Aircraft Quiz #76

DougRobertson

(Perhaps my craziest true quiz yet?).

Name the production aircraft that was built under multiple different model numbers and in at least 32 variants. Hint-one version was perhaps the very first known aircraft to be tested by a government agency for bird-proofing by firing dead chickens at its windshield-with live monkeys strapped in the cockpit seats and photographed during testing. (I am NOT putting you on!)

1. Manufacturer?

2. Model number/s?

3. Date of first flight?

SunvisorFlyer

Everyone has a different version of the chicken cannon joke, but I think there's only one aircraft that matches your question:

1. General Dynamics

2. Aardvark F-111 A, B, C, D, E, F, K, G, A/F, Raven, etc.

3. December 21, 1964.

This was due to the Vietnam War right? Low-altitude flying increased bird strikes against the jets, leading to damage, injuries, and fatalities?

The account I read said that the first U.S.A.F. chicken gun was constructed out of an 8 inch naval cannon and some scrap hardware lying around the AEDC.

DougRobertson

Nice try, SunvisorFlyer.

But not the first; I am thinking of a much, much earlier aircraft.

Please keep trying.

SunvisorFlyer

Hmm... much, much earlier?

I've also read some claims about de-Havilland being the first to use the test, so I might check through their history to see if the answer lies therein.

DougRobertson

The extensive series of aircraft-one specific model of the quiz question-were built under specific ATCs, so now you know the exact quiz aircraft were USA-certificated aircraft. I quote- "the first -------- to be tested for bird-proof windshield by firing dead chickens at it". (The government test agency was named, and will be eventually revealed). And that test was many, many years ago. No further hints/clues.

Because the "joke factor", Frozen vs Thawed chickens surrounding the general topic prevails on the Web, this quiz may be extra difficult to research. Please keep trying.

SunvisorFlyer

I think it involves- Westinghouse, 1944. But I can't find the aircraft in question.

DougRobertson

Please keep trying, the year 1944 is fairly close. And think a civil agency, not a private company.

DougRobertson

With over 500 views and no right answers-so, here are the answers.

1. Beech Aircraft Corp.

2. Beech model D-18-CT "Feeder Twin" twin engine airliner.

3. 1947.

"As tested by the CAA the D-18-CT was the first airliner to be tested for bird-proof windshield by firing dead chickens at it."

Of interest, Beech built over 9,000 of the twin-engine 18 series including all military versions over a continuous 30 year period. I thank all who pondered this quiz..