Concorde: What did YOU think?

[beaky]

In the end, Concorde wasn't about economics, or even convenience (does anybody really have to go that fast, even for an important business trip?).
No, it was about... style. And class. And beauty.

This recording sums it up... the crew of the last Concorde to depart KJFK says their farewells:

http://overtheairwaves.com/speedbird2.mp3

[expat]

September 11th. The effects were felt worldwide, in the form of a significant drop in the popularity air travel.

AND

She cost too much to operate, she used the same amount of fuel as a 747 on a transatlantic trip, but only carried 1/3 of the passengers the 747 could.

They never flew it break-even (with $10k for a single-trip ticket), but the businesspeople loved it (get from london to NYC on the morning flight, do company meeting, fly back in the evening... instead of losing 3 days for a meeting overseas). BA and AF got a load of complaints from corporate europe when they decided to stop the Concorde, and the business travel thing was the main reason for mr Branson to try to buy the fleet

Her age was catching up with her. It was getting more and more difficult to maintain her, as with growing age comes more problems

Might be a reason... the engines were kind of a one-off when RAF put the vulcan out of active service. Rest of the airframe was ok though

The 747 has been around for quite some time too, but newer airframes are always being built with modern electronic equipment and such...AFAIK, this was not the case with the Concorde which continued to run on older systems. Had EADS continued to manufacture the Concorde, it may have upgraded it with more modern avionics and such.

Ever seen the order listl... almost every big name in the industry had a few on order in the late 60s... most were cancelled after 1973 though

On average Concorde made and operating profit of

[Rifleman]

Dunno where you found that one Sean, but it's a very moving clip....

Thanks tons for it ! 8-)

[beaky]

Dunno where you found that one Sean, but it's a very moving clip....

Thanks tons for it ! 8-)

Somebody posted that on another pilots' forum...
It's quite an unusual ATC recording. I like how the Speedbird skipper initiates the whole thing, but keeps a very stiff upper lip throughout... meanwhile the New Yawkuhs in JFK tower are waxing poetic and getting a little sniffly.

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Personally I don't really see the charm in it.  Having been in one I'd personally be pi$$ed if I droped that much money to ride in something that gives you 1/4 the space of a standard metro bus and a postcard-sized window!  It looks awesome, but I'd freak out if I had to spend an hour or two in the thing.  

[C]

Personally I don't really see the charm in it.  Having been in one I'd personally be pi$$ed if I droped that much money to ride in something that gives you 1/4 the space of a standard metro bus and a postcard-sized window!  It looks awesome, but I'd freak out if I had to spend an hour or two in the thing.  

I think when you then realise you are doing mach 2+ at 60,000ft, you might have changed your mind. Not really something the average person can do outside of the military.