More 20th-century inventions: the hovercraft and Concorde
Study note
More British inventions came in the second half of the 20th century. Sir Christopher Cockerell, a British inventor, invented the hovercraft in the 1950s, so pair the hovercraft with Cockerell. A famous joint project was Concorde, the world's only supersonic passenger aircraft, which was developed by Britain and France together and first flew in 1969.
Several other notable inventions were developed in the UK. The cash-dispensing machine, the ATM that lets people withdraw money, was developed here. So too was the Harrier jump jet, an aircraft able to take off vertically. So remember Cockerell for the hovercraft, Britain and France for Concorde, and the UK for the Harrier jump jet and the ATM.
Memory tip: Cockerell-hovercraft; Britain and France-Concorde; Harrier jump jet; the ATM.
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Question 1 of 3
Who invented the hovercraft?
Show all questions and answers for More 20th-century inventions: the hovercraft and Concorde(3 questions with explanations)
More 20th-century inventions: the hovercraft and Concorde: questions, answers and explanations
1. Who invented the hovercraft?
- Sir Christopher Cockerell
- John Logie Baird
- Sir Frank Whittle
- Sir Tim Berners-Lee
Correct answer: Sir Christopher Cockerell
Sir Christopher Cockerell invented the hovercraft in the 1950s.
2. Concorde, the world's only supersonic passenger aircraft, was developed by Britain and which other country?
- The United States
- Germany
- Italy
- France
Correct answer: France
Concorde was developed jointly by Britain and France.
3. The Harrier jump jet, which can take off vertically, was developed in the UK.
- True
- False
Correct answer: True
True. The Harrier jump jet was designed and developed in the UK.
Back to A Long and Illustrious History, or try a mock test or timed exam.