Can You Solve This 1939 Aviation Trivia Puzzle That Stumped Pilots?

Think you know your aviation history? Here’s a fun challenge to test your knowledge!

Below is a unique trivia question pulled straight from the pages of history. Take a moment to consider your answer, then leave a comment with your best guess. Let’s see who among us has their head in the clouds—and their facts straight!

Here’s the question:

This puzzle first appeared in the January 1939 issue of Popular Aviation magazine and stumped even experienced pilots.

An airplane flies a triangular course, starting from the lower left-hand corner. The pilot maintains the same altitude and uses the same percentage of engine power on all three legs of the flight. There’s no wind at all—zero miles per hour from any direction.

The pilot flies Leg A in 80 minutes. Leg B also takes exactly 80 minutes. But when he flies Leg C, it takes him 1 hour and 20 minutes. Everything else remains the same.

Can you figure out why Leg C takes longer?

It’s not a trick question, and there are no hidden factors. Look over the details carefully, and if you come up with an answer, drop it in the comments below!

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