Official : British Airways Retires Concorde (merged)
Dr Jekyll, Interesting comments. I have often wondered how much sonic booms do actually affect the population.
When I was a kid in South Wales we often heard some dull booming sounds which were alledged to be Concorde accelerating out over the Bristol channel, it wasnt that unpleasant, but then I have always been interested in aircraft.
The SR71 and the Tu144 must have flown quite a lot over land, both probably over sparsely populated areas of the former Soviet Union.
Surely the SR71 would have given away its presence on a mission with a sonic boom. Anybody like to comment.
When I was a kid in South Wales we often heard some dull booming sounds which were alledged to be Concorde accelerating out over the Bristol channel, it wasnt that unpleasant, but then I have always been interested in aircraft.
The SR71 and the Tu144 must have flown quite a lot over land, both probably over sparsely populated areas of the former Soviet Union.
Surely the SR71 would have given away its presence on a mission with a sonic boom. Anybody like to comment.
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http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...307282,00.html
Someone has done a photoshop job on Concorde to show it in Virgin colours.
Someone has done a photoshop job on Concorde to show it in Virgin colours.
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Just for Branson and others benefit, Concorde is an Anglo-French concern ( Concord - literal dictionary definition is ' of one heart' ). If his lordship would like to see Concorde continue to fly why doesn't he go and badger Air France for some of theirs, their retiring at the end of this month I think. Concorde is about the aircraft not about the company.
Personally I agree with a few of the posts above. He's a publicity seeking ****.
If this wasn't more about giving BA a bloody nose rather than keeping Concorde flying he'd be spending some time down in France talking to AF I would think that they are just as passionate about the aircraft as the British are.
Personally I agree with a few of the posts above. He's a publicity seeking ****.
If this wasn't more about giving BA a bloody nose rather than keeping Concorde flying he'd be spending some time down in France talking to AF I would think that they are just as passionate about the aircraft as the British are.
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Heathrow Concorde Statue
What about the model at the entrance to the LHR tunnel??
Whats going to happen to G-CONC?
I heard some Saudia businessmen offered to buy it for GBP £5 million and were turned down by BA.
It will seem pointless to stay there when BA dont operate them anymore later this year.
Or, will it just be reliveried into VS colors? who knows...
PR
Whats going to happen to G-CONC?
I heard some Saudia businessmen offered to buy it for GBP £5 million and were turned down by BA.
It will seem pointless to stay there when BA dont operate them anymore later this year.
Or, will it just be reliveried into VS colors? who knows...
PR
Mistrust in Management
BRISTOLRE
I don't know about the model at the entrance but I'm told on reasonably good authority that a real one will be permanently on show in Terminal 5.
Thats if they can manage to tow it over there without too many bits falling off.
Regards
Exeng
Thats if they can manage to tow it over there without too many bits falling off.
Regards
Exeng
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I personally hope that Branson gets Concorde for Virgin Atlantic, just to keep it flying. I don't see why BA don't want to sell it to him, if all they are going to do is stick it in some museum. Anyway, if they stick to the idea that absolutely no-one could operate it at a profit, seeing as Virgin is one of BA's competitors, it would make sense for them to sell them to Virgin, as they would be losing money.
Concorde is a beautiful aircraft and it has many years left in it. Just look at how long other aircraft have been flying, and how Concorde has flown comparatively little.
Anyway good luck to you Sir RB!
Concorde is a beautiful aircraft and it has many years left in it. Just look at how long other aircraft have been flying, and how Concorde has flown comparatively little.
Anyway good luck to you Sir RB!
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I thought RB had already approached AF about buying their SSCs but BA jumped in and said that it had to be a bi-lateral agreement by BA and AF to sell them,hence no sale.Anyone know if this is true?
For those of you who think it's a bad idea for VS to get them,at least give them a fair go!They're only going to end up in the museum anyway,so RB might as well try....if he can't make a success of it,then they'll be off to the museums.I can't believe theres so much opposition from people within the industry to him at least trying to make a go of it....I'd rather that than see them end up in T5.
777
P.s those of you who question RBs motives should try reading "Dirty Tricks" by Martyn Gregory,about the BA campaign against VS in the early 90s......maybe you might understand why he acts the way that he does towards BA.
For those of you who think it's a bad idea for VS to get them,at least give them a fair go!They're only going to end up in the museum anyway,so RB might as well try....if he can't make a success of it,then they'll be off to the museums.I can't believe theres so much opposition from people within the industry to him at least trying to make a go of it....I'd rather that than see them end up in T5.
777
P.s those of you who question RBs motives should try reading "Dirty Tricks" by Martyn Gregory,about the BA campaign against VS in the early 90s......maybe you might understand why he acts the way that he does towards BA.
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If Virgin did manage to get hold of BA's Concorde, I wonder would he be willing to sign a contract that ensures that if the aircraft subsequently go to a museum then they have to be painted in BA colours
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A Virgin role for Concorde has been ruled out. This BBC story quotes Patricia Hewitt as saying in a letter, ""It is not for the government to make a decision on either the cessation of Concorde services or the disposal of the aircraft concerned."
