I watched the arrival of G-BOAC at Manch this morning. Realising they were on 06, I cycled the few miles from home to adjacent 06R, near the Bollin Valley. There's an embankment there by a footpath that overlooks the entire airfield. She came on frequency using Concorce AC call sign. We got a splendid view of the entire approach, though her touch down was past where we were standing, it was all in view. Very dissapointed in no go-around - but they landed her on 06L, and quite a queue of departures had built up. If they'd landed her on 06R, maybe she could have done a low approach and go-around, right turnout, and re-position for a 06L (or R) touchdown without holding up the outbounds any more than she did with her simple landing today.

Anyone know what they are going to do with her in the immediate future? I heard rumours that they are going to remove the engines. Why? They are no good for anything else.

SSD

All the Frech Concordes have had similar fates to those prescribed for BAs. One went to Airbus France, another across the pond, one to a German Museum, one at Le Bourget, the other at Charles de Gaulle. I'm not sure where the others went, but none have flown since their final positioning flights.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/388080/M/

The BBC indicated that this afternoon, engineers on the BA conc at Manchester would begin to dismantle her engines, and she would no longer be airworthy by the end of today.

I presume BA will keep all the engines just to make sure no-one else could get their hands on them.

Shaggy,
I also saw it land today - sad to think I'll never see it fly again. I think the queue of outbounds at the hold for 06L were largely there at their own request, as the KLM 737 at the head of the queue thanked ATC for allowing them to wait! A bit like its visit last week when several aircraft were unwilling to cross 06L having landed on 06R until after the old girl had landed past them.

I'd have though they could ensure she never flys again without resorting to engine removal.

I expect there may be few bits BA want back - the radios, for instance, are presumably usable elswhere. But it will be a pity if they strip her and we end up with a shell with perhaps one or two set of cabin seats in, some of the cockpit fittings gone, and daylight shining through from intakes to tail pipes where the engines should be. Just wouldn't be the same as having her in 'operational' (if disabled) condition.

SSD

Just got an email inviting me to the auction of Concorde bits on Dec 1st. See
www.bonhams.com/concorde

An engine would be nice :)

Cheers

Bizarrely, I understand that under some ridiculous law, the engine intake control computers are still classified as a UK State Secret......and therefore have to be removed to prevent those devious Russkies getting their hands on them!

There was a French Concorde at IAD on Aug 31st. (Together with a DC3 and the prototype 707 - three generations of aviation firsts).

I hope at least one will be kept intact with engines, avionics etc.

Gutting to see these fine aircraft on barges. Part of me wishes they'd been cremated with dignity.

I watched the take off today from the North Perimeter.
Having seen so many from airside over the years, I wasn't expecting to get such a lump in the throat this time...

The conditions were ideal (apart from night-time TOs which are something else), but the humidity was perfect for seeing the huge overwing vortices. The fence I was clinging onto vibrated along with my chest.

How I'll miss that feeling.

There were no signs of any work being carried out on 'AC as I left work a little while ago - indeed the aircraft was still parked nicely at the bottom of the cul-de-sac surrounded by amazed MAPLc employees and bollards :)

My understanding is that the aircraft will be towed along to reside on taxiway Bravo for the weekend (it may already be there as I type as I'm not sure how long apron control could do without stands 16 - 1).

After that 'AC will, it is rumoured, by moved into one of the hangars for what has officially been called "component recovery" and whilst it awaits the creation of its new home - a glass hangar construction connected to the Engine Test Bay.

It's been a great day today - but as I've said before - a sad one too. There will surely never be an aircraft again that will command such respect and awe - and one that can bring a major international airport to a complete and utter, silent standstill.

RIP Concorde.

Why not 'on the hour'?
 

I was listening to a recording of the RT of Concorde 2 coming into Heathrow last Friday. Captain Bannister was asking Air Traffic for the preferred landing times for the 3 Concordes, and said that company had asked that none landed 'on the hour'. Before the hour, or after, was OK, but not on the hour.

Why was that?

SSD

Anybody else heard the latest conspiracy theory from inside 'Rod Airways'? Apparently in retaliation for Britain’s non-compliance with the French over the invasion of Iraq, they were to make sure that there was no chance of their (i.e. BAs) Concordes ever flying again, the French having made their decision already. This came from an insider very close to Concorde and the dates seem to fit and it worked!!!!

I think it would have stopped commercial flying anyway, but maybe just one could have been kept airworthy if there would have been component manufacturer’s support.

RIP good buddy.

:* :* :*

Shaggy Sheep Driver - was it something to do with the BBC TV coverage of the event? Perhaps the news was due then as it normally is - or something along those lines.

Pure conjecture, but I wondered if:

- A Conc lands precisely on the hour - onlookers applaud with rapture.
- A Conc lands seconds off the hour - onlookers assume it was aiming for the hour but missed the target.
- All Concs land several minutes from the hour - the issue doesn't arise.

Does anyone know if the G-BOAC's positioning flight to MAN carried any passengers - staff or press perhaps?

g-boac at man
 

Lots of people in brand new , shiny, hi-vis tabards milling around Concorde this afternoon but B A staff not allowed near (except to tow it away).The shuttle captain taking capt. Bannister back to
Heathrow told us that he was not allowed to take a look but we watched other airline staff and maplc staff hanging about the aircraft .BA organised nothing for BA staff at Manchester today.We felt like we weren't invited to the party,typical BA.

niteflite01 - nothing to do with Beeb coverage.

ID90 - yes, according to http://www.concordesst.com/home.html, 82 passengers were on the flight. They were members of the BA Concorde family who are being carried on the ferry flights to thank them and their families for the commitment to the aircraft since its entry into service with the airline.

Nice to be aboard, but nicer if you get to be on one of the transatlantic deliveries, rather than a 30 minute sub-sonic lob into Manch...

SSD

Heard a rumour that it was full of BA staff, but source was a fellow gawper with a tranny.

It was certainly light as it rotated about halfway down the Novembers and was airborne before the mail shed. Certainly light fuel of course, but really no idea on pax.

BA organised nothing for BA staff at Manchester today.We felt like we weren't invited to the party,typical BA.

Yeah, know how you feel. My invite to the festivities must have got delayed by the postal strike.... :)

Still, I'm sure there were plenty of Aldermen, Councillors, public worthies, and other hangers-on to sup my share of the champers:(

SSD

So there was hardly anyone of the BA staff at LHR invited in fact they were excluded in the main.

The sponsor was MACH 111 from Gillete the SSC could have provided billions of razor blades.

I didn't realise it was Mike Bannister who flew her into EGCC, when she parked up opposite the viewing area i couldn't get a good view, all the parents with their bratty kids were in the way.