The Concorde thread (Don't start a separate one!)
PFM
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Too emotional to give too much detail, very sad day.
Final details of all 7 to be announced on Monday so I hear.
1x will have to go out by truck (AA or AB) as these never had the fuel tank mods after the A/F crash. One will be going into T5, can be towed across there! The truck would only have to go as far as Brooklands.
Good coverage by BBC, to much talking though -not enough of the Engine noise, will be sadly missed but thanks BBC.
Final details of all 7 to be announced on Monday so I hear.
1x will have to go out by truck (AA or AB) as these never had the fuel tank mods after the A/F crash. One will be going into T5, can be towed across there! The truck would only have to go as far as Brooklands.
Good coverage by BBC, to much talking though -not enough of the Engine noise, will be sadly missed but thanks BBC.
Join Date: Aug 2003
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On the roof at Bush House, small crowd, watched them all come in from OCK and LAM, join the approach and disappear to the west, everybody pointing and waving.
Quite emotional really, ah well.
Farewell.
SHK
Quite emotional really, ah well.
Farewell.
SHK
Join Date: Apr 2000
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All the ITVV staff watched the live coverage of Concorde’s final landing and all of use were over-come with emotion.
We did however lift a glass of Champagne to celebrate the life and times of this wonderful time machine.
Many thanks to all at British Airways for making it possible for us to make the programme on this fantastic aircraft. David, Les and Roger worked so very hard. Also the press office who had Dennis Fernandes leading the team.
Words cannot express our sadness today.
Regards VHS
We did however lift a glass of Champagne to celebrate the life and times of this wonderful time machine.
Many thanks to all at British Airways for making it possible for us to make the programme on this fantastic aircraft. David, Les and Roger worked so very hard. Also the press office who had Dennis Fernandes leading the team.
Words cannot express our sadness today.
Regards VHS
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Poor coverage on Bloomberg - presenters completely lacked even basic knowledge and showed no interest whatsoever.
You think they'd be glad of a change from reeling off lists of numbers!
Bravo Concorde - a true British lady.
You think they'd be glad of a change from reeling off lists of numbers!
Bravo Concorde - a true British lady.
Rainbow Chaser
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Concorde programs on TV over next few days
In case this afternoons program hasn't filled your need for that last Concorde "fix" then you may enjoy the following:
Friday 24 October
1800 and 2100 (1hr) Discovery Wings – The Concorde Era
2000 and 2300 (30m) Discovery Wings – Flight Deck
2000 (1hr) Discovery – Concorde: Anatomy of a Disaster
Saturday 25 October
2000 (1hr) History Channel – Crash Files
Hope the Beeb makes a video of The Final Bow ... still wish the three had managed to make a formation for a fly-past but ... always good to leave folks wanting more eh?
Friday 24 October
1800 and 2100 (1hr) Discovery Wings – The Concorde Era
2000 and 2300 (30m) Discovery Wings – Flight Deck
2000 (1hr) Discovery – Concorde: Anatomy of a Disaster
Saturday 25 October
2000 (1hr) History Channel – Crash Files
Hope the Beeb makes a video of The Final Bow ... still wish the three had managed to make a formation for a fly-past but ... always good to leave folks wanting more eh?
Join Date: Mar 2001
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BBC coverage...great..Ray Baxter - what a guy. But, then they brought on the D of E, rambling on about his Concorde memories.....Oh my goodness....is he the Queen's consort?... I don't know what she sees in him. An Emperor Baboon springs to mind.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Just watched the triple landing on TV. Absolutely wonderful, excellent coverage BBC, congrats all round ... just a shame you had to end so early.
Was at EDI earlier. Easyjet were clever enough to sandwich the Concorde's takeoff. Must have been around 5000+people there, and full marks to BAA/Lothian Police for good organisation, excellent car parking for thousands of vehicles, and good signage for those of us approaching on foot.
Photos from EDI Dept will be up soon.
Jordan
Was at EDI earlier. Easyjet were clever enough to sandwich the Concorde's takeoff. Must have been around 5000+people there, and full marks to BAA/Lothian Police for good organisation, excellent car parking for thousands of vehicles, and good signage for those of us approaching on foot.
