to ask more about this subject. Often we hear claims about surveys that have been done but I have yet to see them. When someone asks, there is never a source provided. So I was going to suggest that we put a survey together much like the one you did Rob, and go out there and execute it.

I don't know if there are any experts out there who would want to co-ordinate this or at least guide us? We may want to know for example the results by age group, gender etc.

It would be kind of a fun exercise, not scientific or anything.

Anybody out there who could take this on?

posted 06-09-2005 08:50 PM               

Now if this were air and space and rock band Queen trivia, I'd have been all set

posted 06-10-2005 04:32 AM               

On a similar type subject, around a year or two ago, a survey was done over here in Britain, asking school kids about recent British history and the Second World War in particular. The common thread seemed to be a distinct lack of basic knowledge, eg, they didn't know the dates for the war, (1939 - 1945) or whether Britain was in it, (believing that it was 'The Americans v The Germans)! There seems to be a 'so what' type culture over here which needs to be addressed.

posted 06-10-2005 09:44 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by albatron@aol.com:
Ummm I hate to throw a monkey wrench in here, but this answer is incorrect - it's "Wheaties" Welch, or one of the Wright Field test pilots who did Me-262 testing after WWII (and before 1947) who remarked in after flight reports of routinely doing this in dives.
Al

---

You may also add Lothar Sieber to that circle, a German testpilot who most likely broke the soundbarrier in february 1945 during the first manned rocket launch with a Bachem Natter Ba349.
He didn't survive the flight but eyewitnesses reported the typical supersonic bang.

posted 06-10-2005 10:01 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by star61:
The engines available to Me262 drivers certainly would not be able to deal with a supersonic airflow. Every attempt to upstage Yeager is usually found wanting , eventually. Even Geoffrey De Havillands DH108 flight most likely did not achieve mach1. The forces that destroyed the aircraft are reached at about 0.94 to 0.98 mach.

Phil

---

You may have noticed, Phil, my "wink" in my posting. I was being silly. However I have seen the reports that came from Wright Field indicating routinely exceeding the sound barrier in the Me-262. Yes the consensus is the engines did not quite have enough - however this was in a dive. The P-38, P-51 and P-47's very nearly reached a 1 mach number in a dive, and many were lost in the transonic range you describe.

Are these reports accurate? I dunno - but I've spoken to many involved at the time and I simply get a smile from them.

The argument against "Wheaties" doing it was that the original F-86 did not have the "flying tail" hence it was impossible!!!! (emphasis provided by the writer for the speaker) I proffered this to the USAF chief test pilot for the F-86, and he said "XXXXX said that? Interesting." as he also smiled.

So who knows for sure. As Colin said Yeager was the first to do it in sustained LEVEL flight in any event.

Flo you are correct and I apologize for forgetting him, but in my humourous attempt I was not striving for accuracy. <G>

An interesting side note, the one guy who could have done it without a doubt before Yeager, makes no claims to having done it first. In Blackburn's book he is described as having created a sonic boom, but it is explained as a manuever called "cracking the whip". I asked him once if it were possible that he had, and he said it was very possible but he will never ever claim he did, and that IF he had, it was NOT intentional and NACA kept ALL the telemetry and other data, and he was never allowed to see it to confirm.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Al

posted 06-11-2005 11:36 PM               

I hear what you're saying amigo - but some well trained and experienced test pilots may disagree with you. In fact some already have.

Cheers!

posted 06-12-2005 09:25 PM               

It was not until Blackburns book that Welch's claim was ever truly proffered, which I understand was also typical of Wheaties. Hed just do it, and not brag except to one person in particular.

Heres what I'M sayin..........the USAF Chief Test Pilot of the F-86 never exceeded mach in his test flights (he was the 1st USAF pilot to fly it and the 2nd pilot overall). He was TOLD (ordered) not to, by the USAF, as the X-1 program was going at the time. He's a good soldier, he followed orders.

Wheaties ALSO was ordered not to but by North American, however this is a guy with long hair in the late 40's, who was the original hippie and the word "character" does NOT do him justice.

Did he? Circumstantially theres a lot of evidence to allow for it, but there is no DIRECT evidence. Equally as important, there is no evidence to the CONTRARY either.

My conversation with the USAF test pilot shows he feels Wheaties very well may have, but he is basing this on his personality and the book, and being there at the time. ie his personality in that he was told NOT to, which would have made him do it FASTER. Wheaties was very much his own man. This TP also relates, the F-86 was more than capable of exceeding mach in a dive, without the flying tail. He disagreed with the other TP (who was on the Yeager team) who said the flying tail was necessary.

As for the Wright Field Me-262 pilots, he felt (suprisingly this TP was ALSO at WF at the same time of these tests and also flew the Me262) it could do it, and aerodynamically it was capable of it. This was told to me by this same TP, who by the way, Yeager and Hoover worked for at Wright Field. He did not recall the Me-262 guys doing it, but says thats just his memory. He does not recall them NOT doing it either.

So you bring up a valid point, and I fully understand Phil. I'm just relating what a guy who was there, had to say. A guy who also knows aerodynamics I would venture, far better than you and I. Especially aerodynamics of the era.

Personally I think there is a lot more hype about the speed of sound now than there actually was then. This particular TP relates stories to me about it being no big deal. There was not a lot of "fear of the brick wall in the sky" as romanticized by Tom Wolfe. Hence no one would care to brag or claim it.

