Q 01/05

Which RAF officer patented his turbojet engine design in January 1930?

A) Alan Griffith

B) Frank Whittle

C) Barnes Wallis

D) Geoffrey de Havilland

Answer · why

B) Frank Whittle

Frank Whittle filed his turbojet patent on 16 January 1930, aged 22; his Cranwell thesis had sketched the idea, but the Air Ministry showed little int...

Q 02/05

Which German engineer began building a rival turbojet in 1935 that became the first to fly?

A) Hans von Ohain

B) Anselm Franz

C) Ernst Heinkel

D) Willy Messerschmitt

Answer · why

A) Hans von Ohain

Hans von Ohain patented his design in 1935 and joined Heinkel in 1936; his HeS 3 engine powered the first purely turbojet flight in August 1939.

Q 03/05

What was the world's first aircraft to fly purely on turbojet power, on 27 August 1939?

A) Messerschmitt Me 262

B) Caproni Campini N.1

C) Heinkel He 178

D) Gloster E.28/39

Answer · why

C) Heinkel He 178

The Heinkel He 178, powered by an HeS 3B engine, made the first purely turbojet flight from Rostock-Marienehe on 27 August 1939; a later demonstration...

Q 04/05

What was the world's first operational jet fighter, powered by Junkers Jumo 004 engines?

A) Messerschmitt Me 262

B) Gloster Meteor

C) Bell P-59 Airacomet

D) Heinkel He 162

Answer · why

A) Messerschmitt Me 262

The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe entered service with Erprobungskommando 262 in April 1944, months before any Allied jet; Hitler insisted it also be ...

Q 05/05

Which British jet fighter was the only Allied jet aircraft to see combat in the Second World War?

A) de Havilland Vampire

B) Supermarine Attacker

C) Gloster Meteor

D) Hawker Hunter

Answer · why

C) Gloster Meteor

The Gloster Meteor entered RAF service with 616 Squadron in July 1944 and scored its first two kills against V-1 flying bombs on 4 August 1944.