by Hush Kit -

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

19,000 people fit into the new Barclays Center to see Jay-Z perform. This blog was viewed about 96,000 times in 2012. If it were a concert at the Barclays Center, it would take about 5 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

by Hush Kit -

Expert Level Aviation Quiz: Hush-Kwiz Mk II

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Try this delightful, challenging aviation quiz! Answers at bottom of page.

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(The results for the first Hush-Kit quiz will be revealed this week, if you haven’t entered NOW is your chance.)

1. In what year was the first mail delivered by air?

2. What is Harrison Ford’s favourite aircraft?

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3. How many kills were scored by the most successful fighter pilot to wear
spectacles?

4. What aircraft was nicknamed ‘The Whistling Shithouse”?

5. What was the flyaway cost of an RF-4C Phantom in 1965?

6. The last confirmed kill by a biplane occurred in what year? What were the
nationalities of the aircraft involved?

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7. Which US-built aircraft scored the most kills in the Second World War?

8. Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding was not:
a) A vegetarian?
b) A spiritualist?
c) A single parent?
d) A teetotaller?

9. What links the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the Hawker Hurricane and the Fairey
Swordfish floatplane?

10. Which of the following names were considered by NATO for the Tupolev Tu-22 before it decided on ‘Blinder’?

a) Bulldog
b) Beauty
c) Bastard
d) Brickbat

11. Identify this aircraft Image

 

ANSWERS

1. The first air mail was delivered in 1785 form Dover to Calais in a balloon manned by John Jeffries and Jean Pierre Blanchard. Only one letter out of a sack. The rest got chucked over the side along with the brave crew’s clothes. Nonetheless it counts.
2. Harrison Ford‘s favourite aircraft is the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Beaver. Obviously.
3. Otto Kissenberth scored 20 kills in glasses. Interestingly his last kill was scored in a captured Sopwith Camel. He is one of three known spectacle-wearing aces, the others being Walter Kykpe and Kurt Wintgens. 
4. Whistling Shithouse was the Supermarine Stranraer so named for the weird noise that the on-board toilet made in flight.
5. The flyaway cost of an RF-4C Phantom II in 1965 was 2.3 million dollars which equates to approximately 17 million today apparently. This looks like pretty good value compared to, say, the F-22. Where is the RF-22 Photo-Raptor anyway?
6. 1944. An Insurgent Slovak Avia B-534 shot down a Hungarian Junkers Ju 52.
7. Bell P-39 Airacobra
8. As you know, Dowding was not a teetotaller.
9. All these aircraft have made successful un-arrested carrier landings. A whole squadron in the case of the Hurricane.
10. NATO considered both ‘Beauty’ and ‘Bastard’ for the Tu-22. ‘Beaut’y was considered too praiseworthy for an ‘enemy’ aircraft. Hilariously ‘Bastard’ was considered not to convey enough respect. Whereas ‘Blinder’ is just fine because putting out someone’s eyes is obviously miles better than being an illegitimate child, or quite good-looking.
11. The IAe 24 Calquin, though I suspect that’s too easy.

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Have a look at 10 Best fighters of World War II , top WVR and BVR fighters of today, an interview with a Super Hornet pilot and a Pacifist’s Guide to Warplanes. Was the Spitfire overrated? Want something more bizarre? The Top Ten fictional aircraft is a fascinating read, as is The Strange Story and The Planet Satellite. The Fashion Versus Aircraft Camo is also a real cracker. Those interested in the Cold Way should read A pilot’s guide to flying and fighting in the Lightning. Those feeling less belligerent may enjoy A pilot’s farewell to the Airbus A340. Looking for something more humourous? Have a look at this F-35 satire and ‘Werner Herzog’s Guide to pusher bi-planes. In the mood for something more offensive? Try the NSFW 10 best looking American airplanes, or the same but for Canadians. 

 

by Hush Kit -

Hush-Kit Top Ten: The 10 best-looking Latin-American aeroplanes

super tucano

Juan Manuel Baiutti asked a panel of Latin-American aviation enthusiasts to choose the ten best-looking aeroplanes from the region of romance; the results were surprising indeed, with many obvious choices ignored in favour of some rather more exotic beasts. I hope you enjoy this fine selection of ten wonderful aeroplanes.

10. Embraer/FMA CBA 123 Vector

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9. IA 50 Guaraní II

aguarani-9

8. FMA I.Ae. 27 Pulqui I

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7. Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano

super-tucano

6. DINFIA IA-35 Huanquero

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5. Embraer Phenom 300

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4. I.Ae. 30 Ñamcú

E8120AF16

3. FMA IA-63 Pampa

IA 63 Pampa jet trainer

2. I.Ae. 33 Pulqui II

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1. FMA IA-58 Pucará

pucara2

If you enjoyed this, have  a look at the top ten British, French, Swedish, Australian, Japanese, Soviet and German aeroplanes. Wanting Something a little more exotic- try the top ten fictional aircraft.

Follow my vapour trail on Twitter: @Hush_kit

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