Britannia
21st Jan 2004, 22:08
After her last flight in August 2000, BA Concorde G-BOAB is ready to be handed over to the care of the Heathrow Airport operator BAA (formerly the British Airport Authority), on the 28th anniversary of Concorde's first commercial flight on Jan 21st 1976.
A few BA engineers have been working to re-instate many parts on the exterior of the aircraft, and she has recently visited the paint shop, where she was the last ever Concorde to be painted by the airline. A few steps have been taken to ensure the long term future of the aircraft, such as retracting the tail bumper gear.
Alpha-Bravo will go on display on Block 132, which is parallel to the main taxiway that leads to runway 27R's holding point, thus enabling the passengers of aircraft taxing for take-off to see her up close as they pass by. She will also be visible from the Heathrow Visitors Centre.
The aircraft's stay at Block 132 will only be temporary. It is expected that she will eventually be moved to an area near the new terminal 5, where in 2008 all British Airways operations will be based. Until such time as a site is identified she will be firmly bolted down on 132 (....maybe to stop a certain R. Branson towing her to his paint shop in the middle of the night - Ed.)
G-BOAB first flew on May 18th 1976 and was delivered to BA on September 30th 1976 as the 3rd aircraft. Her final flight was a positioning flight back from New York on August 15th 2000, commanded by Captain Les Brodie, who also landed Concorde for the very last time at Filton in November 2003.
In Paris, on the same day, F-BTSD will move into the Concorde hall at the Le Bourget Air and Space Museum alongside the first prototype, F-WTSS. It is expected they will both be outside for an historic photoshoot before being entombed in the Concorde hall.
A few BA engineers have been working to re-instate many parts on the exterior of the aircraft, and she has recently visited the paint shop, where she was the last ever Concorde to be painted by the airline. A few steps have been taken to ensure the long term future of the aircraft, such as retracting the tail bumper gear.
Alpha-Bravo will go on display on Block 132, which is parallel to the main taxiway that leads to runway 27R's holding point, thus enabling the passengers of aircraft taxing for take-off to see her up close as they pass by. She will also be visible from the Heathrow Visitors Centre.
The aircraft's stay at Block 132 will only be temporary. It is expected that she will eventually be moved to an area near the new terminal 5, where in 2008 all British Airways operations will be based. Until such time as a site is identified she will be firmly bolted down on 132 (....maybe to stop a certain R. Branson towing her to his paint shop in the middle of the night - Ed.)
G-BOAB first flew on May 18th 1976 and was delivered to BA on September 30th 1976 as the 3rd aircraft. Her final flight was a positioning flight back from New York on August 15th 2000, commanded by Captain Les Brodie, who also landed Concorde for the very last time at Filton in November 2003.
In Paris, on the same day, F-BTSD will move into the Concorde hall at the Le Bourget Air and Space Museum alongside the first prototype, F-WTSS. It is expected they will both be outside for an historic photoshoot before being entombed in the Concorde hall.