Concord ( lost but not Forgotten)

[Jack Peterson]

Elite Jet

 

 

The only picture ever taken of Concorde flying at Mach 2 (1,350 mph). Taken from an RAF Tornado fighter jet, which only rendezvoused with Concorde for 4 minutes over the Irish Sea: The Tornado was rapidly running out of fuel, struggling to keep up with Concorde at Mach 2 

Edited July 24, 2019 by Jack Peterson
just edited

[Ranger Andy]

A magnificent airplane!

Although some may think it was grounded for safety issues, the real reason for the failure of the Concorde was the high cost of fuel.

“Why was Concorde retired?

Despite its innovations, the Concorde wasn’t a monument to efficiency. The Concorde was designed well before the oil-price shock of the 1970's, so even though it was a masterpiece in engineering, it was effectively a fuel to speed converter. Its high energy consumption simply made it unprofitable in an era of high fuel prices.”

https://interestingengineering.com/concorde-the-real-reason-why-the-supersonic-passenger-jet-failed

[Huggybearman]

Great photo! And, unless a trick of the lense, the curvature of the earth can clearly be seen at that altitude.

[Dave Hounddriver]

1 hour ago, Ranger Andy said:

it was effectively a fuel to speed converter.

I watched a documentary on the AN 225.  It is effectively a fuel to load converter.  It costs a fortune to operate but people who want heavy objects moved half way around the world quickly will pay top dollar to charter it.  It was a plane that was retired from service but came back from near scrap heap by being refurbished for this use.

I wonder if there would be a similar market for the Concorde.  It is also a plane that was retired from service but a search shows that there are some units that could be refurbished if the market was there.  I am reminded of the Flying Scotsman.  There are people who will pay for a nostalgic ride.  Imagine the thrill of Manila to London on a Concorde. 

[Mike J]

Slightly off topic.  I was able to see the SR-71 Blackbird at the San Diego flight museum.  To actually see it, walk around it, and under it is amazing.  Even mounted on pillars as a display it looks totally bad A$$ in black and wicked fast standing still.  Hard to believe the engineers that designed it used slide rules back in the early 60s.    Mach 3 at 85,000 feet.  Eat my shorts Russia.  

 

 

[Gary D]

1 hour ago, Mike J said:

Slightly off topic.  I was able to see the SR-71 Blackbird at the San Diego flight museum.  To actually see it, walk around it, and under it is amazing.  Even mounted on pillars as a display it looks totally bad A$$ in black and wicked fast standing still.  Hard to believe the engineers that designed it used slide rules back in the early 60s.    Mach 3 at 85,000 feet.  Eat my shorts Russia.  

 

 

Yes they have one at the Imperial war museum Duxford close to where we live. Seeing one flying into Mildenhall some years ago was an unexpected treat.

[LUFCinMakati]

Flew back from Bermuda on Concorde in 94, part of an incentive trip, it was an amazing experience. 

 

An edit to give a more comprehensive post in this topic:

Firstly the OP needs to add an e!

What is truly amazing is concorde was designed in the early 60's and even more surprisingly the British & French managed to work together on this.

Back to my flight on Concorde, as explained it was an incentive from the manufacturer of the products my business was involved with at the time. We flew to Bermuda on a plane I can't remember and after 7 days of all expenses being paid the Hamilton Hotel in Bermuda we flew back on Concorde. The company had chartered it from BA and there were 2 captains, one to fly and one to give commentary. It was only the 2nd or 3rd time Concorde had been to Bermuda and the fences around the airport were lined with people.

The acceleration when we took off was incredible and once over the coast the afterburners were turned on and you got another adrenaline rush. The Captain gave all the commentary until we reached cruising height, at which point he announced he would come back when we were due to start decent. He duly did this and announced that as we were about to descend and the 1st thing they would do is to turn off the after burners, which would feel like dabbing the car brakes. He gave a 3,2,1, count down and the whole plane shook like hell, several people screamed and there was a silence from the cockpit for what seemed like a long time. It was probably less than a minute then he came back and said "sorry for the silence, but we have lost engine number 4 and need to get this bird on the ground". We were diverted to Gatwick and we descended at a very steep rate and were subsequently told that this was only the 3rd time this had happened in the plane history and the silence was  due to them ensuring the other engines did not cut out. 

Sadly lost my certificate for flying due to the shipping company managing to lose some of our goods, but was a fantastic experience. 

Edited July 24, 2019 by LUFCinMakati

[Jack Peterson]

Just as a matter of Interest there was a Lady Pilot and I believe just the One ;

 BTW That other is a Tornado, whether that was the Photographer I know not

[Dave Hounddriver]

2 hours ago, LUFCinMakati said:

Firstly the OP needs to add an e!

What is truly amazing is concord was . . . .

  Pot and kettle?

[LUFCinMakati]

9 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

  Pot and kettle?

Cheeky edit completed Mate!