Ba Concord And T5

[ukdean]

Just a quick question. Am I correct in thinking that Concord is going to be moved to t5, only reason being is that she is still parked up around the back at lhr. Can someone put me in the picture please...Thanks in advance....

[JEM60]

I do hope it's going there. I have memories of being on the flight deck of G-BOAB in flight, probably drunk, with my video camera, quite some years ago. Try doing that now as SLF Look forward to seeing it there next time I go through T5.

[CHINOOKER]

Not sure if this is going to ever happen now,as the place it was apparently going to be put on display at T5 is now impossible to get to due the infrastructure around it!. Also i think that there were some concerns over acts of vandalism/terrorism to the aircraft as it would have been outside the security fence etc. As it stands at the moment i think it will stay where it is on the East maintenance base,as it is the best place for "care and maintenance" of the airframe.
At present there are several plans for the reconfiguration and rebuilding of the Eastern maintenance base in light of the A380 coming along in a few years,so for what its worth,my take on this is that it will eventually be preserved on display somewhere in the Hatton Cross area.

[ukdean]

Chaps..... thanks for passing on your info. Chinooker with what you say I think she is parked in the best place for her. What a site that will Be an A380 Next to concord...

[Leezyjet]

Sorry to be pedantic, but it is Concorde

:ok:

[JEM60]

Actually, I was going to say that too, but I thought it was a bit pedantic.:):):). Glad it will be preserved.

[ukdean]

Sorry chaps, I thought it looked incorrect , appologies to the young girl. I think I was having an old blighty momet, was it not the french who wanted the "e" on the end of Concord. All in good taste of course......

[HZ123]

I very much doubt it will ever end up displayed in the H X area, more likely if it is not cut up it will have to found a new home at another airfield. BA is not interested in preserving it and why should they anyway.

[One9iner]

HZ123

Prestige, heritage, reputation.. all contributing to an excellent piece of advertising for years to come. . am I being nostalgic and overly precious? Maybe..

BA are not having to maintain the aircraft to fly are they ? Simply keeping the thing clean and in good shape.. is that all that expensive ? No

[HZ123]

It takes up a parking space that could be utilised by another aircraft. We have spent the last couple of years shunting it from one location to another. BAA do not want it and when you say it should not cost much to keep it 'have a look at the outside aircraft at Duxford' the exterior deteriorates very quickly and after a couple of years there are issues with undercarriage and other bits and pieces. I am sure a decision will be made within the next 12 months as to its future. However I agree with your views.

[VAFFPAX]

They should bring back the Concorde model and park THAT by the roundabout for T5... a nice BA logo with the Concorde 'taking off' over it. I know... I'm sentimental, but the old girl does not deserve to be left where she is. The real babe is too expensive to keep in shape with the amount of exhaust fumes and rain and whatnot corroding her outsides.

S.

[One9iner]

I can understand your points regarding space issues, and the exterior requiring some attention every couple of years that can turn out to be an expense to BA...

I feel it's a shame that BAA can't create a spotters park like they have done at Manchester.. OK I don't agree with the price it costs to park your car (£4-5 I believe) but a Concorde is on display along with a 146 and the money taken from spotters clearly contributes to maintenance costs.

[HZ123]

I do not disagree with many of the points and am indeed all for sentiment. The problem is that neither BA or BAA has the slightest interest in the outcome and final resting place of the base SSC. It does not generate any monies.

Untill last year the SSC was utilised for some towing training and training the aircraft appearance staff (who also are the de-icing staff during winter or as required). However this was stopped because the aircrafts characteristics did not reflect any of the other types of aircraft in our fleet now and were deemed to be ineffective for training purposes.

Should anyone feel the need for postive action in respect of the final resting place for the airframe then the public must get involved in addition to the media to pressurise BA into action. You need only revisit the Trident association and the last example to be removed from LHR, BA had told them in the end that if it was not moved it would be cut up.

