AVSC 1010 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Kite - Answers - In roughly 500 BC, China invented the kite. This was the first man-
made creation to successfully leave the ground/fly
Lighter-than-air - Answers - A gas that has less weight than air. The first discovered
lighter-than-air gas was hydrogen. The first usage of this gas in flight was performed by
the Montgolfier brothers. They initially used a gas created by burning wood and straw,
which they termed the "Montgolfier gas". After they had done a few demonstrations with
this method, they hired J.A.C Charles (a chemist) to study the gas. He concluded that
hydrogen was lighter than the Montgolfier gas, and balloons from that point forward
mostly used hydrogen until its eventual replacement by helium.
Gunpowder - Answers - The Chinese invented gunpowder in roughly 900 AD. By 1100
AD, they were using it to build simple rockets. This leads to the legend of Wan Hoo,
who used rockets strapped to a wicker chair to attempt flight.
Hot air balloon - Answers - Initially invented by Jesuit priest Laurenco de Gusmao, he
developed and demonstrated a hot air balloon for the King of Portugal in 1709. Prints of
this demonstration were spread wide across Europe. It had a large cultural significance
to interest in aviation across Europe.
Hydrogen gas - Answers - Discovered by Henry Cavendish in 1766. Originally called
"flammable gas". Hydrogen is a lighter-than air gas often used in
balloons/dirigibles/zeppelins. The gas was highly flammable, and was later replaced by
a much safer gas, helium.
Helium gas - Answers - A lighter-than-air gas that came to replace Hydrogen for use in
balloons due to safety reasons.
Aerial observation - Answers - Early on after the popularization of Balloons, they began
to be used for military surveillance and reconnaissance. This continues to be a trend
throughout the entire existence of aviation.
Balloon Signal Service - Answers - The segment of the Union army developed in the
civil war. The purpose was aerial observation of enemy troops/camps. The corps fell
apart eventually due to poor funding, lack of manpower, and poor upper management.
Aeronaut - Answers - A professional balloonist.
Dirigible - Answers - A lighter-than-air craft that can be propelled and steered.
, Zeppelin - Answers - A rigid airship with an internal framework of girders that can be
propelled and steered. Invented in July of 1900 by Ferdinand von Zeppelin.
Rocket - Answers - A gunpowder propelled flying device. Usually explosive. Used in
warfare and in recreation (fireworks). Invented in China around 1100 AD.
Glider - Answers - A non-powered flying device.
Lift - Answers - The force that holds the craft in the air. (lighter-than-air gas, wings
designed to generate lift, etc.).
Drag - Answers - The force acting opposite the craft. The "resistance" to the movement
of the craft. Drag is caused by friction and differences in air pressure.
Thrust - Answers - The force that moves the aircraft in the direction of the motion.
Helicopter - Answers - A rotary wing aircraft. Predecessors of this craft were DaVinci's
designs, W.H. Phillips' model helicopter, George Cayley's airscrew, and Alphonse
Penaud's twisted propellor toy. (these are not in chronological order)
Wind tunnel - Answers - Invented in 1871 by Francis H. Wenham for the purpose of
testing gliders, the wind tunnel was a device made to test the effects of wind on aircraft.
Airplane - Answers - A self-propelled powered aircraft.
Powered flight - Answers - The ability of an aircraft to fly using self-generated thrust.
The first successful powered flight was accomplished by the Wright Bros on December
17th, 1903.
Who developed the first principles of flight? - Answers - Leonardo DaVinci
Who invented the hot air balloon? - Answers - Laurenco De Gusmano
First human passengers flew on whose balloon? - Answers - The Montgolfier Brothers
Who organized the Union Army Balloon Signal Service? - Answers - Thaddeus S. C.
