Where the limits went right out of the DV window was during the annual C of A renewal flight for each aircraft. (I was privaleged to have been presesnt as a technical observer on the vast majority of ALL Concorde test flights for the last 15 years of service with BA)..
For the specific test n question it was necessary to trip the overspeed warning C/B, which just might give you a clue for what was to come:: From an altitude of around 51-52,000' a 'flat acceleration' was carried out, instead of allowing the aircraft, which was of course relatively light, being allowed to cruise climb. WITHOUT of course the use of reheat, the aircraft would accelerate up to Mach 2.1, Mmo being Mach 2.05. NOW things get really interesting, the aircraft then commences a steep zoom climb, the Mach number falling no lower than 1.8, climbing like a dingbat all the way up to 63,000'. (As most of you know I'm sure, the maximum allowable altitude on a commmercial flight was 60,000'). At this point the throttles are retarded and the nose pushed downwards in a gentle 'bunt' manoeuvre, for a second or two you hit zero G, I always used to toss my pen into the air and watch it seemingly hang in mid air before gently falling back down.
And all of this in an AIRLINER.
Best regards to all
DUDE.
