Hi all

Here's the new thread to continue the amazingly successful Jeopardy Trivia Quiz.

All the best

Rowan

The honour of being the first to pose a question on this new thread is immense (and makes me forget all about the initial discredit on the last question). :-)

So the last aircraft was transported on a submarine. What's the story about this ugly bird!?! And what's up with the wheels?



I know that this is going to be very easy for the "regulars", but a) it's too hot to think of any really hard questions , and b) it would be fun if someone new had a chance!

Cheers!!!

If I recall, this is the XF-64 (?) Goblin. The idea behind it is to have it launched from bombers to serve as a fighter, thus eliminating the expendature of fuel from base to target, through any dogfighting, and back to back. Instead it would only use fuel to fight. The reason it has no wheels is because it is launched from the bomber and recovers from them.

Not sure why this one is on a bomber, but I would guess along the same lines that this was launched from the sub, and it was meant to shoot down ASW helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft?

Jeff

Hi all!

I totally agree with you polarbear except of course for last question's "discredit"!

So I just say the plane is the one used by Steve Austin, the "six billion dollar man" in the famous TV series. Well not quite... It's in fact the second version (the first one crashed during the intro) build for Arnold Schwarzeneger!

Jean-Luc

Jeff is (almost) correct. It's the McDonnell XF-85 "Goblin".

According to the sources, the XF-85 parasite aircraft was developed to protect B-36 bombers flying beyond the range of conventional escort fighters. In theory, a B-36 penetrating enemy territory would carry its protecting fighter(s) (I read somewhere that there were plans to host up to 4 of them?) in the bomb bay. If attacked by enemy aircraft, the bomber would lower the Goblin on a trapeze and release it to combat the attackers. After the enemy had been driven away, the parasite fighter would return to the bomber, hook onto the trapeze, fold its wings, and be lifted back into the bomb bay. - This last manouver was done with varying success on B-29:s, and the test program was canceled in 1949.



Ps. This is a site for military scale modellers. Wouldn't it be nice - as an addad bonus - if we could all add some info about the possibility to build models of the subjects in this trivia section. For example, there are kits of the Goblin in both 1/48 (Special Hobby, see http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=SH4803 and 1/72 (MPM, see http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=MPM72134), both with trolleys etc.

Over to Jeff!!!

Hi Polarbear!

It's a good idea with the bonus! I did something like that with the Buffalo's beer caps question. But Rowan's somewhat obscur birds won't EVER have a chance to see a molding machine! :-)

Jean-Luc

LOL Jean-Luc!

Is the Parnall Peto on the Classic Airframes release listen then?!

All the best

Rowan

True! Sometimes one can't provide referrences regarding a particular subject. But even though the British M-2 Submarine or the Peto are not available, one might want to inform about the possibility to build an aircraft carrying sub. - Wouldn't it be nice to know that the Japaneese M-401 is available in 1/300, and that the super cool Aichi M6A1 Seiran exists in both 1/72 and 1/48?

Just a thought (since this is a modelling forum...)



Now, let's get back to the trivia questions!! Jeff?

PolarBear - I think that is an excellant suggestion. It would be nice if we could come up with some questions and answer that would forward our modeling, as well as point out interesting data about the subject.

In an effort to shake things up a bit, lets go modern, but this question has a twist:

During the Falkland War, how many air-to-air kills were Royal Navy Sea Harriers credited for against how many Sea Harrier losses? And what was unique about the British losses?

For extra credit: Name which aircraft (helicopters included) that the Sea Harriers are credited for killing.

Now you ask why extra credit? Here is the deal: The first person to correctly answer the extra credit as well as the first question(s) within the next 24 hours from the time this is posted, their answer takes presidence.

Jeff

Okay here goes:

Sea Harrier air to air kills 18
Sea Harrier losses 2 (both by AA Fire)

Aircraft types shot down:

Mirage IIIEA
Dagger A
Canberra B.62
Pucara
A4 Skyhawk
C-130
CH-47

How did I do?

Brian

Part A is close. Part B is right. In between accusations by both countries, 2 were lost from AA and another 3 were operational accidents.


Extra credit is also close, but not enough (HInt, no CH-47s were shot down by ANY side, 3 were lost when the British merchant Atlantic (I forget the last part of her name right now as I'm at work) was sunk.

Keep going. If no one else gets closer, its yours.

Jeff

Hmmm, browsing the net seams to give diverting results - One source says "at least 20", one says 20 confirmed and 3 probable kills, another one says 23, another one claims 24, yet a fifth claims "around 28"(!)....

