Can You Identify This Restored Plane from an Image?

By: Mark Laufgraben
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Identify This Restored Plane from an Image?
Image: Tony Hisgett/Bill Larkins/FlugKerl2 via Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

The fate of old warplanes is not a happy one. If they aren't destroyed in combat, they are often destined to an ignominious fate at a desolate scrapyard, torn to pieces and turned into beer cans, or left to rust, alone and forgotten. But a few rare planes are not put out to pasture in this manner. Some find themselves into the loving hands of collectors who want more than a trophy to admire or a toy to play with: they want to make them fly once more!

In this quiz, you will find dozens of planes that have been resurrected from the brink of utter destruction, and many of them even fly the skies today as surely as they did in their heyday. Traveling air shows are the new home of these old warbirds, and they take their roosts where they may as they travel around the world to the cheers of adoring crowds. Now they are no longer weapons of war but rather living legends, animated artifacts from a history that dwindles but is not let yet lost to us.

How much do you know about these sky warriors? Can you recognize these most famous restored aircraft from yesteryear? Put your knowledge to the test in our quiz, and show us what you've got!

Piccadilly Lilly II
Wiki Commons
What restored plane is this?
Aluminum Overcast
Picadilly Lilly
Swamp Ghost
1931 Laird Super Solution
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Picadilly Lilly is the last active Flying Fortress bomber. As a Flying Fortress, she was used in World War II for strategic bombing, probably over Germany and other Axis targets in Europe. Her rugged design made her capable of surviving enormous structural damage and still return home.

1945 Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair
Wings via Youtube
What restored plane does this picture show?
1945 Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair
1917 Standard J-1
1911 Valkyrie
1944 Consolidated B-24J Liberator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1945 Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair was the first plane to break MPH and was capable of acting both as a fighter and a bomber. This flexibility, coupled with its raw power, gave it a ​huge advantage in combat with the Japanese Zero, whose pilots were untrained by this time in the war.

1911 Curtiss Pusher Model D
bryboru1964 via Wiki Commons
Can you identify this restored plane?
1932 DGA-5 “IKE”
1954 Polikarpov PO-2
1931 Gee Bee Y Sportster
1911 Curtiss Pusher Model D
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1911 Curtiss Pusher Model D was a simple wooden plane from the early days of flight that could be rapidly assembled or disassembled for easy transportation. Rudder control was through a steering wheel of sorts, and handling it was tricky at best!

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1913 Benoist XIV
Valder137 via Wiki Commons
What restored plane is pictured here?
1913 Benoist XIV
Swamp Ghost
1934 Cierva C.30-A Autogiro
Hawker Hurricane PZ865
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1913 Benoist XIV was the plane used to announce the opening of the first ever airline! It promised to be a route between St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida and was opened, you guessed it, in 19...14. Well look, it took a while to make the plane, OK?

1937 Bücker Jungmeister
easyrider964 via Youtube
What restored plane do you see here?
1943 Grumman Wildcat
1945 Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair
1931 Curtiss-Wright Junior
1937 Bücker Jungmeister
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1937 Bücker Jungmeister was a dual wing propeller-driven plane made for spectacular feats of acrobatics. It was even used in the 1936 Olympics​ to engage in incredible maneuvers while inside the stadium itself!

Which restored aircraft is this?
Jesper Rådegård via Youtube
Which restored aircraft is this?
1931 Laird Super Solution
1954 Polikarpov PO-2
1945 Supermarine Spitfire Mk 16
1918 Thomas Morse Scout
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1945 Supermarine Spitfire Mk 16 was one of the final Spitfire models, brought into being near the end of the war. It was actually constructed in the U.S.​ and was armed with a cannon and machine guns.

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1918 Morane A-I
peterp696 via Youtube
Can you identify this restored plane?
1918 Morane A-I
1944 Short Sunderland
Douglas DC-7B N836D
1944 North American AT-6
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1918 Morane A-I was introduced at the end of the Great War, and was sold to the nascent U.S. Army Air Service to fly against the Germans. Its parasol wing design proved a significant improvement over previous biplanes.

Glacier Girl
Greg Goebel via Wiki Commons
Do you know which plane this is?
1937 Fieseler Fi-156 Storch
1944 Short Sunderland
1929 Travel Air 4000
Glacier Girl
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Glacier Girl was a P-38 Lightning, a dual seated fighter from World War II. This one, in particular,​ was found in a literal glacier in Greenland, and has been restored to usability for modern air fans to enjoy!

