Concorde question

[megan]

Amazing that they managed to (barely) fly at 140 kt

They weren't flying, the last data point showing 136kt airspeed they had a fraction over 108° left bank and had turned from the take off heading of 267° to 193°, the aircraft then impacted the ground practically flat with little forward speed on a heading of 120°.

So all things being equal two engines out would "need" 80kt to maintain VZRC (give or take)

They would have needed something in excess of 300kt to maintain level flight.

[Lawrence2725]

Rolls Royce will hold a copy of the CMM for the ECU. Airbus probably do as well.

Whether either of them would release it to you, even now, I am doubtful.

[Lawrence2725]

Originally Posted by fill_ot

This may be a bit of a long shot.
I am trying to identify the function of two printed circuit boards from an Olympus 593 Engine Engine Control Unit (ECU). I worked on Concorde and its ECUs at Filton for many years in the 1970s and 80s.
When Concorde retired in 2003 I requested from British Airways and was given 2 ECU PCBs as a souvenir.
There were of course 8 ECUs on each aircraft, 2 per engine. Each ECU had about 20 different PCBs. I have sometimes wondered just what the function was of my 2 PCBs. Maybe someone knows or has the relevant ECU Overhaul Manual. I have already asked various organisations for help - Ultra Electronics the manufacturers of the ECUs, British Airways, Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust and some museums. I've had some helpful replies but no actual answers.
Marked on the PCBs ae their drawing numbers: 46546-629-0 and 46456-602-0.
I have tried to attach some photos but there seems to be some forum setting that's preventing this!
Thanks

Rolls Royce will hold a copy of the CMM for the ECU. Airbus probably do as well.

Whether either of them would release it to you, even now, I am doubtful.

[howiehowie93]

Originally Posted by Lawrence2725

Rolls Royce will hold a copy of the CMM for the ECU. Airbus probably do as well.

Whether either of them would release it to you, even now, I am doubtful.

Trying to find a picture but didnt the black boxes have the Lucas Aerospace green flash logo on them ? I remember seeing that on the Tornado / RB199 MECU & DECU Black Boxes and being amazed that Lucas made both. Shouldn't have been so surprised though

[tdracer]

Stumbled on an interesting program on the TV last night - "Concorde - The Untold Story"
Two-part program (one hour each - closer to 45 minutes after commercials) but shown back-to-back. A good history of the three country 'race' to build a commercial SST, with what ultimately happened with the Boeing 2707 and Tupolev 144 (including how fitting the "Concordski" nickname was given the level of Soviet espionage that went on to steal Concorde technology so they could make the thing work).
A bit simplistic in some of the explanations of the technology and such, but understandable given that most people who watch won't have Aerospace Engineering degrees
Produced by MTV, at least on this side of the pond it's being shown on The Smithsonian Channel.
Hopefully it'll be made available on other sources for those who don't get Smithsonian.

[DogTailRed2]

In regards the Concorde crash, assuming the pilots knew what the dire situation with the aircraft and fire was, would they have been able to have put the aircraft down?
Was there any clear ground in front of them?
I've often wondered if the aircraft was bellied along the ground whether it would have had a chance? All speculation based on hindsight of course.

[netstruggler]

Originally Posted by tdracer

Stumbled on an interesting program on the TV last night - "Concorde - The Untold Story"

Two-part program (one hour each - closer to 45 minutes after commercials) but shown back-to-back. A good history of the three country 'race' to build a commercial SST, with what ultimately happened with the Boeing 2707 and Tupolev 144 (including how fitting the "Concordski" nickname was given the level of Soviet espionage that went on to steal Concorde technology so they could make the thing work).

A bit simplistic in some of the explanations of the technology and such, but understandable given that most people who watch won't have Aerospace Engineering degrees. Produced by MTV, at least on this side of the pond it's being shown on The Smithsonian Channel. Hopefully it'll be made available on other sources for those who don't get Smithsonian.

Being shown on Channel 4 in the UK at the moment. Episode 2 is this Saturday.

(Well I assume it's the same programme - it certainly sounds the same.)

[tdracer]

Originally Posted by DogTailRed2

In regards the Concorde crash, assuming the pilots knew what the dire situation with the aircraft and fire was, would they have been able to have put the aircraft down?
Was there any clear ground in front of them?
I've often wondered if the aircraft was bellied along the ground whether it would have had a chance? All speculation based on hindsight of course.

A problem with Concorde was that its stall speed was quite high - well above 200 knots. An emergency landing in a field (gear down) is not apt to end well going that fast with a full load of fuel and an aircraft already on fire (granted, perhaps better than what ultimately happened, but a 'damned if you do - damned if you don't' choice at best). They reportedly tried to raise the gear (which would have helped reduce drag greatly) but the damage already done prevented that.
In 20-20 hindsight, I suspect they would have been better off to not shutdown the engine with the fire warning (#2?) and use whatever thrust they could still get from it to try to make another airfield, but something that would be next to impossible to realize real-time. The rapidly spready fire damage may well have made it a moot point anyway.

[stilton]

Not sure if this question has been answered in this thread yet, was Concorde approved for three engine ferry flights ?

[EXWOK]

Originally Posted by stilton

Not sure if this question has been answered in this thread yet, was Concorde approved for three engine ferry flights ?

IIRC, it was...but I can't remember it being done while I was on the fleet.

[dixi188]

Back when the Concorde was in development, a guy I used to work with was in West Africa with G-AXDN doing hot weather trials. The aircraft had an engine issue and an engine had to be changed.
This aircraft had production standard engines. No spare was available so an earlier variant was installed and some of the accessories were left off and the air bleeds blanked, as they would not fit this installation.
The aircraft was ferried back to Fairford with 4 engines but only 3 sets of systems.

[stilton]

Originally Posted by dixi188

Back when the Concorde was in development, a guy I used to work with was in West Africa with G-AXDN doing hot weather trials. The aircraft had an engine issue and an engine had to be changed.
This aircraft had production standard engines. No spare was available so an earlier variant was installed and some of the accessories were left off and the air bleeds blanked, as they would not fit this installation.
The aircraft was ferried back to Fairford with 4 engines but only 3 sets of systems.

Fascinating, a quite unique solution and 3 engine ferry protocol

[tdracer]

Concorde engine sells on ebay:
Concorde Engine Finally Sells On eBay, Afterburner Included (msn.com)

The Concorde turbojet engine spent years listed on eBay before it finally sold for £565,000 (or $714,500). This particular Rolls-Royce Olympus turbojet spent its service life fitted to a British Airways Concorde. It’s been 20 years since the supersonic airliner’s final flight, but the Concorde is still remembered fondly as emblematic of a more ambitious era of commercial aviation.

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[artee]

Originally Posted by tdracer

Concorde engine sells on ebay:
Concorde Engine Finally Sells On eBay, Afterburner Included (msn.com)



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Bugger! I missed it.