Important Dates and People in Aviation History Flashcards
Who was Chuck Yeager and what was he known for?
In the Bell X-1 rocket-powered research aircraft, was the first man to verifiably break the sound barrier
Who is Yuri Gagarin?
Soviet Union’s first man in space, with a single orbit of Earth
Who was the first US Marine Officer and first American to orbit Earth?
John Glenn
Handsomely
Slowly and carefully
Hatch
Doorway
Head
A ship’s toilet, or more generally, any toilet
Who was: Jones, Captain John Paul (1747-1792)?
Acknowledged as the “Father of the American Navy”, Revolutionary War naval hero. As a ship’s captain, he made daring raids along the British coast, including the famous victory of the Bonhomme Richard over HMS Serapis, where Jones is reputed to have said, “I have not yet begun to fight!” when asked to surrender.
Keelhaul
A naval punishment used by some European navies in the 15th and 16th centuries. A rope was rigged from yardarm to yardarm under the bottom of the ship, and the offender was secured to it, sometimes with weights on his legs. He was hoisted up to one yardarm and then dropped suddenly into the sea, hauled underneath the keel or bottom of the ship, and then hauled up to the other yardarm. Because many ships accumulated barnacles and other rough places on the underside of the ship’s hull–and because it took a significant amount of time to haul the offender underneath a larger ship, all underwater–not all recipients survived the procedure.
What is a yardarm on a ship?
the tapering outer end of the yard, the horizontal spar from which the sails are hung
Knot
A unit of speed measuring one nautical mile (1.15 statute miles, 1.85km) per hour.
“Man Overboard”
A command directing designated sailors to man their boat or boats and pick up the man as soon as possible; special conditions may apply for wartime
“Man your boat”
A command for all hands or designated sailors to take their stations in the boats used for abandoning ship or moving outside the ship to another ship, dock, etc.
When is the Marine Corps Birthday?
November 10, 1775
Mayday
Internationally recognized distress call used on voice radio for vessels and people in serious trouble at sea or in the air. Derived from the French m’aidez (“help me”) and officially recognized by an international telecommunications conference in 1948.
“Meatball”
A series of lights that aids carrier pilots when lining up for landing. In the center are amber and red lights with Fresnel lenses. Although the lights are always on, the Fresnel lens makes only one light at a time seem to glow, as the angle at which the pilot looks at the lights changes. If the lights appear above the green horizontal bar, the pilot is too high. If it is below, the pilot is too low, and if the lights are red, the pilot is very low. If the red lights on either side of the amber vertical bar are flashing, it is a wave-off, meaning “don’t land.”
Officer of the Deck (OOD)
Each OOD stands a 4 hour watch and is the officer designated by the commanding officer to be in charge of the ship. The OOD is responsible for the safety and operation of the ship, including navigation, ship handling, communications, routine tests and inspections, reports, supervision of the watch team, and carrying out the Plan of the Day.
“Pri-Fly”
Primary Flight Control–is the control tower for the flight operations on the carrier. Here, the “air boss” controls takeoffs, landings, aircraft in the air near the ship, and the movement of planes on the flight deck, which resembles a well-choreographed ballet
Rudder amidships
Orient the rudder along the long axis of the ship; straight ahead
Running Lights
Required on all boats over 15 ft (5m) by international regulations, these lights are red on the left (port) side, green on the right (starboard) side, and white to the rear. Side running lights are visible from both side and front of the craft
Scuba
an acronym for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus”
Scuttlebutt
Gossip or rumors
“Toe the line”
Once a literal command to gather on deck with one’s toes on a line, no it means to give full obedience to orders or give extra attention to detail
“Turn to”
Begin ship’s work
Uncover
To remove one’s hat or headgear
Up Anchor
Raise the anchor and prepare to get under way
“Very well”
An officer’s response indicating that a report is understood
Wardroom
The officer’s dining room that is also used for meetings and other functions
Watches at sea are divided into:
4 hour intervals
Morning watch
4am to 8am (0400-0800 hours)
Forenoon watch
8am to noon (0800-1200 hours)
Afternoon watch
Noon to 4pm (1200-1600 hours)
Dogwatch
4pm to 8pm (1600-2000 hours) (also divided into first and second dogwatches) (also divided into first and second dogwatches)
Nightwatch
8pm to midnight (2000-2400 hours)
Midwatch
Midnight to 4am (2400-0400 hours)
