Q 01/05

Which Vietnam War helicopter was nicknamed the Huey?

A) CH-47 Chinook

B) H-34 Choctaw

C) UH-1 Iroquois

D) OH-6 Cayuse

Answer · why

C) UH-1 Iroquois

UH-1 Iroquois was first designated HU-1, hence Huey, a nickname so popular that its maker cast the word onto the pilot's foot pedals.

Q 02/05

From which language does the word 'helicopter' come?

A) Spanish

B) German

C) Italian

D) French

Answer · why

D) French

French hélicoptère was coined by Gustave de Ponton d'Amécourt in 1861 for his steam model, which failed to fly, yet the word went on to name real heli...

Q 03/05

Which two Greek roots make up the word 'helicopter'?

A) Helix and kopto (spiral and cut)

B) Helios and pteron (sun and wing)

C) Helix and pteron (spiral and wing)

D) Helios and kopto (sun and cut)

Answer · why

C) Helix and pteron (spiral and wing)

Helix and pteron (spiral and wing) join as helico-pter, yet English speakers reanalyse it as heli- plus -copter, which gave words like heliport.

Q 04/05

Which war film shows helicopters attacking a village to Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries'?

A) Platoon

B) The Deer Hunter

C) Apocalypse Now

D) Full Metal Jacket

Answer · why

C) Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now's surf-mad Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore leads the attack partly to seize a beach for surfing, with Wagner blaring from helicopter loudspe...

Q 05/05

Which German helicopter, first flown in June 1936, is often called the first fully successful helicopter?

A) Flettner Fl 265

B) Focke-Wulf Fw 61

C) Focke-Achgelis Fa 223

D) Flettner Fl 282

Answer · why

B) Focke-Wulf Fw 61

Focke-Wulf Fw 61 carried a propeller on its nose like an aeroplane, but the blades were cut short and only cooled the engine.