Official : British Airways Retires Concorde (merged)

[rich49]

For those who run concorde down, like 411A, I could quite easily take everything you said about concorde and throw it back at you about your space shuttle. But I'm not going to because they are both great achivements, anyway without concorde you car wouldn't have ABS.

[obiukwu]

This has just been released by Sir Branson's office.

“Since the British Airways’ announcement this morning we have been flooded with calls from the public, including BA staff, asking us to see if we can keep Concorde flying.

“When the Conservative government gave British Airways Concorde for £1 they said that if another British company ever wanted to operate it they could. As a result of the public’s response today I will be asking British Airways to provide me with the full operating figures.”

“If having examined the figures Virgin Atlantic, with its lower cost base, believes it can make a success of it we will be asking British Airways to give us the planes for the same price that they were given them for (£1) together with the slots and other facilities that they use.

“This might come to nothing but I believe that every effort should be made to keep Concorde flying as it is such an important symbol of British innovation.”

[NineEighteen]

I am deeply saddened by the news. She has a special place in my heart and nobody can deny the fact that she was, has been and remains an amazing aircraft.

I just tried to book myself an offer ticket but sadly they're sold out so I guess I'll have to pin my hopes on a swift lottery win or a miracle reprieve.

I feel bereaved...

[Crepello]

9/18, that's exactly the word I had in mind. Seems excessive for a machine but... this gal was pretty special, the tears weren't far away.

Those who scored promotional tickets should count their blessings! I awoke to the news and was on the phone before my first coffee. Was told the first available cheap(er) seat was on 7 September, i.e. after the offer had ended, but never mind...

I'll turn 30 before she retires, am tempted to sell a lung and celebrate the big day in style. Any philanthropic millionaires reading?

[T_richard]

Hey wait a minute .......... Rich 49 please don't wrap the other 290 million people her in the same cloth as 411A. YOu do not have to be British to admire the technology and dream of flying on the Concorde. There was a comment about pilots only flying one way before a crew change. NOW remember this is not my business, but I wonder if there aresome economies that might be obtained which would allow Virgin or someone else to keep the bird up in the air, The technology seems a little too new for a museum.

I always thought I'd get to fly on her one day, dammmmmmmm

[747-436]

Will be sad to see it go. I would be very surprised if Branson got hold of it. I'm sure BA will do everything they can to avoid one flying in Virgin colours. That would be a humiliation for BA. Is there anything to stop him buying AF models??

Hope that they perform a few flypasts etc before it goes. A concorde formation over London would be good.

[WHBM]

Pleased to say I got one of the seats, one way, in July. Would have been upset to have missed this final chance. Looking forward to riding in what those who get the chance say is such an enjoyable plane to handle.

Sorry to see the old girl go.

[gateradial]

A coincidence that the names of the two types representing the apogee of their respective eras begin with the same syllable? Weird.

[gordonroxburgh]

I wonder If Branson was to offer up £7 for the fleet would BA accept it?

Not having to pay £84Million in write-off cost and other to make certain staff redundant may well be quite tempting in the current climate

I wonder if VS marketing could make it work where BA marketing failed. Filling the a/c for £2K a seat may be better than half full for 3.5K a seat.

[doubledolphins]

Seems to me that if HMG effectivly gave the airframes to BA, that if they no longer have any need for them they should give them back. HMG would then be able to give them to any one else that wants them. Virgin for trans Atlantic, Air 2000 for supersonic charters and joy rides (company news paper 1 April 2002) or, heaven forbid, the RAF, so Blair can go to see his mate and be back in time for tea. I do also remember an artical years ago suggesting that it would make a good bomber. So why not make it an MPA? It's got four engines and its newer than the Comet!
To be serious though, it would be a crying shame to think that the only craft left with four Olympus engines by the end of the year will be aircraft carriers.

[Gunship]

One of my wishes was ..

... to one day fly in the Concorde ....

..... and it will now just remain a dream .....




Bye - Bye my dream ........

[RatherBeFlying]

While I would love to see at least one Concorde kept in flying condition, I seriously doubt any museum would have the resources to properly monitor the airframe.

Perhaps if the BA and AF engineers are handsomely enough packaged, they might be recruited to look after it for a few more years -- provided of course that the CAA goes along (a big maybe).

And who's going to put up the hangar, spares storage and engineering space?

[jet_breeze]

i'll have one should be nice.

[jmc757]

I today lost a dream like so many others I'll miss her. I think the best chance Branson has got of getting one is a midnite trip to duxford with some wire cutters and a tug!!!
Air2000!!! I'm flying with them to TFS in July.... now thats a thought hehehehe
Oh well... good bye concorde.... I bet all the £1999 seats have gone already and I couldnt afford them anyway. for £1000 i could, no chance though wish BA would bring back some regional pleasure flights before she goes. I'd rather fly in her subsonic than not at all.......

[Out Of Trim]

I'm absolutely gutted!

I always had the dream that one day I could afford to fly in her..

but, alas I now know I never will.. I feel sick; that in reality terrorists have taken this great aircraft away from us.

If 9/11 had not occurred then I am sure this would not be happening so soon.

Oh and 411 why don't you go play on a highway nearby, you are obviously of the not invented here crap US brigade - To$$er!



Oh yes and BA - Now no reason to ever fly you again you Traitors..

Yes; that's right - no longer the flagship national airline you once were..

