Thomas Lee holds a world record of flying the most inaugural (first commercial flights) on brand new aircraft types spanning 50 years. This presentation covers this half century record including maiden flights on the B747, A380, B787, A350 and CSeries aircraft.

1. Thomas Lee holds the world’s record of being the only person to have flown on the inaugural (first)
commercial flights of the B747, A380 , B787, A350 and CSeries.

2. The inaugural (first commercial flight) of the 747
was from New York to London on Pan Am. One
engine overheated and the aircraft was brought
back to the gate. Everyone disembarked. We were
taken to an Italian restaurant to allow the second
aircraft (just delivered the day before to Pan Am) to
be pulled out of the hangar and prepped. We ended
up flying about six hours later and 20 pax refused to
board the aircraft. Seven years later this same
airplane was hit by the KLM 747 in Tenerife, the
worst aviation disaster in history.

3. The media was recording everything as passengers
disembarked the world’s first 747 after an aborted
take-off. Inside the red circle are my parents.

7. While flying the first A380
flight, Singapore Airlines CEO
Mr. Chew Choon Seng
presented this specially
framed honor that includes
the original Pan Am B747 First
Flight certificate from 1970.
He also personally signed the
Certificate for this A380 First
Flight.

8. Capitan Robert Ting
was very popular on
the inaugural A380
flight and was kind
enough to sign the
official A380 First Flight
certificate
commemorating the
opportunity to be the
only person in the
world to make double-
decker inaugural
aviation history twice.

9. Onboard the flight were 75+
members of the Media. This
photo was taken after being
interviewed by Richard Quest
for CNN International..

10. Singapore Airlines
inflight magazine
“SILVERKRIS” article
for A380 Inaugural
flight

13. All Nippon Airways CEO,
Mr. Shinichiro Ito poses with
Thomas Lee while flying on
the inaugural flight
of the B787.

16. Mr. Jeff Smisek, CEO of United Airlines with Thomas Lee and his
wife Sally aboard the first commercial flight of the B787
domestically in the United States

17. Certificate Presented
Thomas Marks Lee

18. A350 Inaugural Flight
Qatar Airways
January 15, 2015

19. One of the aviation enthusiasts
onboard was terribly excited to show
me this Pan Am memorabilia as I had
been on the Pan Am 747 Inaugural
flight 45 years ago

20. Tom with His Excellency Akbar
Al-Baker, Group Chief Executive
Qatar Airways aboard A350
Inaugural flight – January 15th, 2015

21. Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer, aboard A350 inaugural flight January 15th,
2015 from Doha-Qatar to Frankfurt. Fabrice Brégier was appointed President and CEO of Airbus on the
1st of June 2012. He is a member of the Airbus Group Executive Committee.

22. The media was
covering this first
commercial flight.
CNN’s Richard Quest
conducted an
interview while
midway through the
6 hour flight

23. SWISS invited
Dominique
Rinderknecht,
Miss Switzerland
to participate in
the C Series
Inaugural Flight

24. The media photographs us in front of the beautiful
C Series backdrop SWISS created for these ceremonies

25. The pilots are asked to pose for the media.
At far right is Captain Peter Koch,
SWISS C Series Fleet Chief

26. Swiss Chief Commercial Officer,
Markus Binkert invites me in front of
the assembled crowd and media for a
presentation. He announces my
inaugural flight world record listing the
B747, A380, B787 and A350.

27. I am asked to share my
inaugural flight experiences
with the audience & media
and explain why joining the
C Series inaugural flight is so
meaningful

28. I am then presented with
this Bombardier C Series
Inaugural Flight
Certificate and model of
the aircraft

29. This beautifully framed
certificate is a special
commemoration of today’s
first commercial flight

30. I am incredibly fortunate as
SWISS created this beautiful
one of a kind certificate and I
am the only person on
today’s flight to be presented
an official document signed
by Thomas Kluhr, SWISS CEO

31. I will cherish
this latest
inaugural
flight
certificate
which will
be added to
my
collection
Thomas Marks Lee

32. SWISS Press Release
published after the flight

33. Social media popped up
within minutes of
these events

34. On every inaugural flight, there are hundreds of the World’s
Media from virtually all Major Populated Continents

35. The Lee family being
interviewed on a “Live”
morning television show
in Singapore.

36. The Press Included Newspaper and Magazine Reporters plus
Radio and Television Media. This crew is from Germany.

37. The German Media
were particularly
interested in this
original “Stern”
Magazine dated
February 1st, 1970.

39. Media Coverage

40. Within hours, literally
hundreds of
publications around
the world picked up
the story. Each
includes a mention of
Thomas Lee’s record.

43. For more coverage
Type into Google:
“Thomas Lee A380”