Shoo Shoo Baby
Wiki Commons
Which restored plane is in this picture?
1931 Stinson Tri-Motor
Shoo Shoo Baby
Thunderbird
1927 Spirit of St. Louis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Shoo Shoo Baby was a Flying Fortress that was also known as the Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby- the third Shoo added when she received a new pilot. It flew 24 combat missions before crash landing in Sweden​ and has been beautifully restored.

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1945 Piper L-4 Grasshopper
EAA via Youtube
Which restored aircraft is this?
Nieuport Aviette 1921
Lippisch 1929 Man-Powered Ornithopter
1945 Piper L-4 Grasshopper
Farman Aviette HPA
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1945 Piper L-4 Grasshopper was actually a military version of a previous aircraft, the Piper Cub. It was used for scouting, transporting people to and from the front, mail delivery- mostly logistical tasks.

1931 Gee Bee Y Sportster
Valder137 via Wiki Commons
Which plane do you see here?
1931 Gee Bee Y Sportster
Chyeranovskii BICh-18
Boeing 247
Short S.26
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1931 Gee Bee Y Sportster had seats for two pilots and a removable windshield, both exciting innovations in 1931. It was also the plane in which Florence Klingensmith won the women's free for all in Chicago in 1933!

1943 Grumman Wildcat
neotokeo2001 vis Youtube
Which restored aircraft is in this photo?
Avro Lancastrian
Boeing B-47 Stratojet
1943 Grumman Wildcat
Boeing C-127
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1943 Grumman Wildcat was a fighter plane that had its particular date with destiny at the Battle of Midway, wherein they were used in the fight that would prove to be the turning point in the Pacific War. It was notable for its surprising ability to absorb punishment.

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1945 Nord Stampe
Philippe Beinaerts via Youtube
Which restored aircraft do you see here?
Grumman A-6 Intruder
Douglas F3D Skyknight
1945 Nord Stampe
Vought F4U Corsair
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1945 Nord Stampe was a wooden training aircraft used by the Allies in World War II. It also had an unusual role in Hollywood- it was frequently altered in appearance to look like a Great War-era fighter for movies.

1931 Gee Bee Z
El Grafo via Wiki Commons
Which aircraft is pictured here?
1931 Gee Bee Z
Vought F7U Cutlass
Grumman F9F Panther
North American FJ-2/-3 Fury
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1931 Gee Bee Z was a Depression-Era airplane whose literal purpose was to win contests so as to recoup its production costs. Incredible though it seems, it went on to do just that, winning multiple races in the 1930s.

1918 Fokker D-VIII
James Emery via Wiki Commons
Which plane is this?
1940 Martin B-26 Marauder
1909 Herring-Curtiss Pusher
1918 Fokker D-VIII
1929 Travel Air 4000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1918 Fokker D-VIII was quite an unusual sight for its German pilots- Fokker had gone from designing tri-wing planes back to his original mono-wing concept. The wings not being braced were a cause for concern, but in practice, he had figured out a way to prevent them from crumbling​ under stress without bracing.

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Avro Vulcan XH558, aka Spirit of Great Britain
Gregdetours via Wiki Commons
Which airplane is pictured?
1944 Fieseler V-1 Buzz Bomb
Avro Vulcan XH558, aka Spirit of Great Britain
1945 Grumman Duck
A6M Zero
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Avro Vulcan XH558, aka Spirit of Great Britain, is a Cold War-era strategic bomber, specifically for the use of nuclear weaponry. It has a distinct delta-shaped wing pattern, and is currently in taxiable condition, although there have been difficulties with funding for its upkeep.

1909 Herring-Curtiss Pusher
Valder137 via Wiki Commons
Can you identify this plane?
1909 Herring-Curtiss Pusher
Sopwith Camel
Fokker D.VII
S.E.5a
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1909 Herring-Curtiss Pusher was one of the first planes to make use of an aileron, allowing for more precise control of a plane's rolling capabilities. Like many such planes, the pilot is on a seat at the front of the craft, completely exposed to the elements. Bring a scarf, but keep it away from the propeller!

1927 Spirit of St. Louis
Ad Meskens via Wiki Commons
Have you seen this plane? Which is it?
Curtiss Falcon
Breguet 19
1927 Spirit of St. Louis
Fokker Trimotor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1927 Spirit of St. Louis was one of the most famous planes in history, flying across the Atlantic Ocean in 33 hours. It was a custom craft designed to Charles Lindbergh's specifications, built for a single purpose: to fly between New York and Paris, and it accomplished this with great fanfare!