But, If Virgin Atlantic bought them - I would only fly with you to the USA..

Richard Branson - You know it makes sense!!

[Rockhound]

Sad news indeed. The only airliner instantly recognizable, in the air or on the ground - and drop-dead gorgeous to boot! And the only airliner to have a name that doesn't need to be preceded by an article.
It brings back memories of a bygone age...
02 May 1977. Check-in at LHR for BA 579 Concorde service to Washington Dulles. My one-way ticket reads UKL 433.50 - seems awfully pricey in comparison to the $240 Ottawa-London RT ticket on a Laker charter which got me to London but what the hell - clearly worth every penny as soon as you catch sight of that bird!
Start in on the Dom Perignon '69 to wash down the smoked salmon canapes in the Concorde departure lounge prior to boarding.
On board, as I setlle in Seat 2B, I notice the door to the flight deck is open. It stays open for the rest of the flight ("We rather think it's good PR, sir"). Capt Norman Todd himself is in command.
Craning my neck just a little, I get a pretty fair view of the takeoff through the windshield.
On the climb-out, a heart-stopping moment as a black shape appears in the windshield. Oh, my Gawd, we're going to collide!!!! Then I realize it's the nose and visor rising into view.
Mach 1 is registered on the screen and I, and a few other pax applaud, but most seem unfazed (seen it all before?).
Eventually, "M2.00" appears (I still have a photo as proof). The small windows are warm to the touch, the sky outside dark blue, the clouds far, far below.
After lunch (Iranian caviar, breast of duckling suedoise, salad of palm hearts from the Seychelles... more Dom P '69), I stand at the cockpit door for a while, chatting with an off-duty F/E in the jump seat. The pilots clearly are busy flying the plane and doing paperwork. Capt Todd turns his head and gives me a smile, then gets back to the job. Note to Beamer and others earlier in this thread: those Concorde crews have their hands full OPERATING the aircraft, not just sitting back, monitoring progress in a fancy glass cockpit. One trans-Atlantic sector and they've earned their rest.
Approaching America, the eastern seaboard is spread out before you, from Cape Cod practically to Newfoundland - like looking at an atlas, for God's sake.
Then the moment you wish you could put off for just a little while longer, just to prolong the thrill of a lifetime: the approach and landing, a/c nose way up.
Finally, the mother of all anti-climaxes, the limo ride into downtown Washington.Back to earth with a thump.
But that flight - the memories never leave you.
Rockhound

[reverserunlocked]

I remember once sitting down the back of the 'parking express' bus on the way to LHR's T4 some months after the old girl was grounded.

As we rounded the back of the BA maintenance sheds, there were 3 Concs parked in a row, obviously powered down, with all the ailerons and rudders flapping about.

The bus was quite full, but as we drove past those three sleek and sexy jets the chatter died down momentarily as nearly everyone swung round to have a peek. I heard more than one person whisper 'look at those'....

It's a magical aircraft, and one that will always be loved and bring out crowds to see it.

If Beardo does get his hands on a few, given his marketing expertise I wouldn't be surprised if he could just pull it off. Here's hoping hey?

[Jetdriver]

I had the great good fortune to fly Concorde to New york many years ago when my wife and I were married. This last year thanks to said wifes staff travel priviliges I was able to take one of my sons (12) on 3 Concorde flights to or from New York.

Concorde isn't like other forms of air travel. It is like a Rolls Royce motor car or a saville row tailored suit. It is an expression of luxurious living, oppulent style and unique achievement. It is an experience that one young man will savour all his life. The luxury and quiet of the lounges at LHR and JFK. The feeling of being someone special whilst ushered to the check in desks. The onboard cuisine and fine wines. The excitement of a Concorde take off. watching the sun rise rise in the west. Seeing the indigo sky at 61,000 ft. Crews who take great pride in their charge. Crossing the Atlantic in 3.5 hours instead of 7 hours. The whole experience was a cause of well being and something just right in the world.

Those that rubbish the Concorde as uneconomic or who relish in its demise really do miss the point ! Unfortunetaly unless they experienced Concorde for themselves it is probably impossible to persude them otherwise. For 3.5 hours and the time on the ground the Concorde experience made everyone involved feel truly that cut above the rest of the world. It was expensive but in fact it was priceless.

I am very sad that I will not be able to share this experience with my younger children. I am sad that not everybody will get to experience this airplane just once in their lives. To all the crews who participated in this adventure I offer my thanks and appreciation for your involvement in something my wife, my son and I shall never forget.

[Synthetic]

I also would like to express my regrets at the passing of such an awsome machine

I too was lucky enough to do LHR-JFK in 92

411 - Please. If you are ever wounded, you know where to get more salt than you know what to do with.

It also rankles slightly the thought of a Concorde ending up in an American museum as they rendered it's birth still.

Come on Sir Richard - always did like you!



Edited because after a twelve hour shift I was rather unnecessary

[BEagle]

It really would be truly excellent if Sir Richard could operate Concorde. The national flag carrier operating this aviation icon when british airways have seemingly forgotten how to market the mystique of the best aeroplane there is.

Some of the posts on this thread should have been used by ba's markeing luvvies. I particularly liked 'Concorde - not expensive but priceless'!

Let's hope we see Sir Richard making a firm financial offer soon - and no Concorde should ever be given to an American museum!