[4] The magazine first began publishing in 1927 as Popular Aviation soon after Charles Lindbergh's historic transatlantic flight.

[6] It was given the name Aeronautics briefly from 1929–1930 and was changed back to Popular Aviation until 1942, when it became Flying.

In June 2009, Flying's owner, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., sold the publication to the Bonnier Corporation, the U.S. division of the Sweden-based Bonnier Group, along with four other magazines: Popular Photography, Boating, Sound and Vision, and American Photo.

[4] In 2023, Flying Media Group acquired the aviation magazine Plane & Pilot, with the intention of having the publication focus on the piston aircraft market.

[7][8] After acquisition of more magazine titles, Flying Media Group changed its name to Firecrown.