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Synonyms

test flight

American  

noun

  1. a flight made to observe the performance characteristics of a new aircraft or spacecraft.


Etymology

Origin of test flight

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A specially modified Airbus A350 plane touched down in France Tuesday after a record 24-hour test flight from Australia, ahead of it joining Qantas's fleet next year.

From Barron's Jul. 28, 2026

The selloff accelerated after Thursday’s highly anticipated Starship test flight was automatically aborted due to engine issues on the booster.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 17, 2026

A light aircraft pilot wrote "I'm bored" during a two-hour test flight - with his mischievous flight path appearing on an online tracking app.

From BBC Jul. 13, 2026

The crash occurred shortly after takeoff in what military officials said was supposed to be a test flight to update the B-52’s radar, and a wider effort to modernize the 70-year-old heavy bomber fleet.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 17, 2026

In a test flight, a pilot staked his reputation and his life on his ability to exercise total, direct, and constant control over the plane.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

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