Concorde first flight

[V8MoneyPit]

It was 40 years ago today that Concorde took it's first flight. A monumental leap forwards in aviation. Just a pity the world fuel prices rocketted shortly after. The first nail was in the coffin barely after it went commercial.

But still one of the most beautiful man made objects ever.

[crazymac]

Can't help but think that was the pinacle of mans achievement and its all down hill from there!!!

[V8MoneyPit]

Can't help but think that was the pinacle of mans achievement and its all down hill from there!!!

It was the same year as they put man on the moon, so you could be right.

[clbarclay]

The pinalce?

Concorde was able to get a few people from london to new york in a few hours which in its time was a significant deveopment. Since then we have created the means to communicate between millions of people around the world in milli seconds. Speed like much of life has evolved, along with the likes of the Blackbird, Concord has been overtaken by faster and more efficent technology.

[crazymac]

The pinalce?

Concorde was able to get a few people from london to new york in a few hours which in its time was a significant deveopment. Since then we have created the means to communicate between millions of people around the world in milli seconds. Speed like much of life has evolved, along with the likes of the Blackbird, Concord has been overtaken by faster and more efficent technology.

Yes definately, but I was specifically talking about passenger flight! As you say the many technological developments that have come along are amazing, but we have gone from supersonic passenger flight to flapping our wings!!

[V8MoneyPit]

The pinalce?

Concorde was able to get a few people from london to new york in a few hours which in its time was a significant deveopment. Since then we have created the means to communicate between millions of people around the world in milli seconds. Speed like much of life has evolved, along with the likes of the Blackbird, Concord has been overtaken by faster and more efficent technology.

Yes definately, but I was specifically talking about passenger flight! As you say the many technological developments that have come along are amazing, but we have gone from supersonic passenger flight to flapping our wings!!

But the other 'advance' in passenger flight is the drop in cost. If that can be called an advance.

[Range Rover Blues]

I had to laugh, Airbus now claim that the A380 uses the same fuel, per seat, as a small family car.  That's good, right :)

Thing is, I don't drive all the way to spain every year, I holiday in the UK.

Oh, and any small family car will have more than 1 seat :?

But yes, it's an improvement, Concorde uses 1 tonne of fuel getting off the ground and About 3 times the fuel of a jumbo IIRC.  It carries 119 litres or about 94 tonnes of fuel :shock:

Anyone know what the fuel consumption for a jumbo is, I figured it out to 3.6 gallons per mile or 130mpg/seat at best

It wasn't the fuel cost though but the noise and protesters in America that did for Concorde.  Some say it was also presure from Boeing that got it canned.

[V8MoneyPit]

It wasn't the fuel cost though but the noise and protesters in America that did for Concorde.

Certainly a major factor.

Some say it was also presure from Boeing that got it canned.

That wouldn't surprise me  :roll:  but the fuel crisis in '74 couldn't have helped such a thirsty bird. Tickets were expensive enough before fuel prices went through the roof.

[hairyasswelder]

Beautiful bird  :'( :'(

Remember the 'fly past' when they opened the now doomed American Adventure theme park (1985/6)

Also was working just outside Heathrow a few years back and Concorde would take off at just gone 11am and the boom  :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
Even if it did mean teabreak  :clap: :clap:

[crazymac]

Beautiful bird  :'( :'(Remember the 'fly past' when they opened the now doomed American Adventure theme park (1985/6)
Also was working just outside Heathrow a few years back and Concorde would take off at just gone 11am and the boom  :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
Even if it did mean teabreak  :clap: :clap:

We used to get it the other way, as it came back over from the States about 4 in the afternoon, I flew direct over Strumble head but too high to see most days.

[generation-x]

agree with above was a great leap forward for mankind real shame they shelved it,

on another note my dad made the solid state resin to hold some of the electric's to stop them being stretched at full speed

simon