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Glite Dictionary
maiden flight

maiden flight

1 5.7
The first time a new plane, rocket, or vehicle goes into the air
  • noun
  • /ˈmeɪdən flaɪt/
translation icon : vuelo inaugural
  • On Monday, Air Force One makes its maiden flight to Rangoon, Burma, also known as Myanmar, to start the first visit by a sitting U.S. president.

Examples

  • The maiden flight of the CargoLifter is expected in 2001.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Early that evening, the company's chief test pilot, John Cunningham, was at the controls for the jet transport's historic maiden flight.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Stand back while I make my maiden flight!

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Here it lies, crashed on Mars in her maiden flight.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Finally, they sent their patches to the crew that would make the maiden flight on Endeavour.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Since aircraft Number 1 had its maiden flight on February 9, 1969, the 747 has become the most successful wide-body passenger aircraft ever developed.

    Academic text (2011)

  • This was the Prinzess Lisa-Marie's maiden flight through South Pass, with its infamous crosswinds and fabled wrecks.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Nine years later, on April 12, 1981, Young would command the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia, as he and fellow astronaut Robert Crippen ushered in a new era for America's space program.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The Avro Canada C102 Jetliner prototype took off on its maiden flight from Malton, near Toronto, on Aug. 10, 1949, just two weeks after the Comet.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The new aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight last week, marking a significant milestone.

Synonyms

debut
vsmaiden flight
205 4.9

A first public appearance by a person or thing

is the initial technical journey into service rather than a public appearance
maiden voyage
vsmaiden flight
10 4.9

A first trip by a new ship or plane after it is built

is the initial airborne test specifically rather than any general journey

Surface Forms

maiden flight singular
maiden flights plural

Morphology

maiden + flight

The meaning 'the first flight made by a new aircraft' is directly and compositionally derived from 'maiden' (inaugural/first) + 'flight' (air journey). This adjective-noun combination follows a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Maiden flight comes from an older use of maiden meaning 'first', like the ship phrase 'maiden voyage', and flight means a plane trip. So maiden flight means the very first flight of a new aircraft.