Transportation and Technology Firsts Quiz

Question: Which French engineer designed and built the first helicopter to perform a crewed-free flight?

Answer: Paul Cornu designed and built the first helicopter to perform a crewed-free flight. Though historically important, his design proved impractical and soon was abandoned.

Question: Which Soviet cosmonaut was the first woman to travel into space?

Answer: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to travel into space. On June 16, 1963, she was launched in the spacecraft Vostok 6, which completed 48 orbits in 71 hours.

Question: What was the first supersonic passenger-carrying commercial airplane, which made its first transatlantic crossing on September 26, 1973, and entered regular service in 1976?

Answer: The first supersonic passenger-carrying commercial airplane, the Concorde made its first transatlantic crossing on September 26, 1973, and entered regular service in 1976.

Question: Who was the first American woman to fly an aircraft solo?

Answer: Blanche Scott was the first American woman to fly an aircraft solo, although her flight is not regarded as official.

Question: Where in the United States was the first steel arch bridge constructed, which officially opened to traffic on July 4, 1874?

Answer: The first steel arch bridge, located in St. Louis, Missouri, was officially opened to traffic on July 4, 1874.

Question: Which inventor developed the pneumatic (air-filled) rubber tire for bicycles?

Answer: John Boyd Dunlop developed the pneumatic (air-filled) rubber tire for bicycles.

Question: Who invented the first automobile that was actually built and operated in the United States?

Answer: Charles E. and J. Frank Duryea were the inventors of one of the first automobiles and the first that was actually built and operated in the United States. The car made a successful run in the streets of Springfield, Massachusetts, on September 22, 1893.

Question: Which rigid airship, powered by two 16-horsepower engines with speeds approaching 20 miles (32 km) per hour, made its initial trial flight in Germany on July 2, 1900?

Answer: Powered by two 16-horsepower engines with speeds approaching 20 miles (32 km) per hour, the Zeppelin made its initial trial flight in Germany on July 2, 1900.

Question: What was the Hercules, an eight-engine wooden flying boat designed by Howard Hughes, popularly known as?

Answer: During World War II Howard Hughes designed the Hercules, an eight-engine wooden flying boat intended to carry 750 passengers that was popularly known as the Spruce Goose.

Question: Which American pilot became the first woman to break the sound barrier in 1953 while flying the F-86 Sabre?

Answer: Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier on May 18, 1953, while flying the F-86 Sabre.

Question: Where was the first practical subway line in the United States, constructed between 1895 and 1897?

Answer: In the United States the first practical subway line was constructed in Boston, Massachusetts, between 1895 and 1897. It was 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and at first used trolley streetcars, or tramcars.

Question: Who was the first female pilot to fly across the English Channel?

Answer: Harriet Quimby, on April 16, 1912, became the first female pilot to fly across the English Channel, guiding her French Blériot monoplane from Dover, England, through heavy overcast to Hardelot, France.

Question: On June 12, 1979, which became the first human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel?

Answer: On June 12, 1979, the Gossamer Albatross became the first human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel.

Question: On June 18, 1983, who became the first American woman astronaut to visit space?

Answer: On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman astronaut to visit space, launching aboard the space shuttle Challenger.