Nomdeplume I'm open to correction but I think the record of 2 hrs 52 mins 59 secs JFK-LHR (09) set in 1996 still stands - an average speed for the entire flight of over 1250 mph.
It was flown by the Captain, I think Captain Scott(?). The FO was Senior First Officer (now Captain) Tim Orchard. Tim's a total aviator who also runs the BA Flying Club at Booker - when he's not flying one of his hot air balloons! I don't know the FE's name or I'd post it - I'm sure the Captain would agree the record was a team effort with each member of the flight crew playing a crucial part.
L337 I didn't "rubbish all that BA has done" for aviation; I made one comment about one issue. I have strong links with BA, both professional and personal, and anyone who knows me knows I have a high regard for BA.
My views on this issue may well be coloured by my sadness at Concorde's premature demise. I was lucky enough to be invited to see the work BA was doing to the fuel tanks when Concorde was grounded - an absolutely fascinating day when three of us spent several hours crawling over every inch of the stripped out G-BOAF under the guidance of engineers and our Concorde Captain host. Fitting hundreds (possibly thousands) of small kevlar linings to the enormous fuel tanks was a mammoth task. Each small lining was shaped and numbered to correspond with the panel where it was to be fitted. Everyone was so optimistic then that this pains-taking and very expensive task would ensure Concorde would grace the skies for many more years. What a change in such a short time.
It shouldn't be forgotten that, from the very beginning, there have always been two strong bodies of opinion about Concorde within BA: one for, one against. I'm told by a number of reliable sources, whom I have no reason to doubt, that an anti lobby existed at Board/management level to the end and this final problem swung the 'middle ground'.
Concorde has always had to contend with opposition within the company. Some were convinced it couldn't survive BA's financial streamlining in preparation for privatisation and, but for the foresight and wisdom of Lord King who became Chairman in 1981, it may not have. King was pro Concorde, created the Concorde Division and gave Captain Brian Walpole (appointed General Manager Concorde) and Captain Jock Lowe (then a Senior FO) two years to turn it to profit. They did so. I declare a bias because he's become a friend, but I consider Jock Lowe to be one of the 'all round' cleverest men it's been my privilege to meet in aviation. He was Commercial Director Concorde until 1999.
Their challenging task had only been under way for a few months when Concorde's future was threatened by a different and very serious crisis: the government gave notice it wouldn't fund Concorde's support costs beyond 1983 (later extended to 1984.) Many in BA thought (and the anti lobby hoped) that really was the end of Concorde and when King told the government BA would consider taking over the support costs, the anti-Concorde body thought he was barking mad. However, King and his team negotiated new contracts with the relevant companies and Concorde was saved again. The anti lobby forecast financial disaster but the BA Concorde fleet was making a profit 20 years later when the retirement was announced.
We're all entitled to our views. I understand, and don't underestimate, the serious problems created by the Air France decision. I merely believe, rightly or wrongly, that if a man with the genius and courage of Lord King was still Chairman, a way would have been found around the latest problem. How? I have no idea. I'm only a lawyer not a world-class businessman and, in light of events in recent years, perhaps the less said about having a lawyer running the business side of BA the better!
Equally, you're entitled to your view that I'm a moron with a monkey brain who knows nothing about aviation. I'll have to face that with such fortitude as I can muster.
(I'm sorry I misunderstood your history with BA. You said in an August post you were a new captain in BA on the 744 and I didn't take into account your time with BA Regional at BHX.)