flight-test

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.

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.

See also

• Flight test
• Maiden voyage

References

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