Concorde

xane · Oct 20, 2003

Originally posted by Embattle
Well thats because its all first class.

Thats true, in fact it's extra-comfy 1st class with nice big leather seats, more like armchairs, and all the champers and caviar and all that crap.

The view out the window is literally out of this world, there is a visible curvature and the sky above is almost black, most of it is that darker hue you get when you're up a high mountain, and the clouds are way, way, way down below.

The power in the engines is awesome, takeoff is like a fast car acceralating, you get pushed back in your seat, and landing too when they reverse the engines you can feel the power.

The entire aircraft grows longer as it gets up to top speed, due to friction heating up the outer skin. I saw for myself the gaps between the overhead luggage boxes were visibly larger than on the ground.

The round trip was pretty cool as we got to look up in the cockpit too. I still have the luggage tag somewhere, I used to have it permanently on my breifcase at work

bigbb · Oct 20, 2003

I had heard, but this doco also confirmed that around 45 of the most regular Concorde flyers (Whom also put their staff on Concorde) were killed in the WTC. That's harsh.

Tom · Oct 22, 2003

Concorde just flew over my house!! For the last time!

bigbb · Oct 23, 2003

Last take off live on BBC News Online, http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsa/n5ctrl/live/now1.ram

bigbb · Oct 23, 2003

That was stunning. Beautiful sight.

Embattle · Oct 23, 2003

Heard it go over head

adams901 · Oct 24, 2003

flew over my house 5 mins ago for the last time and it made an unusually low fly past (low enough to get a decent photo), normally you hear it before you see it, this time we heard, saw and felt it at the same time....

~Mobius~ · Oct 24, 2003

Heard a Concorde over my house but didnt take any notice, then my brother ran in and said "Did you see the last ever concorde flight?!"

Wanker.

Embattle · Oct 24, 2003

I work just off the Great West Road (A4) and the flight path goes right over head. I left work just before 4pm and there were loads of people out of their offices, more than I thought would be, when the first plane arrived with everyone looking skyward and then the second came in close behind with the third close behind that and so many people just stood there in awe of what it truly a great aircraft.

Jupitus · Oct 24, 2003

Feckin' missed it stuck here at work

kameleon · Oct 24, 2003

The first pilot must feel like a n00b. He bounced it.

Summo · Oct 24, 2003

What the fuck? It's a big, fast plane? Why the love affair?

A Spitfire has more character, imo.

Jupitus · Oct 24, 2003

Originally posted by Summo
What the fuck? It's a big, fast plane? Why the love affair?

A Spitfire has more character, imo.

Love Spitfires too, Summo

Embattle · Oct 24, 2003

I love the Spitfire too, like the Spitfire the Concorde was an amazing icon....although for slightly different reasons.

mr.Blacky · Oct 24, 2003

Originally posted by Any
Does anyone know if something similar is being built? It seems like a step backwards not having a faster plane to replace it.

Yes, the russians had a flying model (with even more problems then the Concorde) and the design is being modified by a Russian/American team. Saw something about it 1-2 years ago but haven't heard anything about it since then.

Tom · Oct 24, 2003

Yeah the Soviets had their 'Concordski', which promptly crashed at an airshow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1328132.stm

Its a shame really, because Concorde could have used some competition, and you can bet that if the Soviets had made it viable, the Americans would have soon built their own supersonic passenger jet.

Delboy · Oct 24, 2003

Maybe the chinese will have a go. Seeing as they're making progress in space now. Buy your shares in them now and cash them when you retire.

Sleet · Oct 24, 2003

An engineering marvel is what it is!!!

Designed in the 60s-70s when software was an unheard word!

The amount of complex work in that is unreal.

The inner entrance compression turbine and inner exit expansion turbine glow white hot due to use, and if just a hairline crack appeared!!! ... but none ever did.

And a tilting cockpit!

btw im an engineer not a plane fan. The concorde is pretty amazing and way ahead of its time in the 60s-70s. Decommisioning it is understandable as money makes the world goes around but its a step back in terms of technology.

