'flypast' originates from the combination of 'fly' and 'past', where 'fly' meant 'to move through the air' and 'past' indicated 'beyond or over'.

'flypast' evolved from the concept of aircraft flying over a specific location, becoming a formal term in the 20th century.

Initially, it referred to any aircraft flying over, but now it specifically denotes ceremonial or celebratory flights.