Lowe
Who made the first successful rigid dirigible? (AKA Zeppelin) - Answers - Ferdinand von
Zeppelin
Who is known as the Father of Modern Aviation? - Answers - Otto Lilienthal
Who had the first success in controlled, powered, and sustained flight? - Answers - The
Wright Brothers
ANSWERS
Kite - Answers - In roughly 500 BC, China invented the kite. This was the first man-
made creation to successfully leave the ground/fly
Lighter-than-air - Answers - A gas that has less weight than air. The first discovered
lighter-than-air gas was hydrogen. The first usage of this gas in flight was performed by
the Montgolfier brothers. They initially used a gas created by burning wood and straw,
which they termed the "Montgolfier gas". After they had done a few demonstrations with
this method, they hired J.A.C Charles (a chemist) to study the gas. He concluded that
hydrogen was lighter than the Montgolfier gas, and balloons from that point forward
mostly used hydrogen until its eventual replacement by helium.
Gunpowder - Answers - The Chinese invented gunpowder in roughly 900 AD. By 1100
AD, they were using it to build simple rockets. This leads to the legend of Wan Hoo,
who used rockets strapped to a wicker chair to attempt flight.
Hot air balloon - Answers - Initially invented by Jesuit priest Laurenco de Gusmao, he
developed and demonstrated a hot air balloon for the King of Portugal in 1709. Prints of
this demonstration were spread wide across Europe. It had a large cultural significance
to interest in aviation across Europe.
Hydrogen gas - Answers - Discovered by Henry Cavendish in 1766. Originally called
"flammable gas". Hydrogen is a lighter-than air gas often used in
balloons/dirigibles/zeppelins. The gas was highly flammable, and was later replaced by
a much safer gas, helium.
Helium gas - Answers - A lighter-than-air gas that came to replace Hydrogen for use in
balloons due to safety reasons.
Aerial observation - Answers - Early on after the popularization of Balloons, they began
to be used for military surveillance and reconnaissance. This continues to be a trend
throughout the entire existence of aviation.
Balloon Signal Service - Answers - The segment of the Union army developed in the
civil war. The purpose was aerial observation of enemy troops/camps. The corps fell
apart eventually due to poor funding, lack of manpower, and poor upper management.
Aeronaut - Answers - A professional balloonist.
Dirigible - Answers - A lighter-than-air craft that can be propelled and steered.
, Zeppelin - Answers - A rigid airship with an internal framework of girders that can be
propelled and steered. Invented in July of 1900 by Ferdinand von Zeppelin.
Rocket - Answers - A gunpowder propelled flying device. Usually explosive. Used in
warfare and in recreation (fireworks). Invented in China around 1100 AD.
Glider - Answers - A non-powered flying device.
Lift - Answers - The force that holds the craft in the air. (lighter-than-air gas, wings
designed to generate lift, etc.).
Drag - Answers - The force acting opposite the craft. The "resistance" to the movement
of the craft. Drag is caused by friction and differences in air pressure.
Thrust - Answers - The force that moves the aircraft in the direction of the motion.
Helicopter - Answers - A rotary wing aircraft. Predecessors of this craft were DaVinci's
designs, W.H. Phillips' model helicopter, George Cayley's airscrew, and Alphonse
Penaud's twisted propellor toy. (these are not in chronological order)
Wind tunnel - Answers - Invented in 1871 by Francis H. Wenham for the purpose of
testing gliders, the wind tunnel was a device made to test the effects of wind on aircraft.
Airplane - Answers - A self-propelled powered aircraft.
Powered flight - Answers - The ability of an aircraft to fly using self-generated thrust.
The first successful powered flight was accomplished by the Wright Bros on December
17th, 1903.
Who developed the first principles of flight? - Answers - Leonardo DaVinci
Who invented the hot air balloon? - Answers - Laurenco De Gusmano
First human passengers flew on whose balloon? - Answers - The Montgolfier Brothers
Who organized the Union Army Balloon Signal Service? - Answers - Thaddeus S. C.
Lowe
Who made the first successful rigid dirigible? (AKA Zeppelin) - Answers - Ferdinand von
Zeppelin
Who is known as the Father of Modern Aviation? - Answers - Otto Lilienthal
Who had the first success in controlled, powered, and sustained flight? - Answers - The
Wright Brothers
