fleet leader

English

Noun

fleet leader (plural fleet leaders)

1. (aeronautics) The airframe or component with the longest time in service, compared to others of the same design.
   • 1986 June 6, Richard Feynman, “Personal observations on the reliability of the Shuttle”, in Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, Report to the President:

     Obviously the best engines to use for comparison would be those of greatest total (flight plus test) operating time -- the so-called "fleet leaders."

   • 2009 October 19, Dassault Aviation press release[1]:

     This Falcon 7X is now the fleet leader having flown over 800,000 nautical miles (148,148 km).