Revival of Concorde

[Alanwsg]

Is this serious?

The revival of Concorde - Telegraph

[Herod]

A nice thought. I suspect the main problem will be the technical support. There was talk, when they were still flying, of Virgin taking them over, but IIRC Aerospatiale wouldn't release the engineering drawings. Do the drawings even still exist? Shades of TSR2.

[tdracer]

Unlikely. Just the cost of re-certifying Concorde to the current regulations would be cost prohibitive - as in hundreds of millions of dollars/pounds/Euros. It may not even be possible to certify it to the current regulations.
The only way viable way to again fly Concorde would be under an experimental ticket, but that would be of limited commercial value.

[The Ancient Geek]

No chance, the manufacturers have decided that there will be zero support and without them it can never fly again.

[2dPilot]

And the Americans still won't allow a bird flying close to NY that goes faster than their military jets can catch it.

[TOWTEAMBASE]

Isn't there a link somewhere between the engines and that of a Vulcan ? If they won't certify those any more, then why would they for concord. Shame though

[Donkey497]

After many years sitting unmoving, unmaintained and unpreserved, no existing Concorde hull is ever going to take to the air again.


It's completely unrealistic to think otherwise. If it had been prepped and standing somewhere like AMARC, that might, just might be a different prospect, but who would be willing to go transonic in something that's been exposed to a gently corrosive fluid for over a dozen years?


I'll definitely pass on this one......

[M.Mouse]

Whereas the Daily Telegraph was once a newspaper with very high journalistic standards and its reporting could be taken seriously it has now joined the Murdoch inspired race to the bottom of the gutter with sensationalist, ill-researched headline grabbing nonsense now the order of the day.

It is a comic. Even a minimal amount of proper research would quickly reveal the facts which will prevent Concorde ever flying again as a commercial operation.

[stuckgear]

Is this serious?

The revival of Concorde - Telegraph

TC was terminated.

It'll never fly again. It would require a full TC program. No one will fund that.

[DaveReidUK]

The byline belongs to the Telegraph's "digital luxury travel editor".

Enough said.

[lomapaseo]

And the Americans still won't allow a bird flying close to NY that goes faster than their military jets can catch it.

Why on earth would they want to catch it flying away from them? All they have to do is send up something to intercept it from in front of it.

[peekay4]

Whereas the Daily Telegraph was once a newspaper with very high journalistic standards and its reporting could be taken seriously it has now joined the Murdoch inspired race to the bottom of the gutter with sensationalist, ill-researched headline grabbing nonsense now the order of the day.

If you prefer a left-leaning newspaper, you can read the same story at the Guardian:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...hin-four-years

[peekay4]

TC was terminated.

It'll never fly again. It would require a full TC program. No one will fund that.

Not necessarily. I think most here are thinking of a return to "full scheduled commercial passenger service". Of course that's not going to happen.

But there are many options short of that. The group may try to obtain a more limited type certification, e.g., to allow airshow display flights, limited subsonic flights, or even limited charter ops.

There might even be spare parts to support limited ops for quite a long time.

[Falcon900LX]

Might I just add how pessimistic everyone was when the vulcan was said to be making a return.

Also regarding engineering and maintenance. I'm sure parts can be made serviceable again and from the engine stand point they've had a lot of tlc over the years of being inactive especially the one at LHR. You can find (easily) all engineering manuals for Concorde online when doing my EASA Part 66 B licence, Where I was studying had the option to have a rating on Concorde so it's definitely possible.

I think the only thing and really is the only thing stopping this from happening is money, it's going to cost millions BA should have sold them to Branson when he offered.

[M.Mouse]

If you prefer a left-leaning newspaper, you can read the same story at the Guardian:

Newspaper and Guardian is an oxymoron.

....BA should have sold them to Branson when he offered.

Branson (the launch customer for the A380 remember?) would have painted them in his livery and then not flown them. He had no intention nor ability to fly them but then why should practicalities interfere with his self-serving public posturing?

Might I just add how pessimistic everyone was when the vulcan was said to be making a return.

And having sucked millions of £s for the past few years it is now errrr.....grounded again after this season. It is arguable if it was worth it but please not another bottomless pit just to keep one aircraft in the air to satisfy those whose misty eyed nostalgia overrules their common sense.

[Falcon900LX]

I agree, but the Vulcan has been publicly and lottery funded so you can't really complain.

Concorde from a business standpoint just isn't viable and as much as I'd like to see it in the air again it won't happen.

[Stanwell]

Mr Mouse, you forgot to kick the cat before logging on.

[Downwind Lander]

Is there a cut down certification category to cover only exhibition fly pasts?

[RealUlli]

Is there a cut down certification category to cover only exhibition fly pasts?

I think the experimental category could be used for that.

I suspect, if they're serious, they'll have something like the Breitling Super Constellation in mind. If a sufficiently deep-pocketed sponsor can be found, the project is feasible, IMHO.

I wonder if our resident Concorde People would be willing (and allowed) to help out, e.g. training pilots, consulting, ...

[Wander00]

In my late 20s I worked for the then Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd as a "management trainee" in Production Control. I been there about 2 or 3 months when I was told I was to be given a "special job", indeed it was "special" - production controlling assemblies going into the droop nose and visor of I think it was the second and third prototypes. So I have a great affection for the aeroplane, but sadly I do not expect one to fly again