The first flight of a new aircraft type is always a historic occasion for the type. It is also one of the most dangerous, because the exact handling characteristics of the aircraft are generally unknown. The first flight of a new type is almost invariably flown by a highly experienced test pilot. First flights are usually accompanied by a chase aircraft, to verify items like altitude, airspeed, and general air-worthiness.

A first flight is only one stage in the development of an aircraft type. Unless the type is a pure research aircraft (such as the X-15), the aircraft must be tested extensively to ensure that it delivers the desired performance with an acceptable margin of safety. In the case of civilian aircraft, a new type must be certified by a governing agency (such as the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States) before it can enter operation.

[edit] Notable first flights

An incomplete list of first flights of notable aircraft types, organized by date, follows.

• June, 1875 - Thomas Moy's Aerial Steamer, London england (no pilote and attache) ^[1]
• October 09, 1890 - Clément Ader From Gretz-Armainvilliers, Ouest of Paris, France
• August 14, 1901 - Gustave Whitehead From Leutershausen, Bavaria
• March 31, 1903 - Richard Pearse From Waitohi Flat, Temuka, South Island, New Zealand
• December 17, 1903 - Wright brothers Wright Flyer.
• October 23. 1906 - Alberto Santos Dumont 14-bis flight.
• July 28, 1935 - Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
• December 17, 1935 - Douglas DC-3.
• December 29, 1939 - Consolidated B-24.
• November 2, 1947 - Hughes H-4 Hercules. The only flight of this oversized flying boat.
• July 27, 1949 - de Havilland Comet. First jet airliner.
• August 23, 1954 - Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Military transport.
• April 25, 1962 - Lockheed A-12 Blackbird. Supersonic spyplane.
• April 9, 1967 - Boeing 737. Medium-range airliner.
• December 31, 1968 - Tupolev Tu-144. Soviet Supersonic Airliner.
• February 9, 1969 - Boeing 747. Widebody airliner.
• March 2, 1969 - Anglo-French Concorde. Supersonic transport.
• 1970-Mil Mi-24 Russian-made helicopter used by many countries to this day.
• December 21, 1988 - Antonov An-225 Mriya. The heaviest and largest flying airplane.
• April 27, 2005 - Airbus A380. Double-decker airliner.

[edit] See also

• Flight test
• Maiden voyage

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Prehistory/late_1800s/PH4G7.htm