Concorde 40th Anniversary
Did any of you enjoy a flight on this beautiful plane? Unfortunately neither myself nor husband have experienced this although OH worked on the development of part of the engine systems and we still have a lovely trial piece of metal work somewhere in the garage! Luckily we have Yeovilton Fleet Airm Arm museum near us and visitors can sample Concorde with the old test equipment on board. See www.fleetairarm.com
Comments
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Never flown on it, but been on board one. Been told that what was so extraordinary, was that it was very ordinary to be in at Mach 2. Many tales tell of fighter jets escorting it (publicity shots etc) & not being able to go high enough or fast enough.
Other tales about air traffic control equipment not being able to track it as it was going faster than thier equipment could manage.
Amazing plane. But tiny inside. Bit like being on a train.
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No Brue, I guess thats my greatest aviation regret, - that i never flew on Concorde. But work is already quite advanced to build an Aviation museum on the Old Filton Airfield and G-BOAF no16, the last Concorde ever built,- here at Filton, will be
the prime exhibit in that museumSadly and to the concern of all Concorde enthusiasts, she has languished outside in all weathers, since she arrived here at Filton in 2003. She has returned to the place where she was built. Nevertheless despite all those years standing in the open she
has been well looked after, and is still in great condition. I went inside her only last month and she still looks and feels like she is still in service.TF
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i was playing golf at Burnham and Berrow and remember the massive noise as it flew over on one of its test flights....
another occasion took me to Filton golf club and, looking down onto the massive hangars, i couldnt believe how tiny the people appeared to be up aginst the huge height of those buildings....
a wonderful piece of technology.....
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I remember seeing the early test flights out of Farnborough when I was working in Basingstoke in the late sixties early seventies. I watched the last commercial flight into LHR go over our sailing club as I was there craning boats on the day and just happened
to look up at the right time.0 -
Back in the 1970's, RAF Finningley used to host an absolutely fabulous Airshow, with aircraft, military and civilian coming from all over the world to take part and fly demonstration shows. I can vividly recall the year Concorde was the big visitor, truly
awesome seeing it fly, land and take off so close. The ground shook and the noise was deafening, but it was the sheer power as it took off almost straight up that stayed with me. Can recall the dreadful day the Air France Concorde crashed as well, we were
on our way to Cornwall. Sad that it was withdrawn not long after, a real icon of the 20th century!0 -
Magnificent aircraft way ahead of its time? Saw the last overflight at Cardiff Airport so sad.
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Like redface, I've been over the Duxford one. Decidedly cramped inside.
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Tombar, I was standing on Filton Airfield in 2003 and watched as Concord AF touched down for the last time. I remember saying outloud to anyone that was listening, that the world had just taken a Generational step backwards!
How in heaven's sake could the last supersonic airliner be allowed to pass into History before its replacement had even been designed, - let alone entered service?
Once we could travel to New York in three hours. Today 6-7 at best! Progress?
Only abandoning lunar exploration before moving onto greater challenges beats such folly.
TF
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Never flown on Concorde (too damned expencive
) but have been on the one at RAF Yeovilton many years ago.Lady Di was passing through on
a BA I46 as i remember
.I have a very good diecast model of concorde on my dresser.We have one on display at Manchester airport at the
viewing centre aswell as on of the original Tridants,s (another plane way ahead of its time).Concorde i,m sure is very sadly missed not only by those who used the service but by all as it stood for everything thats great about british engineering.Will we see
supersonic flight in the future ?? Hmmm...........yes i think we will some day.v9
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The Hawker Siddley Tridant.
First flown in 1962 and 117 were built.Its hard too imagine but this plane had a blind landing system that could land the plane in any weather without the pilot ever touching the controls.Another example of british engineering excellence.The one below is the model on display at Manchester Airport.
V9.
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Part of the backward step is possibly down to the Yanks. They didnt invent it, they didn't support it, and they certainly didn't fight to keep it! Nothing worse than a jealous USA!
