Test Pilot

1. From reader George Shanks: A feature of carrier-based Navy aircraft is that they have folding wings. The Boeing B–52 obviously does not have folding wings, but what is it about the Stratofortress that does fold?
2. Arrange the following in order of their length, longest first, shortest last.
   A. Graf Zeppelin (German airship)
   B. HMS Titanic (ocean liner)
   C. Hindenburg (German airship)
   D. USS Akron or Macon (Goodyear-built airships)
3. From reader Tony Bruno: True or false? All U.S. aircraft carriers during World War II were equipped with arresting gear (cables).
4. When the date, June 23, 2022, first occurs on Earth, how much time will elapse before this same date no longer exists anywhere on Earth? In other words, for how long a period (in hours) does this—or any given date—exist somewhere in the world?
5. From reader John Schmidt: On January 30, 1943, British de Havilland Mosquito bombers made the first daylight raid on Berlin but did little damage. Yet, the mission was a remarkable success. What did the bombers accomplish aside from dropping bombs on targets?
6. True or false? An antique airplane is defined as an airplane built before World War II.
7. From reader Paul Reinman: What is unique about a cart start on a Boeing B–52 Stratofortress?
8. Why was it decided in the eighteenth century that the territorial limit of the United States (and other countries) should extend three miles beyond shore?

Test Pilot Answers

1. The entire vertical fin folds 90 degrees to the right and parallels the horizontal stabilizer. This enables the B–52 to fit into hangars that otherwise would not be sufficiently tall.
2. Titanic (883 feet)
   Hindenburg (803 feet)
   Akron/Macon (785 feet)
   Graf Zeppelin (775 feet)
3. False. The main decks of some Navy LSTs were converted to flight decks to enable eight to 10 U.S. Army Piper Cubs (L–4s) to be carried and launched (but not landed). First use of these “baby aircraft carriers” was in North Africa and during the Sicily invasion. Ship-launched Cubs also participated in the Normandy invasion.
4. 48 hours. June 23 first occurs immediately west of the international date line. Twenty-four hours will elapse before the entire world has the same date. Another 24 hours will be required for the next date (June 24) to completely displace the previous date.
5. January 30 was a German holiday. Hermann Göring, chief of the Luftwaffe, had promised that no bombs would fall on Germany. He had begun to speak on national radio just as the roar of an impending catastrophe became audible in the background. The radio station cut off Göring and began playing music.
6. False. An antique airplane is one built before the end of 1945.
7. “Cart” in this context is short for “explosive cartridge.” A cart can be inserted into the start duct of each engine so that all eight engines can be started simultaneously. This reduces the time required to get under way (such as for a nuclear mission).
8. This was the maximum range of a shore-based cannon.