Definition of "maiden flight" []

• The first flight of an airplane or other airborne vehicle, usually used to test or demonstrate the functions of the systems. (noun)

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• "The press wouldn’t talk about how our crew had successfully takenDiscovery on its maiden flight or how we had successfully released thirty thousand pounds of satellites."
• "While the manned/unmanned debate overColumbia ’s maiden flight had occurred before TFNGs had arrived at NASA, I could easily guess how long astronauts had discussed the topic before concluding a manned flight was the way to go…about five seconds."