I'll go with 23

At least three sources claim that no less than six Sea Harriers were lost:
XZ450 AAA
XZ452 thought to have collided with 453
XZ453 .................................
XZ456 Roland hit
ZA174 rolled off ship
ZA192 exploded shortly after take off.
See also http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1984/HJA.htm

Did it down any Super Etendard? Or perhaps a P-2 Neptune?
Non of the aforesaid seems to have been lost. I'll try the Beech T-34C, then.



Cheers!

Because I am travelling in about an hour, I will divulge the correct answer:

Yes, the reports are somewhat confusing, so in hindsight I should've picked a better question; my apologies.

According to The Lessons of Modern War: Volume III a rather extensive analysis and Lessons Learned of the Soviet attack of Afghanistan and the Falklands War, they report 25 air-to-air kills (18 with AIM-9L, 5 30mm kills, 1 by AIM-9L and/or cannon, and 1 during evasion).

Both bf443 and Polarbear essentially mentioned that the Sea Harriers lost (my sources list 5 lost) as due to operational accidents or ground fire.

Extra Credit:
1 Puma Helicopter (weapon unknown)
1 Pucara (30mm cannon)
2 Mirage IIIEA (Sidewinder)
8 Daggers (essentially Israeli Mirage V copies) (Sidewinder)
6 Skyhawks (Sidewinder)
1 Skyhawk (performing evasion and flew into ocean)
1 Skyhawk (multiple weapons)
1 Canberra (Sidewinder)
1 C-130 (Sidewinder)
There is also a typo stating 2 30mm kills but not properly listing an aircraft, so I can't determine those.

Bottom line, neither got the exact answer (which is disputed anyway), but Polarbear was the closest with 23, and both got part B, so Polarbear is up next.

Jeff

Cool! The question was great, btw, as it got me reading up on the Falklands war history. Some amazing stories!

Thus sticking to the Falklands, which big ol' birds of the RAF managed - upon completing an awesome and record breaking task - to alter the layout and arrangement of the Port Stanley golf course? :-)

Please provide info regarding the planes, the task and the result!!!

Would you be refering to the Black Buck raids carried out by Vulcan bombers? To get one vulcan to the Falklands involved the support of twelve Victor tankers which had to refuel themselves and the Vulcan, the victors returning individually when each had completed its last transfer of fuel.

The first strike managed to hit the main runway at Stanley airfield with one of its stick of 21 1000lb bombs. The second raid cratered the ground at the end of the runway. Raids three and four were abandoned, raids five and six were anti radar raids with Shrike missiles. Raid seven reverted to bombing Stanley airfield again.

Thinking about the amount of fuel used on each raid surely it would have been cheaper to buy Argentina, the ownership of which would have negated the disputed sovreignty.

Correctomundo!!, as the Argentinians might say!!

I was thinking of the Black Buck 1 operation carried out on April 30 - May 1, 1982, - the longest bombing mission at the time - where only 1 out of 21 bombs hit the intended target (i.e. the runway) and the rest hit the surroundings, including - according to at least two sources - the nearby golf course. The craters still form an integral part of the course!! :-)

Building the mighty birds involved (the Vulcan and the Victor) must be a treat, provided that you get hold of enough paint to cover those huge wings!!!

My fellow countryman Jan Forsgren has made som beautiful and truly inspiring models - pictures and links to articles below!


For the article and more pictures, see http://hsfeatures.com/features04/vulcanjf_1.htm


See http://hsfeatures.com/features04/victorjf_1.htm

Over to you, Martin!

The Six Million Dollar Man flies the Northop M2-F2 lifting body in the opening credits. It was actually stock footage from NASA and not a plane built especially for the show:
http://www.anigrand.com/AA2015m2-f2.html



The Black Buck missions were actually designed as a political message (as opposed to a tactical purpose) to let the Argentinians know that The UK had the ability to strike Buenos Aries. If they can drop several bombs on Port Stanley, they can drop a bomb or nuke on their capital.

The ship on which the Chinooks were lost was the Atlantic Conveyor.

Pete

Ok guys, sticking with the Falklands War, what was "HUMPHREY" and what important act did it perform?

Hi Martin

'Humphrey', was a Westland Wessex helicopter, which served on board HMS Antrim. Humphrey was involved in the attacks on the Argentine submarine Santa Fe and in rescuing British forces stranded in South Georgia.

All the best

Rowan

Yes, you got it Rowan.

Hi there

I'll shock everyone by asking a reasonably modern question! :-)

What is/was TIARA?

All the best

Rowan

Tornado TIARA

F.2 airframe modified as the Tornado Integrated Avionics Research Aircraft to serve as a testbed for advanced fighter technologies including helmet-mounted sights, a holographic HUD, and hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls; 1 converted

Nice one Delbert!

Spot on! Over to you.

All the best

Rowan