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TTDA That was certainly true in the early years, but my advisers- who are in the industry, are quite definate that at the end it was actually the French that pressurised to call a halt to it, and they who finally pulled the plug!
The most ironic thing though, is the fact that if ever a Concorde does fly again, it will be a French one. That is because several of theirs were properly inhibited and protected when they were laid up, and as a result could in theory at least be brought back to flying condition. I understand that at least one is occasionally started and fast taxi'd to keep it alive.
In contrast is is alleged that BA who actually still own the British ones, ensured that theirs could never fly again by draining all of the hydraulics and fluids, thus ensuring that vital seals would perish. Such a course of action would indeed make it almost impossible to bring them back into flying condition. However I cannot confirm the above which could merely reflect the great bitterness felt locally at the destruction of their beloved aircraft.
But whatever the truth of these stories is, - the cold hard facts are, that none of the aircraft could ever be flown again without the active co-operation and support of the organisation that holds the design rights, i.e. Aerospatial or as it is known today airbus Industries. And I simply cannot see that happening.
TF
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One interesting little story about Concorde AF the last one built here in Bristol, and the one that we have back here, concerns a story about her last supersonic flight on the way back from the States.
Concorde lovers will know that during supersonic flight the skin and fuselage of the aircraft gets very hot indeed. As a result the aircraft actually grows in length and there are a couple of places on the fuselage where this is deliberatly allowed to happen, - designed expansion joints. One of them is on the flight deck just inside the door giving access from the cabin. During supersonic flight this expansion area grows to about 2 inches wide.
On the last flight the Captain thrust his uniform cap into that gap which of course gradually closed as the aircraft slowed and cooled down. That cap is still there and it will remain there forever because there is no way that that gap will ever open again to release it.
The story is true. I was in the aircraft in the last month, and sat in the pilots seat. I saw the cap, - looking a bit faded now but still very visible.
TF
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Perhaps someone could provide a link to
www.saveconcordegroup.co.uk
it makes interesting reading
(don't know how to do it on my eye pad)!
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Like the Vulvcan we are losing (or have lost) the expertise to keep them flying, let alone a financial reason. They were getting on, old technology and needed to either brought up to modern standards, or taken out of service.
Unfortunately, the yanks building a giant plane to take lots of people cheaply was a very successful recipe, and the Jumbo is of course, still flying and is constantly being upgraded to modern standards. It pays its way. The Concord didn't.
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Startibarfast, sadly the Jumbo has also had its day! Now pretty well out of production it has been surpassed by much more modern technology. Its real achillies heel, is the fact that it has four engines! Four engines are twice as expensive to keep in
the air as two! That is why ALL new aircraft only have two big engines. ( Except of course the A380, but even that might have a limited future).The most important feature today is cost per passenger mile. That means that the most effective aircraft today are the big wide bodied twin engined aircraft like the A350 and its Boeing equivalent.
its very sad to see the iconic Jumbo passing into History, many like Air Force 1 and a few Private A/C for Pop Groups and other mega rich will still be about for a few years to come but in the end their cost of operation will be their end.
TF (MRAeS)
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If doing long haul over water, ISTM that more than one engine per wing is a better safety option. Flying on one engine must be tricky.
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CY you won't have much choice soon, but in truth the modern jet turbines are so very reliable compared to only a few years ago. Believe me, the carriers would just not take the risk of such a loss. Imagine the effect on their sales, - let alone the effect
on you! But I do understand your concern, the DCOS is always grumbling that she wants 4 engines under her. She can get quite caustic if I ever dare agree that in her case it might be an idea!TF
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Went to Brooklands last year and spent the day on the concorde experience. best day out for years. lunch with concorde pilots then tour of aircraft, followed by time at the controls of the original flight simulator, flew concorde into hong kong kai tak airport
then to new york. worth every penny would recomend to all fans.0
