Concorde

Concorde

Manufacturer

British Aircraft Corporation and Sud Aviation

Introduction To Service

1976

Aircraft Status

Retired 24/10/2003

Aircraft Use

Passenger Aircraft

Fun Facts

1. Speed Record: The Concorde set a record for the fastest transatlantic flight from New York to London, completing the journey in just 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds.
2. Cruising Altitude: It flew at an average cruising altitude of 60,000 feet, nearly twice as high as subsonic airliners, allowing passengers to see the curvature of the Earth.
3. Unique Nose: The Concorde's droop nose design could be lowered for better pilot visibility during takeoff and landing and raised during flight for aerodynamic efficiency.
4. Heat Expansion: Due to air friction at supersonic speeds, the Concorde's fuselage would heat up and expand by up to 10 inches during flight.
5. Time Travel Illusion: On westbound flights, the Concorde would often arrive before it departed due to the time difference, creating the illusion of time travel.
6. Limited Routes: Despite its capability, Concorde primarily operated on transatlantic routes, mainly between London, Paris, New York, and Washington, D.C.
7. VIP Passengers: It was the preferred choice for celebrities, royalty, and high-profile businesspeople, with regular passengers including Queen Elizabeth II, Mick Jagger, and Phil Collins.
8. Luxury Experience: Passengers enjoyed a high level of luxury, including gourmet meals, fine wines, and attentive service, making every journey a special occasion.
9. Fuel Consumption: The Concorde was notoriously thirsty, consuming around 5,638 gallons (about 25,629 liters) of fuel per hour of flight.
10. Limited Production: Only 20 Concordes were ever built, with 14 entering commercial service—7 each with British Airways and Air France.

These unique attributes made the Concorde an icon of aviation history and a symbol of technological ambition and luxury travel.