Cradle of Aviation Aerospace Quest

Use this Quest as a guide around the Cradle of Aviation Museum to learn about Long Island’s amazing role in the history of flight. Americans learned to fly on Long Island. Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight to Paris began here. Generations of Long Islanders working side by side built thousands of flying machines to win America’s wars and leave our footprints on the Moon. The Cradle of Aviation Museum is dedicated to teaching you Long Island’s amazing history. Many of the docents in the museum galleries were involved in significant ways with the aircraft in our collection. Please ask their help in answering the questions below, especially those marked with **.
Dream of Wings Gallery: 1783 – 1903
1	In what year and in what country did the first manned hot air balloon flight occur? Click Here for Information.
2	Which famous “inventor / communicator” built a tetrahedral kite around 1900? (Hint: He invented something that we use every day.) Click Here For Information.
3	How was the tetrahedron made?
4	Who designed, built and flew the first successful glider to carry a person in the 1890’s? Click Here For Information.
5	Who was the first person to fly in an engine powered aircraft?
6	Which lighter – hot air or cool air?
Aerodynamics Gallery
1	What is the name of the first unmanned aircraft?
2	What three basic things does an airplane need to fly?
Hempstead Plains: 1908 – 1914
1	Who was the first licensed female pilot in the US?
2	Where was the first American aviation school started?
3	What airfields were located in the area of the Cradle of Aviation Museum?
4	Who was Glenn Curtiss? **
5	What was the first aircraft to fly over Long Island?
6	a. Who was Calbraith Perry Rodgers? b. What did the Vin Fiz plane do? c. How many times did Rodgers crash during his attempt to fly from the East to the West coast?	a. b. c.
7	What is the name of one of the oldest, most successful pioneer airplanes in the world built in 1909? How fast could it fly?
8	List 3 airfields that were located on Long Island in 1911.	a. b. c.
The Great War: 1914 – 1918
1	What was the primary flight trainer in Curtiss Field in World War I?
2	What was the Breese Penguin used for? **
3	How was Mitchell Field named? ? **
The Golden Age: 1919 – 1939
1	What is the benefit of retracting the landing gear? **
2	What is the unusual capability of the Grumman G-21 Goose?
3	Where did Charles Lindbergh take off from as he headed to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis on May 20, 1927? **
World War II: 1939 – 1945
1	What type of plane was President George W. Bush’s father shot down in during World War II? **
2	What percent of American fighter planes were built on Long Island during World War II?
3	What was the most produced American fighter plane in history?
4	During World War II, why did the Navy and Marine Corps planes on aircraft carriers have folding wings? **
5	How did the Grumman Avenger get its name? **
6	Look for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. What is the nickname printed on the plane?

The Jet Age: 1946 - 1981
1	What was the largest single seat, single engine jet fighter in the US?
2	What family of animals was used by Grumman as names for their fighter aircraft?
3	What weather phenomenon was used by Republic as names for their fighter planes?
4	Why does the Tomcat have wings that can change their sweep angles? **
5	Look up at the yellow flying machine called the Gyrodyne hanging from the ceiling. What is it?
Contemporary Aviation Gallery: 1982 – Present
1	What airline sponsored the first American commercial jet flight from NY to Paris? **
2	How many arrivals and departures do air traffic controllers handle at NY area airports?
3	How many aerospace manufacturers are still on Long Island?
Long Island to the Moon: 1969 – Present
1	What vehicle launched all the astronauts to the moon? **
2	What part of the Saturn V brought the astronauts back to Earth?
3	What part of the Saturn V rocket landed on the Moon?
4	Where were the lunar modules built? **
5	How many workers on Long Island were involved with building the lunar module? **
6	How far did the Apollo astronauts travel to get to the moon? **
7	Who was the first astronaut to walk on the Moon?
8	Who was the last astronaut to walk on the Moon? **
9	How much did the astronaut’s space suit weigh on Earth? ** Why did the spacesuit only weight 30 lbs. on the Moon?
10	How many missions landed on the Moon?
11	What material was used as the foundation for a blanket to protect the lunar module from extreme heat and cold on the Moon?
12	Ho many Long Islanders have been in space?
13	Who was the Father of Rocketry?
14	The first Americans in space were called Mercury astronauts. Look for the picture of the seven astronauts in their space suits. Name one of them.
15	What was the Lunar Module used for?
16	Look for the section called Living in Space. How did the astronauts sleep while in space?