Definition

Noun: - The first official flight of a new aircraft or spacecraft: This term specifically refers to the inaugural journey of a newly built or designed flying vehicle. It marks the first time it operates under its own power in the air.

Usage

The term "maiden flight" is used to describe a significant, often ceremonial, first flight event. It is typically used in aviation, aerospace, and general news contexts. - The prototype completed its successful maiden flight yesterday. - The airline celebrated the maiden flight of its new fleet of jets.

Advanced Usage

• "to make its maiden flight": This is the most common collocation, describing the aircraft performing its first flight.
  • The new drone made its maiden flight over the test range.

Variants and Related Words

• Maiden voyage (noun): The first journey of a new ship. This is a related term used in maritime contexts, following the same pattern.
  • The ocean liner sank on its maiden voyage.

Synonyms

• First flight: A more general and less ceremonious term for the initial flight.
• Inaugural flight: A formal synonym often used for the first commercial flight of a new route or aircraft in passenger service.

Related Idioms

• Maiden [noun]: This pattern is used to denote the first instance of various events or uses (e.g., maiden speech, maiden voyage, maiden test). It carries a sense of being untried or new.
  • The senator was nervous before her maiden speech in parliament.

Noun

1. the first flight of its kind
   • the Stealth bomber made its maiden flight in 1989