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1931 Stinson Tri-Motor
FlugKerl2 via Wiki Commons
Mark the correct plane below!
Ki-43 Oscar
Me 262 Schwalbe jet
SB2C Helldiver
1931 Stinson Tri-Motor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1931 Stinson Tri-Motor was an extraordinary machine for its age, having room for no fewer than 10 passengers, baggage, and even toilet facilities. A two-way radio allowed the pilot to stay in contact with aid on the ground, and the whole thing was crafted by a combination of steel, wood, and (yes!) fabric.

1943 North American B-25 J Mitchell
Kevin Slay via Youtube
Which restored plane do you see?
1931 Curtiss-Wright Junior
1934 Cierva C.30-A Autogiro
1943 North American B-25 J Mitchell
1918 Thomas Morse Scout
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1943 North American B-25 J Mitchell, named after the American Air Pioneer, was a twin-engine bomber deployed in the Pacific during World War II. It was used​ as a strafing weapon for battlefield support and supply interdiction.

Hawker Hurricane PZ865
Wiki Commons
Identify this restored plane!
Hawker Hurricane PZ865
Potez SEA VII
Boeing 307
Heinkel He 162
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Hawker Hurricane PZ865 is nicknamed "The Last of the Many," after the Hurricanes that fought in the Battle of Britain. Those aircraft fought to maintain air control over Britain, and if they had failed, Germany would have been able to launch a seaborne invasion.

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1929 Curtiss Robin
Alan Wilson via Wiki Commons
Which restored plane is this?
Bristol Ten-seater
Pietenpol Sky Scout
Avro Avian
1929 Curtiss Robin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1929 Curtiss Robin was a high-winged monoplane. It seated three people squeezed together around the pilot. It was used by the Army Air Corps as a test vessel for radio-controlled, unmanned flight!

FIFI
Cory W. Watts via Wiki Commons
Which restored plane is pictured here?
Douglas DC-2
Sukhoi Su-15
FIFI
Hawker Tempest
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

FIFI is one of the few flying B-29 Superfortress. It recently suffered from a bout of engine trouble, but a multi-million dollar overhaul has her flying yet again in air shows across the United States.

Texas Raiders
Patrick Blackard via Youtube
Do you recognize this restored plane?
Texas Raiders
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
Grumman FF
Sukhoi Su-2
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Texas Raiders is the oddly pluralistic name of a B-17 Flying Fortress, currently flown and maintained by a group of the same name. It was originally built in 1944​ but has flown as part of the airshow circuit since 2010.

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Aluminum Overcast
Cory W. Watts via Wiki Commons
Do you know which restored plane is in this picture?
Junkers Ju 87
Lockheed Hudson
Sukhoi Su-2
Aluminum Overcast
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Aluminum Overcast is a B-17 Flying Fortress. It never saw combat, but nonetheless has required extensive refurbishing. It has flown an astonishing one million air miles​ and continues to tour as part of air shows.

Avro Lancaster PA474
NMOS332 via Wiki Commons
Which restored plane is in this photograph?
Mitsubishi A5M
Avro Lancaster PA474
Dornier Do 217
Macchi M.14
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Avro Lancaster PA474 is a dual engined Lancaster bomber designed for warfare in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Although maintained as part of a Battle of Britain exhibit, this is something of a misnomer as the Lancaster did not play a material role defending Britain against the Luftwaffe, being a bomber.

1937 Focke-Wulf Fw-44 Stieglitz
Kai A. Hortmann via Youtube
What restored plane is next to this box?
Gloster Meteor
Hawker Typhoon
1937 Focke-Wulf Fw-44 Stieglitz
Arado Ar 76
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1937 Focke-Wulf Fw-44 Stieglitz was built for training and sport flying purposes. "Stieglitz" means Goldfinch. It actually had two seats mounted in tandem, and both were fully equipped with controls for flying the plane, giving it a measure of redundancy for training and safety purposes.

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B-17 Bomber _Sentimental Journey
Ian Cossor via Youtube
Which restored plane do you see here?
Sentimental Journey
Douglas A-26 Invader
Martin B-26 Marauder
Tupolev Tu-2
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Sentimental Journey is a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber that tours the country as part of air shows. Its distinctive nose art features Betty Grable, a famous "pinup girl" of the WWII era. The plane was shown in the Spielberg film, "1941."

