Concorde was magnificent, but it was a product of a different era. An era of confidence and belief in doing smart things for their own sake, not just because some bean counter says it will provide a financial return.
So we sent men to the moon and safely brought them back. And we built a superonic airliner that several times a day for 27 years flew the Atlantic at mach 2. It was a technical marvel - Russia and the US both attempted an SST, and failed. Of the 3, only Concorde was successful.
But they only built 14, so the cost per airframe was astronomical with no chance of ever being, overall, a commercial success.
But consider that no other aeroplane has ever crossed the Atlantic supersonic without in flight refuelling; Concorde did it many times a day for nearly 3 decades. G-BOAC even crossed the Atlantic 4 times in 24 hours. 1,350 mph with 100 pampered passengers drinking Champagne. Faster than a military fast jet, for up to 4 and a half hours, on the edge of space.
What an aeroplane! What an era!
Last edited by Shaggy Sheep Driver; 16th August 2012 at 14:08.