[CHINOOKER]

Spoke today with some of the guys who are surveying the East maintenance base for all the work that has to be done....North and West pens to be made A380 capable and the bays in TBJ/K being extended for 777-300!.....On thier plans there is also a general purpose wide bodied a/c nose in dock, planned for where Concorde and the "tarmac plant" currently sit. On asking if they knew what was going to happen to AB they said that there were "options in place" to display her at what will be the new entrance to the BA Engineering base, which will be off the new roundabout to the east of HX,(old E11? gate area). Only time will tell,but i'm sure BA will have to preserve her somewhere,especially in light of the bad pr NYC has had over the poor state the one at the Intrepid Air Park has got into! Personally i think AB would look nice preserved "gear up/nose up" on a plinth etc!....If the yanks can do it with style to B52s etc why can't we!

[beamender99]

BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Airport newts halt Concorde home (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7625087.stm)

[HZ123]

I cannot see this happening as a spare place to park an a/c costs money. If it was put on show it would encoursge viewers and spotters to the location and i cannot see that being encouraged by BA or BAA. If it is within the complex why would the staff wish to see the a/c when they go into work. By the time this might be in place there probably will be hardly any engineering staff left anyway. Lets hope I am wrong but BA has never put anything on show at LHR, with the exception of trhe tunnel entry.
Lastly this plan has been muted for years and was also at one time the plan for a Trident 3 and look what happened to that (MAN)

[Trident man]

Yep WZK took up valuable space on the west base apron and BA were going to scrap it! (thats why i saved it) OAB will at some point take up valuable apron space,i have heard a rumor (and only a rumor) that OAB may end up going to Duxford!

[JEM60]

That would be good!! Just down the road from me!!
In my opinion, it would make more sense to have this aircraft in the Superhanger, , a production Concorde in BAA colours, than the prototype that is in there at the moment. I have to say that it would look rather nice alongside the Comet in BOAC colours [also flown in by me,].
If they would shift the Monarch Brittania in there as well, then they are starting off a nice collection of airliners I have graced with my presence in the air, which would be very nice of Duxford.;););)

[HZ123]

Visited this summer after a break of some years, I was dissapointed at the state of the herald and the exrerior parked a/c. Why is there no Budgy146 and it is made worse by the soon to be cut Belfast @ SEN . Why is everyone worried about the SSC.

[JEM60]

The Herald is in a bad state simply because it is being readied for restoration!!. Considering the large collection of Airliners that DAS has to look after, I think that they do extremely well considering that these aircraft are looked after by VOLUNTEERS. I have no idea why there is no BAE 146, I suppose nobody has offered one yet.
I presume, because of your unhappiness with the state of the aircraft, that you left Duxford after giving DAS a VERY LARGE DONATION to enable them to restore the aircraft to your satisfaction.
Sorry. Thought your critiscism was unhelpful and ungrateful to all the people who TRY with limited means, to keep us happy!!!.

[Skipness One Echo]

The 146 is not quite yet a museum piece and there is a preserved SC5 Belfast at the RAF Museum at Cosford. I reckon DAS would find the Belfast a little bit big. Also no HP137 Jestream and I agree with the absence of HS748, although the ATP is more of a museum piece. Oddly enough I was through CDG today and with little expense and fuss they mounted Air France Concorde F-BVFF next to the road. Damned impressive too and no danger of spotter-itis.

[JEM60]

There is a lot on my 'wish list' too, but the more airliners you have, the worst condition they are all going to get into. It is simply a matter of logistics. More aircraft mean more workforce [volunteers]required, more expense. more room, difficulty in prioritising restorations etc.,etc.,

[jonesy101]

Shame on BA and BAA!!,
they should get themselves over to CDG and look at what ADP and Air France have done with their Concorde. Mounted on 3 supports configured nose up as if it's just left the ground. It spot lit at night and they've even added light effects to the engines to look like After Burner !!!. Looks great as you drive under it on way from Aerogare 2 to Paris.

Come on LHR have some pride in history and show this beauty in a manner she deserves!

[andybsei]

Jonesy101....i agree, the SSC at CDG looks fantastic but AF are hardly 'pro' looking after their ex Concorde fleet.
Just take a look at WTSA at Orly...

BA have been very good with their fleet and all but AD in New York have been very well looked after.....even AB is harldy looking shabby and it's not even on 'official' public display.

andybsei

[Skipness One Echo]

F-WTSA was never an Air France machine, she was an Aerospatiale test bed and never flew commercially.