General Knowledge Quiz

[theageofthetra]

The flags weren't removed, though may have been blown over by the LM's departing blast. The very least that would have happened is that the intense UV would have removed all colour so you wouldn't see the Stars & Stripes- the moon may have looked like it was surrendering! The theory of them being dust is closest so it is their floor.

 

[Springs Branch]

Couple of other bits of lunar flag trivia .....

• The first Stars & Stripes planted on the Moon by Apollo 11 was inadvertently placed too close to the Lunar Module. This meant the flag was blown over by the blast from take-off - Aldrin apparently saw this happened. Subsequent missions placed their US flags further away, which probably meant these survived the LM take-off intact.
  [*]Despite what might be expected, NASA did not have a small division of scientists working to develop an extremely expensive "space flag". These were standard 1960s-era nylon versions of Old Glory, bought from a Government Supplies catalog(ue) for around $5.50. ($5.50 for a small nylon flag actually sounds a bit steep for 1960s/70s, but we are talking US Government procurement here).
  
  

** Open Floor **

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

How did HMS Ark Royal (the old one) once cause some USAF fighter planes to scramble for an intercept?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Okay, nobody got it within 24 hours so there is a clue coming

Clue:- The USAF thought it was the start of what?

 

[Phil.]

Would you be referring to the situation in Guatamala/Belize when two of 809's finest were intercepted by units of the Florida Air National Guard?
If so this isn't general knowledge, it's specialised "Ï'm a cleverer bloke than you are" knowledge.
"Phoenix Squadron" refers.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Would you be referring to the situation in Guatamala/Belize when two of 809's finest were intercepted by units of the Florida Air National Guard?
If so this isn't general knowledge, it's specialised "Ï'm a cleverer bloke than you are" knowledge.
"Phoenix Squadron" refers.

Was it the ANG? Ah, I was always under the impression it was the Air Force that did the interception, however I'll judge you as being correct... And there was nothing finer flown off Ark's decks then a Banana Jet!

Your flight deck, Sir

 

[DaleCooper]

This thread ha been dormant for 3 days so here's a question to keep it going:

What links Private Eye, HMS Ark Royal and Sir John Gielgud?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

This thread ha been dormant for 3 days so here's a question to keep it going:

What links Private Eye, HMS Ark Royal and Sir John Gielgud?

All members of this forum?

 

[DaleCooper]

All members of this forum?

No that's not it...unless you can demonstrate that those are the names of members who joined before I set the question, so that means you can't get your mum and dad to sign up.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

No that's not it...unless you can demonstrate that those are the names of members who joined before I set the question, so that means you can't get your mum and dad to sign up.

*waves hand*

HMS Ark Royal at your service...

 

[Phil.]

This thread ha been dormant for 3 days so here's a question to keep it going:

What links Private Eye, HMS Ark Royal and Sir John Gielgud?

Peter Cook? - although that's a who rather than a what.

 

[DaleCooper]

Peter Cook? - although that's a who rather than a what.

You've unravelled a part of it now you need to establish his connection to the other two, that connection being a "what".

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Is it a piano?

 

[DaleCooper]

Is it a piano?

No but it is closely associated with a piano, to me and others of a certain age anyway.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

No but it is closely associated with a piano, to me and others of a certain age anyway.

Drat - there goes my idea of it being the piano being flung off the deck of me

 

[theageofthetra]

Ok off topic-but bumped into a former RN officer at Moseley rugby club a few years ago who also mentioned about the mess piano launching story. Is it true it happens quite regularly in the senior service and what is the tradition? Back to the question- is it to do with Pete & Duds 'Teach me Beethovens 5th by Tuesday' sketch?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Ok off topic-but bumped into a former RN officer at Moseley rugby club a few years ago who also mentioned about the mess piano launching story. Is it true it happens quite regularly in the senior service and what is the tradition? Back to the question- is it to do with Pete & Duds 'Teach me Beethovens 5th by Tuesday' sketch?

Yeah, thats true... Used to be very much an Ark tradition when coming home after a commision - got a great picture of the last time - flagged off by the Captain himself. Some of the other carriers used to do it, but not as much as Ark who was a law unto itself

 

[DaleCooper]

Ok off topic-but bumped into a former RN officer at Moseley rugby club a few years ago who also mentioned about the mess piano launching story. Is it true it happens quite regularly in the senior service and what is the tradition? Back to the question- is it to do with Pete & Duds 'Teach me Beethovens 5th by Tuesday' sketch?

Almost there, you've got Peter Cook (financial support for Private Eye), Dudley Moore (Starred in ""Arthur" with John Gielgud) but how does HMS Ark Royal come into it?.

 

[ComUtoR]

Did they perform on it at some point ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5cD_oTV2wI YUP

 

[theageofthetra]

They launched a piano off Ark Royal in an episode of Not only but Also?

 

[DaleCooper]

Did they perform on it at some point ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5cD_oTV2wI YUP

You've got it, although I was thinking of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9vqPgxO7Mg

It appears I owe an apology to HMS Ark Royal , I misled him slightly as I had forgotten about the piano being launched, still it's only a game.

 

[ComUtoR]

What links.

HMS Ark Royal. To a Merlin, Hawk, and a Kestrel.

 

[DaleCooper]

What links.

HMS Ark Royal. To a Merlin, Hawk, and a Kestrel.

Anything to do with Merlin engined Seafire, Hawker Sea Hawk and Sea Harrier (developed from Hawker Kestrel) all having flown from HMS Ark Royal?

 

[ComUtoR]

So close you could roll right over it.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

What links. HMS Ark Royal. To a Merlin, Hawk, and a Kestrel.

Well, they're all aircraft engines made by Rolls Royce; would they have been in aircraft flown off any of the carriers named HMS Ark Royal at one time or another?

 

[deltic1989]

Thinking pure;y in terms of aircraft names. The Augusta-Westland AW-101 Helicopter, is referred to as the Merlin. The prototype STOVL aircraft was the Hawker Siddley Kestral. The Hawk that I would tend to think of would be the British Aerospace Hawk, but the British ones to the best of my knowledge are not fitted with arrester gear, only the American Licence built T-45 Goshawk. Unless the Hawk refers to the Hawker Sea Hawk.

In any event my submission would be that they are all aircraft that have graced the deck of one Ark or another at some point.

 

[ComUtoR]

Yes they all are Rolls Royce engines. How does that link The Ark Royal ?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Yes they all are Rolls Royce engines. How does that link The Ark Royal ?

As Dale and I have said, the engines were all fitted to planes that flew off HMS Ark Royal?

 

[ComUtoR]

As Dale and I have said, the engines were all fitted to planes that flew off HMS Ark Royal?

This is more below deck and more to do with the engine than the planes. The link is They are all Rolls engines. not the deck or the plane.

 

[DaleCooper]

Have all the engines been used for driving generators, pumps or similar on Ark Royals? (Should that be Arks Royal?)

 

[ComUtoR]

Dale that is very very close. Suffice to say I wonder what drives the Ark....