Ever fly on Concorde ?
Discussion
Kev_Mk3 said:
Sadly not and wish I could have.
Closest I will ever get is going on it here & a Tupolev
https://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en/concorde
Was a massive Concorde fan as a kid and always wanted to see the Tupolev in the flesh, was driving UK to Maranello recently via Stuttgart and realise Sinsheim was right on my path...Closest I will ever get is going on it here & a Tupolev
https://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en/concorde
only had 30-40 mins there so couldn't go in but was worth it just to see them together.
I got a free upgrade to Concorde
I hit the perfect window - after the Paris crash when the BA Concordes were flying again, but before they announced the retirement & prices went nuts,
I had a work trip (BA Club) to NY and one way was a free Concord upgrade.
So glad I did it - great experience, but no way was it worth the premium and it was no surprise that it was taken out of service.......
I hit the perfect window - after the Paris crash when the BA Concordes were flying again, but before they announced the retirement & prices went nuts,
I had a work trip (BA Club) to NY and one way was a free Concord upgrade.
So glad I did it - great experience, but no way was it worth the premium and it was no surprise that it was taken out of service.......
I wanted to blow the deposit for our first house on the farewell tour but the now Mrs wasn't keen. The Duxford & Brooklands prototypes are the closest I got along with standing beside the fence at the Coventry Road end of the runway when it came to land at BHX on the farewell tour. I should have been at work and found myself their with a few randoms with with same idea to see it land. It was like a bird of prey coming in and totally filled the field of view. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe it.
I also like to think that my family are in the super exclusive club of the few people to have picnicked under Concorde
Edited by dantournay on Thursday 21st November 00:08
Edited by dantournay on Thursday 21st November 00:10
Kev_Mk3 said:
Wow!! I did not know this place existed - Looks fabulous!!Very fortunate to fly on Concorde four times. Twice to New York (AF, AG), once back to London (AE) and then lucky to win places on the last tour flights from Birmingham round the Bay of Biscay (AC).
I’m sad that my children never had the opportunity. A wonderful aircraft and unforgettable experience.
I’m sad that my children never had the opportunity. A wonderful aircraft and unforgettable experience.
dantournay said:
.... standing beside the fence at the Coventry Road end of the runway when it came to land at BHX on the farewell tour.
We managed to win tickets on the farewell tour flight out of Birmingham to Heathrow via the Bay of Biscay. The whole experience was so special, especially seeing the huge crowds out of the windows as we taxied out. The take off performance was very impressive, particularly since she extra weight from luggage, etc. I've got a photo somewhere of the display showing mach 2 at 60,000ft....
StephenP said:
dantournay said:
.... standing beside the fence at the Coventry Road end of the runway when it came to land at BHX on the farewell tour.
We managed to win tickets on the farewell tour flight out of Birmingham to Heathrow via the Bay of Biscay. The whole experience was so special, especially seeing the huge crowds out of the windows as we taxied out. The take off performance was very impressive, particularly since she extra weight from luggage, etc. I've got a photo somewhere of the display showing mach 2 at 60,000ft....
Dad and I did one of the 90 minute out and back flights from Fairford during a mid 90's air tattoo. As others have said, the takeoff was like nothing else you'll experience in an airliner, possibly aided by the empty luggage bags - the feeling of never ending acceleration along the runway, and then the sensation of being laid on your back in the seat as it rotated, still pushing you into the seat with the relentless acceleration up and away from mother earth.
The feeling of utter non-eventfulness as it slipped gracefully through the sound barrier and up to M2 - only the bulkhead displays giving you any idea that you were travelling faster than anything else you'd experience outside of life as a fast jet pilot (and in some cases not even then) or an astronaut.
The total party atmosphere onboard - you bought tickets for these flights because you really, really, wanted to fly Concorde, so when you finally got the chance you were so totally up for the whole event that nothing would be able to wipe the stupid grin off your face. And the crew seemed to revel in it - I guess it made a nice change for them compared to dealing with the normal crowd of business people, celebs etc who just wanted to get across the pond as quickly as possible.
The food and endless glasses of champagne... quite how we got back to our hotel again at the end of the show is a mystery.
Utterly unforgettable experience, and oh so glad I was fortunate enough to have had it. Getting to see a shuttle launch was also pretty special, but if I had to choose just one then it'd be Concorde.
The feeling of utter non-eventfulness as it slipped gracefully through the sound barrier and up to M2 - only the bulkhead displays giving you any idea that you were travelling faster than anything else you'd experience outside of life as a fast jet pilot (and in some cases not even then) or an astronaut.
The total party atmosphere onboard - you bought tickets for these flights because you really, really, wanted to fly Concorde, so when you finally got the chance you were so totally up for the whole event that nothing would be able to wipe the stupid grin off your face. And the crew seemed to revel in it - I guess it made a nice change for them compared to dealing with the normal crowd of business people, celebs etc who just wanted to get across the pond as quickly as possible.
