LESSON 1.2 — CLASSIFICATION OF AIRPLANES
[ 1.2.2] Commercial Airplanes
BEFORE WE FLY — QUICK QUESTION
When did scheduled commercial aviation begin?
1913: the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line operated the first scheduled airline service, across Tampa Bay.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In 1913 the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line introduced the first fixed-wing scheduled airline service — the birth of commercial aviation.
- The Douglas DC-3 (first flown 1935): its reliability, range and capacity made it the backbone of many airlines, enabling more frequent and longer flights.
- Concorde flew at twice the speed of sound on a delta wing with afterburning engines — but high operating costs made it commercially unsustainable, leading to retirement in 2003.