Its the 'British' Apollo. Let Branson get his mitts on them I say.
They are too good to retire just yet.

:D

There have been quite a few times when 09 has been in use and on the radaI have seen circuit bashing at Walthan with the pointy one turning on overhead. Must be bloody impressive to see!

BBC's coverage
 

There is a very complete BBC coverage here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/...de_retirement/

and the "virtual tour" is a quick but powerful explanation of this flying wonder from people who have flown it.
I think Capt Bannister's description and Sir Frost's commentary are a great testimony to the technical advances and beauty of this flying machine.
Saw it myself taking off 09R @EGLL in the rain a few years back, kept the pictures in frames ever since.

Some beautiful memories of a beautiful aeroplane. Thanks all. :ok:

I've got a few, mainly of her few appearances at RIAT, or the old Clophill Village Fete in Bedfordshire (anyone else remember those?). I'd love to be able to remember her first flight from Filton, but I was only one day old. Maybe that's why I feel such an affinity for the old girl; we're almost twins.

Certainly I felt as though a piece of me had died on the day of the Paris crash, and although I don't want to witness the end, I'll be at LHR on Friday. I owe it to Concorde.

But the one image of Concorde that I'll never forget was from earlier this year, early April I think. I'd just returned from Brussels with work, and while my colleague unlocked his car I suddenly heard that unmistakable roar. We both looked up and there she was, climbing out over us in the car park at the end of 09L, and roaring away in a climbing turn into the murky twilight, burners glowing. We were rooted to the spot, even after she'd gone. That graceful old lady was defiantly making her point; "Look at me! I might be thirty-something, I might have had my problems, but I'm not finished yet. I'm STILL the most impressive aeroplane the world has ever seen!".

A week later, the end was announced.... :(

Bragging: on 28 October 1986 I flew Concorde JFK to Heathrow in 3h16m for price of...$250! As a courier, while that was still possible.

One week ago, 13 October 2003, I finally saw it fly from the outside, standing next to the water in Howard Beach, Queens, for JFK takeoff.

Concorde is a *hot rod*.

Watching regular jets take off, followed by Concorde, is like watching government bureaucrats drive by in their Plymouths, followed by James Bond in his Ferrari. :)

I could not have been much older than 11, now 25, when my father had taken both myself and my sister to South Queensferry just North of EDI, to do the divorced parents thing!!

As we walked along the car park towards the Forth Rail bridge, I heard this almighty roar from behind me, being a young and keen enthusiast of aviation, I assumed that it was a number of F4’s ripping up the Forth on their way home to Leuchars….

Oh, how wrong was I.:eek:

There, before my very eye’s was the most awesome sight I have ever seen in aviation, Concorde at lowish level heading to the mouth of the Forth.

As soon as I was home with my Mother, I told her all about it. I must have relived the experience with so much enthusiasm, as before I could even ask if we could go down to the airport for a look, she grabbed the car keys we were heading out the front door.

We arrived at the old Turnhouse entrance on the North East side of the airport, and there she was on the other side of some chain link fence. There were some BA reps at the gate and I asked if I could have a look inside, but due to a quick turnaround, all I could get was a picture of me at the undercarriage of this awe inspiring aircraft.

I’ll be back at EDI on Friday for only my second encounter, this time, I'll see her final flight.

:(

I've spoken to a few people at BA over the last few months. The story about Airbus not wanting to maintain Concorde is bunk; they are very happy to do it (and get paid for it). But BA will never let Branson have the plane because Virgin would be seen as Britain's #1 carrier if they got it.

Sat in a meeting at work today, heard a loud noise, looked out of the window and saw Concorde climbing out of Birmingham

Fantastic sight :cool: - last saw her leaving LHR whilst on a tower visit earlier in the year.

RC

Was visiting Oshkosh back in '84 or so when Concorde came in for barnstorming.

All of EAA were watching the approach 50 yards or so from the runway and I managed to position myself not too far from the touchdown spot and was treated to a go-around with burner.

You felt the noise more than heard it.

I've just heard that Police are expecting between between 500,000 and 1m people to be in the LHR area on Friday for the final flight. Signs on the M25 are already warning of serous delays.

I'll be there.

El european president (in waiting) Blair clearly does not dare to upset the French by continuing to operate Concorde while they clearly cannot. Could it be that Airbus have a secret set of instructions, they are after all a French company?

Not much longer now before Great Britain becomes Britain and then 'that little island off the coast of France'.

Please lets have someone incharge with some b@lls.

[rantON]I think it takes balls to invade a foreign country while the entire population of the planet are against it. Get real moron.[rantOFF/]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


My best Concorde moment came whilst in a traffic jam on the m25, it took off and flew directly overhead my car. The wife was asleep and as soon as I noticed her taking off I tried waking her up. Didn't take long though as soon as she went over she certainly woke up then. :) Fantastic view and equally fantastic noise. :ok:

well i've just spent a couple of hours freezing my nuts off at the end of Manchester's 06L, but it was worth it to see the graceful arrival - for the last time - of Speedbird Concorde.

Having seen the thousands of people who had turned out to see her (some appeared to have been camped there overnight!) I have to question why we are letting this happen...

:(

Um, isn't it because the service can no longer be operated as profitably as with competing aircraft?

I too share the sense of loss with Concorde's passing from active service, but sadly airlines have to make a profit to keep pilots employed (surely we all agree with that?) and so romantic notions alone can't keep aircraft flying beyond their useful economic lives. The same is true for many lovely old airplanes...

Sorry if this seems harsh, but its life. If Branson can run them safely AND profitably, without subsidy, then well and good.

And as for blaming Blair... huh?

Andy

06L? If she came in on time (11:30), why didn't she land on 06R, which is usually the duty runway until 12:00?

If I'd been able to get down I'd probably have gone for a field overlooking 06R (near Bollin House Farm, if anyone knows it - footpath through the field there).

SSD

SSD

Yes it was 06L and I took a walk along said footpath, superb sight as I sat on one of the posts next to the ILS equipment!. Saw an old lady walk the path who I swear could hardly see let alone walk!! just goes to show the pull the old girl has, when i get chance will try put couple pics on here, cheers

Some news from FAI:

"World Record Claim related to the imminent last flight of Concorde.

Since its first flight in 1969, Concorde has already set more than 170 World Records. A few days before its last flight next 24 October, Concorde claimed the following new World Record :

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number 7910 :
Sub-class : C-1 (Landplanes)
Group 3 : turbo-jet
Type of record : Speed over a commercial air route
Course/location : London (UK) - Boston, MA (USA)
Performance : 1'692.47 km/h
Pilot : Mike BANNISTER (UK)
Aircraft : Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde
Date 08.10.2003
Current record : new"

Chris N.

I was at LHR for a tower visit a few months ago, 09R was in use for departures.

Concorde however departed 09L as the surface was better (due to resurfacing works on 09R) and tollerance is apparently much lower than other aircraft.

Could be similar situation at Manchester?

RC

Concorde programmes on British TV tomorrow and Saturday
 

SSD -
She was actually a bit late, after 12, but she was going to land 06L anyway as that's closer to the viewing park full of thousands upon thousands of paying customers!

I've put some piccies up on the av. hist. & nostalgia forum.