-fus- · Oct 25, 2003

There will be a replacement soon. It is an awesome plane, though.

Big G · Oct 25, 2003

Saw it from work landing at Edinburgh and taking off again, great plane and a marvel of engineering. More a military jet than a commercial aircraft.

Oh, and:

Don't refer to it as a "she", it sounds so incredibly fucking lame. My mate used to refer to his first car as a "she".

Get a fucking grip.

G

evilmonkeh · Oct 25, 2003

its a pity that such a great engineering feet cannot continue

although as a program i watched said, people would rather fly cheaply (in a 747) than with a very expensive concord.

pcg79 · Oct 25, 2003

yeah that 'she' crap really annoys me and sounds off.

but i do think that people just COULDNT afford to fly concorde - its not something most people can justify to spend £8k on.

Embattle · Oct 25, 2003

It wasn't a plane designed so everyone could fly it.....in fact BA realised early on, after taking control of the Concorde's, that they could increase the price of the tickets because most of the people flying it had no idea about the price of the tickets since someone else arranged the flight for them. Sadly BAs Concorde fleet ended up grounded because of a run of bad luck which was not of its own making.

It was just one of the most amazing looking planes which was the result of being one of the most amazing pieces of engineering. It always looks like it was truly meant to fly compared to the rather fat looking 747 etc, which most people still get on thinking that the most amazing feat of this craft is that it actually manages to get off the ground.

I've never been on Concorde but that doesn't mean I want to see this beautiful plane grounded, it still seems to have a positive effect on all those that see it as it roars past overhead.

It seems ironic that the 60/70s had the birth of a supersonic passenger planes and men on the moon and now both are seemingly distant.

Jupitus · Oct 25, 2003

Originally posted by Big G
Saw it from work landing at Edinburgh and taking off again, great plane and a marvel of engineering. More a military jet than a commercial aircraft.

Oh, and:

Don't refer to it as a "she", it sounds so incredibly fucking lame. My mate used to refer to his first car as a "she".

Get a fucking grip.

G

Say what you like, Big G, she'll always be a 'she' to me and a great many others.

bigbb · Oct 25, 2003

Originally posted by Jupitus
Say what you like, Big G, she'll always be a 'she' to me and a great many others.

I agree actually. When you see 'her' land it's not just a machine, it's a living piece of elegant engineering. Ok, it's been bastardised by people calling their Ford Escorts 'she', but I find it quite endearing with an aircraft such as this.

throdgrain · Oct 25, 2003

Originally posted by Embattle

It seems ironic that the 60/70s had the birth of a supersonic passenger planes and men on the moon and now both are seemingly distant.

Sadly true that

Tom · Oct 25, 2003

Hey we'll be off to Mars in the next 20 years or so, and that is much more difficult than getting to the Moon and back.

Embattle · Oct 26, 2003

Originally posted by Tom
Yeah the Soviets had their 'Concordski', which promptly crashed at an airshow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1328132.stm

Its a shame really, because Concorde could have used some competition, and you can bet that if the Soviets had made it viable, the Americans would have soon built their own supersonic passenger jet.

The Tupolev TU-144 also crashed another two times after the Paris airshow with that particular crash blamed on a Mirage III jet that was alleged to be taking pictures but got in the way forcing the pilot of the TU-144 to take drastic action to avoid a collision.

It will also take longer than 20 years to get to Mars, esp with todays attitudes.

kameleon · Oct 26, 2003

Concorde's break even point was 40 passengers on each flight. Unfortunately about 50 of her regular clients were killed in the Twin Towers incident. There arent many people who will pay £6,000 for a return ticket.

I blame the French

Embattle · Oct 26, 2003

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106684

On the first post there is a 40meg video of Concorde taking off from JFK the other day, the first bit is just other planes b4 Concorde.

Concorde

xane

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~Mobius~

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