Photos from EDI Dept will be up soon.
Jordan
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BBC coverage was excellent (pauses to wipe tear from eye) with reasonably balanced discussion of why the commercial end had to come. Surely though no-one thought the JFK flight would have enough fuel to join in the 45 minute tour of the taxiways? It seemed to take everyone by surprise when the tug appeared!
My nomination for worst journalistic gaffe:
"The shape of Concorde’s nose means that it prefers to land against the wind." - Times Online
My nomination for worst journalistic gaffe:
"The shape of Concorde’s nose means that it prefers to land against the wind." - Times Online
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Not a bad send off courtesy of the beeb - some good input from Raymond Baxter and truly magnificent shots of the threesome coming down.
That first landing though....
Although I suppose in fairness to land Concorde for the last time in front of the world's media with a million flashbulbs capturing the finesse of your arrival for the history books would give any of us the pucker factor!
That first landing though....
Although I suppose in fairness to land Concorde for the last time in front of the world's media with a million flashbulbs capturing the finesse of your arrival for the history books would give any of us the pucker factor!
bat fastard
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WOW! watched it live on bbc, what a beautiful aircraft! seen the first 2 come in one behind the other in the same shot looking down the runway. She looked so elegant and graceful! I was absolutley overcome with emotion watching them touch down for the final time 
The end of an era
The end of an era
Join Date: Jul 2000
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What a stroke of luck! No chance of getting to the airport, but came out of court and saw LHR was on Westerlies. Rushed home just in time to see the most magnificent and beautiful aircraft ever built flying over Central London for the last time.
I'll never forget flying in Concorde, and will miss seeing it passing overhead towards LHR. A sad day, and a backward step, but a part of aviation history nonetheless. If supersonic passenger transport ever comes back, it's unlikely to be in my lifetime.
Video: Landing at LHR
I'll never forget flying in Concorde, and will miss seeing it passing overhead towards LHR. A sad day, and a backward step, but a part of aviation history nonetheless. If supersonic passenger transport ever comes back, it's unlikely to be in my lifetime.
Video: Landing at LHR
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 25th Oct 2003 at 01:11.
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Pax Vobiscum;-
Surely though no-one thought the JFK flight would have enough fuel to join in the 45 minute tour of the taxiways?
Why not? It would have landed with at least 30 minutes reserve fuel, enough to taxi around for at least 1 hour.
Surely though no-one thought the JFK flight would have enough fuel to join in the 45 minute tour of the taxiways?
Why not? It would have landed with at least 30 minutes reserve fuel, enough to taxi around for at least 1 hour.
Excellent coverage by the bbc. Had to laugh though when the first one landed. I got the image of Robert Shaw (I think) in the Battle of Britain on observing the landing of a new recruit...."bumpsy daisy" said he.
Still I suppose it could be described as a touch and go.....and touch!!
Still I suppose it could be described as a touch and go.....and touch!!
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Was the ONLY person in my office to sneak up to the roof at 15:50! They have no soul here - and a thoughtless regard for health and safety regulations. Felt desolate afterwards, glad to have pprune here to share it with...
Join Date: Apr 2000
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I had the privilege to fly on her LHR-JKF in the early 90's, and later worked her as an ATCO into Filton, with a little off-airways VFR class G sight-seeing tour up the Severn. Last year I was working her on the join-up and initial part of the Golden Jubilee fly-past. Today I could only watch from afar as I was on duty at ELLX, but got home just in time to see the landings. All 4 of them!
God speed, Old Girl.
God speed, Old Girl.
Glasgow's Gallus Gigolo .... PPRuNeing is like making love to a beautiful woman ... I take hours.
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I am sooooooooooooo glad there have never been TV crews around to broadcast some of my landings..... poor blighter, he is never going to hear the end of that!
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On an office-bound day in central London, I snuck off up the ladder to the roof at 1550. Had a quick look round and saw groups of people on every other flat roofed building in the area. Looked behind me and found about half a dozen colleagues had also snuck up our ladder to watch. We watched all three swish by and mine were certainly not the only eyes to be a bit wet up there. Went back down ladder with a deep sigh.