The food and endless glasses of champagne... quite how we got back to our hotel again at the end of the show is a mystery.
Utterly unforgettable experience, and oh so glad I was fortunate enough to have had it. Getting to see a shuttle launch was also pretty special, but if I had to choose just one then it'd be Concorde.
Grew up in Teddington where it would rattle the windows on take off as it turned directly over our house on full reheat. Never flew it. Friends of mine were regulars to the Carribean on it.
I have, courtesy of a few trips to BA when I was striving to be a pilot, sat in the captains seat in the cockpit. Been on it a fair few times, but it never moved an inch.
If it was still flying I’d have been on it for now without question.
I have, courtesy of a few trips to BA when I was striving to be a pilot, sat in the captains seat in the cockpit. Been on it a fair few times, but it never moved an inch.
If it was still flying I’d have been on it for now without question.
The new Royal Mail sorting office for Heathrow was being built in Langley. I worked for the commissioning crew. The project was behind. Loads of hours, loads of money. We were working 12 hours a day. But every day, when Concorde took off for New York, everyone stopped to watch. It was after the crash, but still magic. One day, I had an idea. There were enough of us sufficiently interested to fill Concorde. We'd charter it for a supersonic trip round the Bay of Biscay. I looked up the BA Charter number and rang. The phone rang and rang and rang and then I gave up. Driving home it was announced that Concorde was being taken out of service; no more charters, just the remaining flights. The same day. The SAME day. B
s.
When I got home I told my wife my tale of woe. She asked if Air France were doing the same.
Not the lads from work, just Mrs C and me. We stayed in a hotel in London, took the Eurostar to Paris, flew round the Bay of Biscay at twice the speed of sound and those of us interested could go forward and stand just inside the cockpit. We had gourmet-ish food and drank champagne. Then we took the Eurostar back to Blighty. Best day out ever.
s. When I got home I told my wife my tale of woe. She asked if Air France were doing the same.
Not the lads from work, just Mrs C and me. We stayed in a hotel in London, took the Eurostar to Paris, flew round the Bay of Biscay at twice the speed of sound and those of us interested could go forward and stand just inside the cockpit. We had gourmet-ish food and drank champagne. Then we took the Eurostar back to Blighty. Best day out ever.
friend of mine joined NATS straight out of the RAF, early 90's.
He was best student on his course, and as a prize (which none of the students were aware of) they gave him a return trip to NY on the Concorde.
Being a new Air trafficker, he spent the majority of the outbound flight on the flight deck.
when he wasn't on the flight deck (for a meal I think) he was sat with the 'normal passengers'.
Well, if you think being sat with a young George Michael was 'normal'.
Utter basdard.
He was best student on his course, and as a prize (which none of the students were aware of) they gave him a return trip to NY on the Concorde.
Being a new Air trafficker, he spent the majority of the outbound flight on the flight deck.
when he wasn't on the flight deck (for a meal I think) he was sat with the 'normal passengers'.
Well, if you think being sat with a young George Michael was 'normal'.
Utter basdard.
MXRod said:
Some years ago for MILs 80th birthday , she treated us to a lunch flight on that wonderful machine .
Started with a champagne reception at a hotel near Heathrow .
Then a bus to the apron for photo opportunities ,we then boarded for starter and main course .
Then the aircraft took off and we were served the sweet and coffee .
During the flight ,in a well choreographed movement of passengers everyone was able to visit the flight deck , take pictures , and receive a certificate and model of Concorde .
The flight went across country , out over the Bristol Channel , down to the Bay of Biscay , where we went supersonic , then we turned back to Heathrow .
One day we WILL get the 8mm video tape transferred to DVD.
A bonus for us , is that we are under the approach flight path for Heathrow , so our daily treat was so see the afternoon flight turning for the final approach .
Correct me if I am wrong , I seem to remember Concorde using the ID
“ Speedbird One “ when coming into land home or away
You should get it transferred to DVD asap as magnetic tape does degrade with age, and will eventually crumble away to nothing. Started with a champagne reception at a hotel near Heathrow .
Then a bus to the apron for photo opportunities ,we then boarded for starter and main course .
Then the aircraft took off and we were served the sweet and coffee .
During the flight ,in a well choreographed movement of passengers everyone was able to visit the flight deck , take pictures , and receive a certificate and model of Concorde .
The flight went across country , out over the Bristol Channel , down to the Bay of Biscay , where we went supersonic , then we turned back to Heathrow .
One day we WILL get the 8mm video tape transferred to DVD.
A bonus for us , is that we are under the approach flight path for Heathrow , so our daily treat was so see the afternoon flight turning for the final approach .
Correct me if I am wrong , I seem to remember Concorde using the ID
“ Speedbird One “ when coming into land home or away
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