trium,
Your point that Branson is willing to take on Concorde is, er, not the point.
To try to clarify: Air France has voluntarily withdrawn its fleet from service. This has precipitated the withdrawal of support from the manufacturer. BA have extended Concorde operations as far as they were allowed to by negotiation.
Now if BA are not permitted to operate Concorde beyond October by this situation what on earth makes you think anyone else would be allowed to?
You may well say "let him try" - but those who are actually responsible (and essential) for the aircraft's operational and licencing support will not let anyone try - BA included.
Regarding your point about why is RB trying - he is gaining massive
PR points for free on the back of the demise of Concorde - perpetuating the myth that BA got them for free. That is enhancing - not risking - his reputation. He's brilliant at that, he knows the aircraft is being grounded - not by BA - but heck, if he can play the situation to come out smelling of roses and successfully imply that he's being badly treated then he will. Very clever - nil risk, nil cost and max. boost to public image.
So, having been grounded by the manufacturer and Air France, the only possible result of giving VS our airframes would be seeing them shipped off to museums in Virgin Atlantic livery for posterity - and after all the investment of time and money resulting in nearly 3 decades of successful supersonic transport it is unsurprising and, IMHO understandable, that BA are unwilling to countenance that.
nomdeplume:
From memory, 2hrs 52mins 59secs JFK-LHR. Unlikely to be bettered. What price progress?