Courtesy : wikipedia & Youtube
Concorde is a retired turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner or supersonic transport (SST). It was a product of a Franco-British government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation. First flown in 1969, Concorde entered service in 1976 and continued commercial flights for 27 years.
Among other destinations, Concorde flew regular transatlantic flights from London Heathrow (British Airways) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (Air France) to New York JFK and Washington Dulles, profitably flying these routes at record speeds, in less than half the time of other airliners.
With only 20 aircraft built, their development represented a
substantial economic loss, in addition to which Air France and British
Airways (BA) were subsidised by their governments to buy them. As a
result of the type’s only crash on 25 July 2000 and other factors, its retirement flight was on 26 November 2003.
Concorde's name
reflects the development agreement between the United Kingdom and
France. In the UK, any or all of the type—unusual for an aircraft—are
known simply as "Concorde", without an article.
Sad to know that this British Pride was not bought back to being part of 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony (which was expected as per the news and efforts from some concord fans)
The world's only supersonic passenger airliner.
That plane was a beautiful achievement of mankind in times when, apart from money, ideas where also significant.
It took my breath away to watch it take off. Such dignity man had. We still had the dream. I had the dream. So many of us did. Some like me still do. She was retired only for cost reasons and without other true cause. Every technology and generation has the best of something. Concord. The name said it all.
Its sad that Air France and British Airways couldn't keep at least one in flying condition due to cost reasons.
Now its said that with high cost factors and little chance of renewing her "Certificate of Air Worthiness" it is unlikely that the CONCORDE will ever fly again.
There are + and - everywhere, but still she is the queen of the skies. Miss you angel :(
----------------------------------------------
In total 20 Concordes were built between 1966 and 1979. The first 2 Concordes were prototype models, one built in France and the other in England. Another 2 pre-production prototypes were built to further refine design and test out ground breaking systems before the production runs, of only 16 aircraft in total, commenced in both countries.
The first production aircraft off each production line did not enter service but acted as a test bed for production techniques, airline training and further development work. They also paved the way for the granting of airworthiness certification as well as providing extensive route proving information.
In the end only British Airways and Air France purchased Concordes, with the airlines initially purchasing 5 and 4 aircraft respectively. British Airways acquired the 2 unsold UK built aircraft, while Air France bought the 3 unsold French built craft.
British Airways have a fleet of 7 aircraft while Air France had 5 aircraft. The two prototypes, two pre production and one first production model are now on show in museums on both sides of the channel. The first British production Concorde is now owned by BA and used for spares.
Air France returned 4 aircraft to service after the Paris accident in July 2000, of the others; one was retired for spares use in 1982, one never completed a D check (due to retirement) and the final one was the aircraft lost in the accident.
British Airways operated 5 aircraft, after the accident with a further 2 in storage at London Heathrow, that were not modified post accident.
The AirFrance 4 servicable aircraft were retired to museums in France, Germany and the US.
Since the last commercial Concorde flight on 24 October 2003, the British Airways fleet of seven Concordes have now been retired and have gone to their final resting places at museums around the world.
British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington said, "We have chosen the final homes based a number of criteria: their ability to properly exhibit and preserve the aircraft, their geographical location and accessibility to the public."
The locations are:
· Airbus UK, Filton Bristol, UK
· Manchester Airport, UK
· Museum of Flight, near Edinburgh, UK
· Heathrow Airport, UK
· The Museum of Flight, Seattle, USA
· The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, USA
· Grantley Adams Airport, Bridgetown, Barbados
---------------------------------------------
Concord Last Flight
History, the ONLY CRASH (of the type) & Last Flight
================================================================
Concord Pictures :
Posts