1934 Pitcairn Autogiro PA-18
Michael Pereckas via Wiki Commons
Can you identify this plane?
Douglas XA-2
Focke-Wulf Fw 206
1934 Pitcairn Autogiro PA-18
Farman F.62
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1934 Pitcairn Autogiro PA-18 is an example of the Autogiro school of flying craft. While it looks like a helicopter, the critical difference between them is that the rotor on the Autogiro is unpowered, and based on the free flow of air. It is therefore somewhat similar to a glider in its mechanism.

1934 Brown B-2 “Miss Los Angeles”
Valder137 via Wiki Commons
Which plane is this?
Fairchild 24
Ryan Foursome
1934 Brown B-2 “Miss Los Angeles”
Taylorcraft B
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

1934 Brown B-2 “Miss Los Angeles" is a restored racer plane from the '30s. Extremely streamlined with unique landing flaps, Miss Los Angeles won a prominent race and came in second in another, and is just as beautiful now as she was in her heyday.

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Thunderbird
Jerry Gunner via Wiki Commons
Which plane do you see in this picture?
Thunderbird
Tairov OKO-7
SAAB 21
Piper PT-1
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thunderbird was a Flying Fortress from the 303rd bombing group. Flying dozens of missions during the war, she was crewed by an extraordinary 538 different airmen, not a single one of which suffered an injury while aboard. Incredible!

1944 Bachem Natter Viper
Wiki Commons
Which restored plane is here?
CAC Woomera
Akutan Zero
Arado E.381
1944 Bachem Natter Viper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

1944 Bachem Natter Viper was an experimental rocket-powered interceptor, designed to be fired at Allied Bombers in WWII. The idea is that the pilot would simply fire rockets as the autopilot-guided weapon closed on the target, then he would ditch using a parachute, ready to ride again.

1936 Bücker Jungmann
TSRL via Wiki Commons
Which plane is shown in this image?
1936 Bücker Jungmann
Avro Tutor
North American NA-16
Stampe SV.4
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1936 Bücker Jungmann is a simple German training aircraft, with two seats for the operator and instructor, respectively. It is notable for being the last biplane produced in Germany.

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Swamp Ghost
Pacific Aviation Museum via Wiki Commons
Which restored plane do you see here?
Boeing 727
Werewolf
Swamp Ghost
Grim Vengeance
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Swamp Ghost is a B-17 that is actually named after an adventure it and its crew went through- it was ditched in New Guinea in WWII, and the crew had to make its way across a treacherous swamp to get to safety. All of the crew survived, and this remarkable vessel is with us today!

Sally B
Tony Hisgett via Wiki Commons
Which restored plane is this?
Rachel Z
Sally B
Betty G
Last Sunset
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Sally B is one of only three B-17s to remain in the United Kingdom today. It was activated too late to see actual combat in WWII but has been in several films about the war, including appearing briefly as Memphis Belle in the film of the same name.

worry bird P51
Dave Gorman via Youtube
Which renewed aircraft is shown in this picture?
Firecracker!
Fortune Favors
Dead Reckoning
Worry Bird
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Worry Bird is a Mustang Fighter-Bomber that saw service in both WWII and the Korean War. They were escorts that were capable of bombing, and they reaped a formidable toll of axis aircraft in World War II- 4,950 to be precise.

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1938 Grumman F3F-2
Bill Larkins via Wiki Commons
Which plane is this?
Gloster Gladiator
1938 Grumman F3F-2
Hawker Hurricane
Heinkel He 51
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1938 Grumman F3F-2 is a tubby little interwar fighter for the United States Navy, and the final biplane to be used by the U.S. Military. Although its service history is humble, it would eventually be redeveloped into the Wildcat, which was an important part of American air power in WWII.

1937 Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
Xrm150 via Youtube
Which old aircraft was resurrected in this photo?
1937 Fieseler Fi-156 Storch
Henschel Hs 123
Taylorcraft Auster
Westland Wapiti
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1937 Fieseler Fi-156 Storch is a small liaison aircraft used by the Axis in WWII. It is notable in that it is one of the examples of technology traded to the Soviets as part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. You can tell the Germans had no intention of sharing any powerful technology!

1932 Gee Bee R-2
peterp696 via Youtube
Which plane do you see pictured here?
Fairchild 24
Pietenpol Sky Scout
1932 Gee Bee R-2
Slingsby T.6 Kirby Kite
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1932 Gee Bee R-2 is the successor to the Gee Bee model Z​ and is a racing aircraft like its forebear. It was regarded as a nimble and powerful craft, but in practice, its agility suffered in high winds, and accidents owing to this cost the life of one of her famous pilots, Russell Boardman.

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You Got:
/39
Tony Hisgett/Bill Larkins/FlugKerl2 via Wiki Commons