Concorde

[Dicky_Knee]

The Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde supersonic transport (SST) first flown in 1969, Concorde service commenced in 1976 and continued for 27 years. It regularly flew from London Heathrow (British Airways) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (Air France) to New York JFK. It set many records, including a time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds between New York and London, on 7 February 1996.

The costly development phase represented a substantial economic loss for the French and British governments, although it made large operating profits for British Airways for much of its service life. Commercial flights, by British Airways and Air France, began on 21 January 1976. As a result of its only crash (in 2000), world economic effects arising from the September 11, 2001 attacks and other factors, operations ceased on 24 October 2003, with the last "retirement" flight on 26 November that year. Even in retirement, Concorde remains an icon of aviation history.

Concorde was our pride & joy.She brings a tear to our eyes when we see her standing alone as a memoire at Manchester Airport.
Concorde's technology, science, speed, sound and elegance will live in our hearts forever. It will be great to see Concorde whether British or French grace the skies again. Concorde, you will live in our hearts forever!!

[Dicky_Knee]

I'm not so sure I wanted to see a plane who's sister ship crashed in flames at this airport just before taking off... nothing like reminding you of an air disaster just seconds before lift off.... but ok.... seeing the Concorde again was a nice site none the less. Such a shame though.. wish it was still flying or at least something better in it's place.

[Dicky_Knee]

British Airways Concorde

OCTOBER 2, 2003…British Airways CONCORDE (G-BOAG) comes in for its final TO landing.

Yup.

Good-Bye Concorde!

WE SALUTE YOU!!


(The CONCORDE is the most recognizable aircraft in the world and for most people SHE IS the symbol of aviation…her very best ambassador, representing all of aviation's hopes and achievements.)

[Dicky_Knee]

20 Concordes were built, six for development and 14 for commercial service.

These were:

Two prototypes
Two pre-production aircraft
16 production aircraft
The first two of these did not enter commercial service
Of the 14 which flew commercially, 12 were still in service in April 2003
All but two of these aircraft - a remarkably high percentage for any commercial fleet - are preserved. The two which are not are F-BVFD (cn 211), which was withdrawn from service in the 1980s and scrapped in 1994; and F-BTSC (cn 203), which crashed in Paris.

A beautiful plane that should still be flying today - pictured here in front of the Brabazon hangers were she was built.

[sam]

[mr_bastos]

Nice photos guys here one from flickr

[mudcrabs]

Nice Airplane but an exercise in futility, was never viable.

[Dicky_Knee]

 British Airways Concorde

Even today, 32 years after the start of Concorde's commercial service, she remains the fastest and the highest-flying airliner in existence. The development of the Concorde began in the early 1960's and officially concluded with her entry into service in 1976. The Concorde is one of the finest examples of aviation engineering capable of flying at extremes of altitude and speed.

The Concorde is powered by four Rolls-Royce/SENECMA Olympus Mk. 610-14-28 engines. Each engine produces 38,050 pounds of thrust; this would propel the aircraft to her maximum operating a speed of Mach 2.04. In order to keep the aircraft light and keep the costs of production down, the Concorde's fuselage and wings are constructed of aluminum. At full speed and cruising altitude, despite outside temperatures of -55 Celsius (-67 Fahrenheit), the Concorde's skin would heat up to 127C (260.6 F) at the nose and 91C- 98C (196F-208F) on the fuselage and the wings. The Concorde carries between 90 and 100 passengers and is capable of covering 3,900 nautical miles without refueling.

The specific aircraft located at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is registered under designation G-BOAD and is commonly referred to as “Alpha Delta.” The aircraft itself has a very interesting history. Manufactured under the serial number 100-010, it is the production variant 102. It flew for the first time on August 25, 1976 from Filton, England, and was delivered to British Airways (BA) on December 6, 1976 .

On February 7, 1996, “Alpha Delta” made the fastest Atlantic crossing of a Concorde, taking just 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds. During her career, G-BOAD flew 23,397 hours, made 8,406 landings and underwent 7,010 supersonic cycles. The final flight of the “Alpha Delta” took place on November 10, 2003, and the aircraft was de-registered on May 4, 2004 .



http://www.flickr.com/photos/hypertypos/2673915514/sizes/l/