Concorde: The Supersonic Jet That Left Other Planes in Its Smoke

The Concorde. The aircraft that made regular jets look like they were crawling along at a snail’s pace and gave passengers a taste of what it might feel like to punch a hole through the sound barrier... in style. If you ever wanted to fly from London to New York faster than you can say “Get outta here!,” the Concorde was your ride. And boy, was it something special.

Supersonic, Supercool - The Basics

Built as a joint project between the British Aircraft Corporation and France’s Aérospatiale (because why not team up and build a flying missile that looks like a rocket?), the Concorde was introduced in the early 1970s. Its maiden flight was in 1969, and commercial flights started in 1976. It was the only supersonic passenger jet to ever make it into commercial service - meaning it could cruise at Mach 2.04. For those not fluent in speed measurement, that’s over twice the speed of sound, or roughly 1,350 miles per hour.

Imagine flying from London to New York in under 3.5 hours when other planes take nearly 8 hours. That’s the Concorde magic.

The Design: Sexy, Sleek, and a Bit... Pointy?

That iconic slender nose? Not just for looks. The Concorde’s nose could droop downward during takeoff and landing for better pilot visibility (because apparently, flying a rocket that fast makes you want to see the runway clearly). And those delta wings? Shaped like a sharp triangle, they helped keep the plane stable at those crazy supersonic speeds.

The fuselage was slim, cozy, and frankly, not built for passengers who like to stretch out. With seating for around 100 passengers, it was all about speed and luxury rather than legroom. Think of it like the private jet of the skies... but one that screamed past the sound barrier.

Who Flew on the Concorde?

This was no budget airline. The Concorde was the private jet of the rich, famous, and powerful. Celebrities, heads of state, and business moguls were frequent flyers.

• Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton: The Hollywood power couple were regulars, apparently loving the ability to get to New York quickly for their glamorous parties.
• The Beatles: Even these rock legends got on board the supersonic hype train.
• Prince Charles and Princess Diana: Royalty flew in style, naturally.
• Business Executives and Diplomats: The Concorde was the preferred transport for those who valued time as much as luxury.

But the Concorde wasn’t just for show. It was used on transatlantic flights, mainly from London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle to New York JFK and Washington D.C. It was like the private express highway of the skies.

What Made the Concorde So Special - Besides Its Speed?

• The Sonic Boom: Yes, flying faster than sound meant it left a boom in its wake - a thunderous noise that annoyed people living under the flight path. This is partly why Concorde flights were mostly limited to over-water routes.
• Technological Marvel: The engines (Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 turbojets) were some of the most advanced ever built for commercial aviation.
• Material Science: Flying at Mach 2 meant skin temperatures of up to 127°C (260°F) from air friction. The plane actually stretched by about 23 cm (9 inches) during flight due to heat expansion. Your average airliner doesn’t have to deal with that.
• Luxury Service: Despite the speed, passengers still got served champagne and caviar, with cabin crew trained to offer top-tier service in a rather tight space.

The Downside: Why Didn’t We Keep Flying Concorde Forever?

• Fuel Guzzler: The Concorde was thirsty - really thirsty. Its fuel consumption was roughly 5 times that of a regular subsonic jet per passenger.
• Ticket Price: Flying the Concorde cost a small fortune. Tickets were often around $10,000-$12,000 one-way in today’s money.
• Environmental Impact: The sonic boom limited its routes, and the engines were noisy and polluting compared to modern standards.
• The 2000 Crash: In 2000, a tragic crash involving Air France Flight 4590 led to a grounding of the fleet. Although the fleet returned briefly, the damage to the Concorde’s reputation was done.
• Aging Tech: By the early 2000s, the Concorde was old tech. No major upgrades were forthcoming, and the economics just didn’t add up.

So, while the Concorde was an aviation icon, it was always destined to be a niche player.

The Legacy of Concorde: Still Ahead of Its Time

The Concorde showed us that supersonic passenger travel was possible - and glamorous. Its legacy lives on as companies today try to resurrect supersonic flight but with a focus on sustainability, noise reduction, and affordability. Think Boom Supersonic and Aerion - they’re all trying to make flying faster again without the hefty price tag or environmental backlash.

While We Don’t Offer Concorde Flights (We’re Still Waiting for Elon to Get on That)...

If you want a taste of the future rather than the past, why not book an Electric Flying Lesson in an electric aircraft at Norwich Airport? It’s quiet, clean, and surprisingly fun to fly. Or if you want to geek out with some high-tech toys without leaving the ground, book a Drone Flying Experience or grab a session in one of our Flight Simulators - where you can experience flying a modern jet (or even a Concorde replica) from the comfort of a chair, minus the champagne but plus the ability to crash without consequences.

Concorde was a one-of-a-kind flying legend, but at Flydays, we’re all about the next generation of aviation thrills. Ready to take off?

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• The return of the RAF Cosford Air Show