Concorde 40th Anniversary

[acklington]

As reported in the national media today, the 40th anniversary of its entry into commercial service. So here as a tribute is my much too small collection of photos;

G-BSST, Farnborough, 11 Sept 70 fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BSST, Farnborough, 11 Sept 70 artist Philip Pain bw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BSST, Farnborough, 11 Sept 70 artist Philip Pain by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAA, LHR, 14 Nov 88 fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAA, Yeovilton, 26 July 84 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAC, Yeovilton, 26 July 86 w1 by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAA, Yeovilton, 26 July 86 (2) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAD, Filton, 27 June 87 (2) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAD, Filton, 27 June 87 (1) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAD, Filton, 27 June 87 (3) cfw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAF, G-BBDG, Filton, 22 June 85 (5) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAF, Yeovilton, 3 Aug 85 (1) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAF, Yeovilton, 3 Aug 85 (2) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAF, Yeovilton, 3 Aug 85 (3) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAF, Yeovilton, 3 Aug 85 (4) fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-BOAG, Fairford, 13 July 85 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
G-N94AA (G-BOAA), Heathrow, 10 Jan 80 p1fw by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XM370, G-BOA-, St Athan, 12 Sept 81 pfw by Philip Pain, on Flickr

'Photo bombing' hadn't been invented then, but Concorde managed to upstage the RAF's Jet Provost display at St.Athan in 1981.

My main memory of Concorde was when I lived near Bristol Airport in the 1980's. Despite official denials (to start with) it was quite common in the evenings to hear the reflected double boom as Concorde came in from the Atlantic towards Heathrow. This depended on atmospheric conditions. Another memory was being told that four Concordes were overhead Lulsgate in formation for a photoshoot. You will all know that magnificent photo, with the four aircraft beautifully lit above the solid undercast!!!!

Thanks for looking, and more Concorde photos would be most welcome.

[ronturner]

A very nice collection indeed.

I lived not too far from Faiford when the flight trials were operating from there. Great times.

[Deleted]

One of my biggest regrets in life (apart from not marrying a rich woman ) is not doing a flight on Concorde. I could and should have done, but like many, I just kept thinking 'I'll do it next time.' Then came the Paris accident and effectively, that was the end of it.

[csnewton2701]

I heard it many a time from living under the flight path into Manchester. I remember catching the train to the airport to see its last flight. It should still be flying.

Chris

[radiostationx]

I can only echo what was said by @garstonboy, once a regular business passenger with BA, I regret not taking the plunge with my own cash and treating myself to a trip on this awesome machine.
To cruise at 55k @ mach 2 in your shirt and tie quaffing on champagne while all others at that altitude would have to don flight pressure suits and oxygen masks eating and drinking out of toothpaste tubes.
Even by todays standards, Concorde is beyond state of the art.
Nothing to date has even come close.

[8miles27]

I was lucky enough to fly on Grand National day 1987. This was an occasion (was there more than one?) when we had two Concordes on the apron together. My two best photographs taken on the apron still have pride of place at home - blimey 30 years on !!! Must master getting them on the website.

[csnewton2701]

The closest I came to flying on it is sitting in AC on the tour at Manchester Airport.

Chris

[csnewton2701]

These are my only photographs.


002 by Christopher Newton, on Flickr

003 by Christopher Newton, on Flickr

004 by Christopher Newton, on Flickr

005 by Christopher Newton, on Flickr

Chris

[philglt]

I've looked out a few of my oldest Concorde shots from the days when they appeared at air displays.The quality is not brilliant.I wish I could have had my current equipment in those days:

G-BSST Concorde 002 - Woodford, 1971 by Philip Gaulton, on Flickr
G-BSST Concorde 002 - Woodford, 1971 by Philip Gaulton, on Flickr
G-BSST Concorde 002 - Woodford, 1971 by Philip Gaulton, on Flickr
G-BOAC Concorde 102 - Barton, 1988 by Philip Gaulton, on Flickr

Phil

[radiostationx]

002 Phil,As early as it gets and in our region.. Nice work indeed.
As for the equipment,you are in luck.. Concorde looks streets ahead of anything else, at any angle, on any equipment, on any day of the week.
Spotters loved XH558, heres the passenger variant !
Seriously, How good was this aeroplane ? Insanely advanced at the time, Decades ahead of the rest. Engineering which was the envy of the aviation world.
Zilch on the drawing board to replace it,which is frankly nothing short of a travesty.

[jetdragon]

RAF Fairford 94




Manchester

[ronturner]

Thanks for the photo of Concorde at Fairford I lived not far from there in the days when the type was based there for flight trials. Many visits. Few photos. The day of the first arrival was packed.

Like many others I missed my chance to fly in a Concorde although my saddest or maddest moment was a bit different. When I worked for Philips we had a research and development facility at Malmesbury, Wilts, and we supported three factories in the Glasgow/Edinburgh region. I had to fly up north very often. In those day it was the BA shuttle from Heathrow. Operated by Tridents there was a guaranteed departure very hour and a back up for overspill. The deal was you had to register 10 minutes before scheduled departure time and you were guaranteed a seat, even if the second machine put into service. You paid on board so no compulsory pre booking and no flim flam before boarding.

There was a guy in one of the Glasgow factories who fancied my job. (Taking new ideas and products and implementing them in the local factories.) There was a guy to whom I had to "hand over" in the Airdrie factory and he got to fancy my job. I know he came to Malmesbury one time to try to take over by talking to our new boss who was a fellow Scot. Well he was not successful but the point I am coming to is that when he turned up at Heathrow for his return flight, he was put on the back up aircraft to get back to Glasgow. A Concorde. (Highly unusual.. and a sort of publicity stunt.) How mad was I? Hopping. !

[bulldog]

Without doubt the most beautiful aircraft ever. I was fortunate enough to have flown on it. , amazing memories

[Beemer]

Some photos handed to me by Vanguard (Frank) to up-load onto the Forum for him. These photos of F-BVFA Concorde were taken by Frank when he worked at LJLA and dated the 06-04-1985. They have lost a bit of the shine with being scanned by are still OK.

F-BVFA Concorde No1 by Beemer328i, on Flickr

F-BVFA Concorde No2 by Beemer328i, on Flickr

F-BVFA Concorde No3 by Beemer328i, on Flickr

F-BVFA Concorde No 4 by Beemer328i, on Flickr

F-BVFA Concorde No5 by Beemer328i, on Flickr

F-BVFA Concorde No 6 by Beemer328i, on Flickr

[radiostationx]

Smashing photos @vanguard, cracking set there Frank.
The French ones werent as nice as ours though !
Some might say Im biased