-
World's first scheduled commercial flight
http://www.space.com/16657-worlds-first-commercial-airline-the-greatest-moments-in-flight.html This 23 minute flight was piloted by Tony Jannus. He flew with mayor of St. Petersburg who paid $400 dollars. This flight is known as the first scheduled commercial airline flight. -
Lockheed Constellation enters service
The Lockheed Constellation was designed to be Lockheed's first large transport aircraft inspired by a man wanting to buy a fleet. The US Military recognized its potential as a troop transport aircraft due to its size. When war broke out in 1942, the plane served in the military. After World War II, the aircraft set out for transatlantic flights and set many records as well, for example, the longest duration non- stop passenger flight. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/100years/stories/constella -
First production commercial jetliner
The de Havilland DH 106 Comet is known as the first production commercial jetliner. It offered a nice and comfortable ride for its time which showed signs of becoming a commercial success. The plane was, however, overcome with problems after three incidents with the airliners breaking apart mid flight. Design flaws were discovered in the structure which hurt the airplane's sales. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Comet -
Boeing 747 introduced
The Boeing 747 revolutionized the airline industry by creating the world's largest passenger jet. It was first put into service by Pan Am Airlines to save money. The plane's size remained unmatched for 37 years until Airbus put the A380 in service. The 747 could easily be converted into a cargo plane if passenger plane sells aren't going well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747 -
Airbus A300 - First wide body twin engine jet
The Airbus A300 was the first wide body twin engine jet. Original sales of the aircraft were poor leaving 14 sitting on the tarmac unsold. Germanair was the world's first charter airline to purchase the plane. Korean Air was the first non-European airline to purchase the A300 which made Airbus recognize the potential market in southeast Asia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A300
