Concorde 40th Anniversary

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.

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 museum

Sadly 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

I always remember the final Bristol fly past TF, it will be great when the museum gets built!

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.....

I remember the sonic booms, I think from Lightning fighters, that they used to try and decide wether it could go supersonic overland. There was so much fuss, that in the end of course they decided it couldn't.

Before an aviation enthusiast points out the actual anniversary was in January I was listening to the local radio today as it's been "Concorde Week" down here. I thought it worth a mention.

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.

Its surprising to have a supersonic passenger plane, built before its time, being put in museums.

Been over the one at Duxord Air Museum (Cambridge area) and you would not get many trolley dollies in that cigar case!

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!