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I've only just got around to replying, Thanks to under-exposed for your posting about flynow.com (page 13) having a few of the cheapie tickets. I phoned 20 mins after your posting and got 2
Just got back from JFK, what a plane, what a loss
Have been surfing the BA website and there appears to be quite a few tickets available at around the £2300 price one way, which were not visible last week, so if you want one....
Just got back from JFK, what a plane, what a loss
Have been surfing the BA website and there appears to be quite a few tickets available at around the £2300 price one way, which were not visible last week, so if you want one....
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Just heard Sir Richard on the BBC, had a good point about the Airbus support which I hadn't thought of;
"as launch customer for the A330, A340-600 and A380 we have a bit of leverage with Airbus"
Meeting with them in two weeks apparently.
Good luck
"as launch customer for the A330, A340-600 and A380 we have a bit of leverage with Airbus"
Meeting with them in two weeks apparently.
Good luck
Naive question I know. But why on earth would Airbus not want to sell parts to an Airline wishing to buy them?
Is it that it would involve them in a large investment which they would lose if Concorde's future service life is limited?
Or is it just that they are French?
Is it that it would involve them in a large investment which they would lose if Concorde's future service life is limited?
Or is it just that they are French?
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Having just watched Rod Eddington been crucified on BBC Question time- I can only give Richard Branson the best of British Luck in getting Concorde.
I think its impossible- but I'll keep every finger crossed for him
I think its impossible- but I'll keep every finger crossed for him
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Was good entertainment seeing Rod Eddington ambushed on Question Time - not just on Concorde but on age 55 retirement! - not surprising and makes me wonder whether it was inept or just arrogant of BA to have their guy appear on QT right now - particularly without much of a brief. If you don't want to have a debate, don't walk into one!
Paxing All Over The World
Dr. J: "Naive question I know. But why on earth would Airbus not want to sell parts to an Airline wishing to buy them?"
I am not, by nature, a conspiracy theorist but ... Airbus Industrie's link to AF is probably stronger than the one it has to BA.
Sorry to have missed Q.T. sounds like it was a giggle.
I am not, by nature, a conspiracy theorist but ... Airbus Industrie's link to AF is probably stronger than the one it has to BA.
Sorry to have missed Q.T. sounds like it was a giggle.
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Naive question I know. But why on earth would Airbus not want to sell parts to an Airline wishing to buy them?
Its not just spare parts though, its technical support for the aircraft which is necesary to maintain the C of A.
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VVG
I think you must have have misheard the bearded wonder -
VS have never had 330s that I recall, especially as they are evil things with "only two engines"
Spot on on the 380 though, something I also thought of as an "I do for you, you don't do for me" leverage issue.
I think you must have have misheard the bearded wonder -
VS have never had 330s that I recall, especially as they are evil things with "only two engines"
Spot on on the 380 though, something I also thought of as an "I do for you, you don't do for me" leverage issue.
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VVG
A/c maufacturers tend to discount the new price of aircraft and offer all sorts of incentives to operate new aircraft etc. (see eJ deal with Airbus).
Typically, it's in the aftersales, spares and support where manufacturers make their money.
It must be a political decision because - if Airbus were a plc and not a GIE, then they would seek to make money for their shareholders.
In this case, they would say to RB - "yes, you can av ze spares but zere are many euros (more likely US $) attached to zem". If the price were too much then RB could decide.
Got say though with ten aircraft available you could still operate say three comfortably and use the other 7 as Christmas trees -providing Airbus would continue to produce the paperwork. BA effectively did that with the "spare" whitetail at BAE Filton for many years.
I am surpised Stelios hasn't launched a bid for them as he is used to operating loss making operations. I bet he's got easyConc. already registered.
AA
A/c maufacturers tend to discount the new price of aircraft and offer all sorts of incentives to operate new aircraft etc. (see eJ deal with Airbus).
Typically, it's in the aftersales, spares and support where manufacturers make their money.
It must be a political decision because - if Airbus were a plc and not a GIE, then they would seek to make money for their shareholders.
In this case, they would say to RB - "yes, you can av ze spares but zere are many euros (more likely US $) attached to zem". If the price were too much then RB could decide.
Got say though with ten aircraft available you could still operate say three comfortably and use the other 7 as Christmas trees -providing Airbus would continue to produce the paperwork. BA effectively did that with the "spare" whitetail at BAE Filton for many years.
I am surpised Stelios hasn't launched a bid for them as he is used to operating loss making operations. I bet he's got easyConc. already registered.
AA
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AA,
Airbus today legally is Airbus SAS not Airbus GIE anymore. It is a "normal" company owned by it's shareholders EADS and BAE Systems. And yes they want to make a profit.
Anyway I wonder how Sir Richard would manage to do so using old Concs that would need heavy reengineering for another 15 yrs in service.
Regards, Kraut
Airbus today legally is Airbus SAS not Airbus GIE anymore. It is a "normal" company owned by it's shareholders EADS and BAE Systems. And yes they want to make a profit.
Anyway I wonder how Sir Richard would manage to do so using old Concs that would need heavy reengineering for another 15 yrs in service.
Regards, Kraut
Last edited by Kerosene Kraut; 10th May 2003 at 00:28.