The power, speed, beauty and sheer airborne grace of this truly unique aircraft thrilled the masses and captured the imagination of millions around the world for more than 30 years. Over its commercial career, the British Airways Fleet of seven Concordes made 50 thousand flights and carried more than 2.5 million passengers at supersonic speeds on regular scheduled services, including many special flights, around all parts of the globe. On the Asian front, only one route was operated jointly by BA and Singapore Airlines, Singapore-London Heathrow via Bahrain which was a technical stop for refuelling. The launch was on December 9, 1977. The service operated only three flights before it was suspended with Malaysia expressing supersonic boom and environmental concerns of the aircraft flying over the Straits of Malacca. The crux of the issue then was that Malaysia was pressing Britain for more landing slots at Heathrow. Both issues were amicably sorted out within a short time and the thrice weekly Singapore-London flight resumed.
Millions of people came to admire and cherish Concorde for the style it displayed and the technological endeavour it stood for. Quite simply, Concorde lifted our spirits. Jointly developed and produced by the then Sud Aviation (now Aerospatiale) of France and British Aircraft Corp (BAC), United Kingdom the first flight carrying commercial passengers was from London Heathrow to Bahrain 21st January, 1976, operated by British Airways (BA). On the same day Air France, AF4590 launched the Paris-Rio de Janerio service via Dakar in West Africa.
With a flight-deck crew of 3, plus 6 cabin crew served 92–120 passengers at a maximum speed of 1,354 mph (2,179 km/h, 1,177 knots), or Mach 2.04 (temperature limited) over a maximum range of 4,488.0 miles (7,222.8 km, 3,900.0 nautical miles) at a maximum service ceiling of 60,000 ft (18,300 m).
Tragically, All Concorde flights were suspended after an AF aircraft crashed in Gonesse, a suburb in Paris shortly after lift-off on 21st July, 2000, the first accident in 24 years of operations. One hundred and five on board and four on the ground perished. Following the crash AF grounded all aircraft and BA followed suit. Both airlines resumed operations on August 18, 2001. After almost 28 years of service and 140 million miles, escalating operating and maintenance costs saw both carriers retiring the aircraft on October 21, 2003. Nonetheless, it was a difficult decision to make. Both BA and Air France resolved to create a special “finale” program, ensuring that Concorde would bow out in triumph and dignity. This would ensure that the Concorde fleet would not just fade away, but be dispersed to key aviation museums and other significant locations where the public would still be able to see and honour this iconic aircraft. Concorde remains an enduring symbol of aerospace excellence.
The next generation of commercial airliners is well on its way to becoming a reality. Boomsupersonic are developing the “Overture” supersonic airliner. Capable of flying at Mach 1.7, carrying 64-80 passengers over a maximum distance of 4888 miles(4250 nautical miles/7867km), the old and new are comparable.
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