Thanks Phil - I've enjoyed this!

Cheers!

Al

posted 06-13-2005 09:50 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by star61:
I wish i could chat with test pilots you`ve spoken to Al. Trust me, i hold them all in the highest esteem and had hoped to be in their club one day (shot down by a medic!).
I mention the Me163 as it was quicker and more like some contempary ideas for supersonic aircraft, but never achieved mach1 even in the hands of Eric Brown.
I was talking to my father about this question as he was an RAF flight engineer from 1947 to 1954 and was on a number of two seat fast jet flight tests of the time.
The first time he broke mach1 was in a Hunter , which he indicated went transonic with no problem. Other aircraft not designed for mach1 , or in someway not so efficient aerodynamically, made it clear to himself and the pilot that to push it would be ,as he put it " a bit silly"...
I know plenty of "characters" in the flying world , but test pilots tend to be the most conservative.
And in answer to the question........Neil , every time

Phil

---

Oh I know you do Phil - and isnt grand we can carry on this conversation all in good spirits and humour to boot! If you ever come to Florida I hope you look me up.

The Me163 is an excellent example, the rocket engines on it should have been sufficient to have gotten them past mach. But I wonder if it had the fuel to do it?

And lets not forget, maybe it did, but no one realized it?

I think your Father is a wise man, and I believe the TPs I know would agree with him. But then again, Wheaties Welch I sometimes think was from another planet! <LOL>

Cheers!

posted 06-14-2005 05:18 AM               

Sorry, but it's just conjured up a vision of the MC standing between them announcing " ten, three minute rounds, two falls, two submissions or a knockout to decide the winner"

posted 06-14-2005 06:42 AM               

I just wanted to add that Capt. Eric Brown might have been the first to fly supersonic in level flight if the British government hadn't cancelled the Miles Aircraft M.52 program.

In 1942 the United Kingdom's Ministry of Aviation began a top secret project with the Miles Aircraft Company to develope the Worlds first supersonic turbojet research aircraft. The project resulted in the development of the prototype Miles M.52 aircraft, which was designed to reach 1000 mph (1600 km/h) at 36,000 feet (11 km) in 1 minute 30 seconds. The aircraft's design was revolutionary introducing many innovations which are still used on todays supersonic aircraft. The single most important development was the all-moving tailplane which allowed control to be maintained at supersonic speeds, this was the brainchild of Dennis Bancroft and his team at Miles Research. Unfortunately the project was cancelled by the Director of Scientific Research, Sir Ben Lockspeiser before any manned fights were conducted. Subsequently, on government orders, all design data and research regarding the Miles M.52 was sent to BELL aircraft in the USA. Later experimentation on the Miles M.52 design proved that the aircraft would indeed have broken the sound barrier, with an unmanned 3/10 scale replica of the M.52 achieving Mach 1.5 in October 1948.

Yeager is always the first to say that it was the USAF/Bell, never the NACA that developed the first "flying tail" when Miles had a flying tail installed on a test aircraft in 1943. The team from Bell visited Miles Aircraft at Woodley
in 1943 and were given all the ideas and data. The Miles team expected the same in return from Bell but then the US government declared it "Top Secret" and the Miles engineers never got to see the Bell Aircraft data. The Miles M.52 project was canceled in 1946 and was at that time 90% complete and would most definately have produced a supersonic flight BEFORE the US had achieved one with the Bell XS-1.

Incidentally, the M.52's pilot Captain Eric Brown made one supersonic flight in the De Havilland DH108 Swallow (same aircraft that Sir Geoffrey De Havilland was killed in) in a near vertical dive. Capt Brown stated that he only just managed to pull out of the dive and never again attempted such a feat!

posted 06-15-2005 08:25 AM               

Its never been confirmed but I have a sneaky suspicion that the British Government were given some financial enhancement by our American friends to end the M.52 project. It would make a lot of sense and I really do hope I get the chance to speak to Capt. Brown about this subject in person someday.

posted 06-15-2005 08:57 AM               

Are any members of the Miles design team still around?
The M.52 was a remarkable development, even having a separable pilot escape capsule. The similarity between this and the x-1 cannot be coincidence, espcially given that they are almost exactly the same size.
As Phil says, we never exploited all of the leads we had in the 40's through to the 60's, whether it was the jet engine, the world's first jet airliner, the swing-wing concept or VTOL.
There's a museum at the original Miles site at Woodley: http://fly.to/MuseumofBerkshireAviation

posted 06-15-2005 09:54 AM               

M.52 designer Dennis Bancroft is to my knowledge still with us. He was interviewed in fairly recently for a couple of TV documentaries which aired on BBC4/Discovery Channell.

I'm hoping to hear from Capt. Eric Brown in the coming weeks and if I do I'll ask about the design team.

posted 06-15-2005 01:54 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wehaveliftoff:
It is a fact, more Americans think John Glenn walked on the moon then Neil Armstrong.

---

They never replied with a post supporting their fact and so my doubts remain. So I turned to my 20-something hair stylist for evidence to settle the issue.

First I asked her to name the first person to walk on the moon. She could not tell me.

So I gave her another chance by making the question multiple choice. I gave her three choices, in this order:

1. John Glenn
2. Neil Armstrong
3. Buzz Aldrin

She said Armstrong.