|
| |
| January
2004 |
 |
 |
| Concorde, the world’s only supersonic
aircraft, recently took an emotional bow at Heathrow Airport, after
completing its last passenger-carrying flight.
During the previous week it had made visits to several of
Britain’s major airports to allow the public to bid farewell to it.
On the final Friday, three Concordes were choreographed to land in
sequence at Heathrow – one from Edinburgh, one from an afternoon trip to
the Bay of Biscay, and one on service from New York. |
 |
 |
| Planning was intense, as
thousands of people were expected.
It had been agreed in advance that the north runway would be used.
Roads were cordoned off (left) and a small viewing platform
was erected for the lucky few ticket holders and the press (right). |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Crowds began to
build early in the afternoon, and they were delighted to see the Bay of
Biscay flight depart (right).
Patiently they waited, some perching precariously from lamp posts (left).
Security staff and police marshalled the camera-clad enthusiasts,
preventing them from standing beside the perimeter fence.
Remarkably all three flights were on time, and the weather remained
bright if somewhat cool. |
 |
 |
| As the New York flight
approached the crowds dashed across the Northern Perimeter Rd to get a
better view (right). There
was nothing security and police to prevent just one last photograph (top).
After all three had landed, the US Concorde headed for the hangar
to clear customs, while the other two did a grand tour of the airport,
visiting every far flung corner as if on a lap of honour (above middle).
Finally all three switched off their engines.
It was the end of an era. |
 |
| |
| Arrival |
Flight |
Route |
Concorde |
| 1st |
BA 9021 |
Edinburgh -
London LHR |
G-BOAE |
| 2nd |
BA 9010 |
London LHR - London LHR
via Bay of Biscay |
G-BOAF |
| 3rd |
BA 002 |
New York JFK
- London LHR |
G-BOAG |
| |
All photos taken on Friday
24th October 2003 at Heathrow Airport.
Click to enlarge. |
| |
| Personal
anecdotes |
Stranraer: I lived in
south-west Scotland while Concorde was being tested at Bristol in the
early 1970's. It would fly up and down the Irish Sea causing a
sonic boom (or boom-boom to be precise) overhead. The windows
in the house shook fairly violently, the effect being similar to a test at
the bomb range at nearby West Freugh. As school children we
were told that the reason for two booms was that it was flying two-times
the speed of sound. However this is not true - it's due to the
leading and the trailing edge of the wing both passing through the sound
barrier.
New York: Occasionally I travelled from Heathrow to Boston on
business during the mid-1980's. My favoured method of travel
was Pan Am 103 (yes that 103) to New York and then a short haul flight up
to Boston arriving at about 10pm EST (to cut down on jet lag).
One May evening when touching down at JFK, Concorde was taking off with
the Manhattan skyline in the background bathed in golden sunshine.
Unfortunately my camera was buried deep in the overhead locker - this is
what the photo might have looked like: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/432750/M/
Antibes: When I lived in the south of France during the late
1980's, several Concordes would fly in to Nice for the Monaco Grand Prix
at the end of May each year. One year, I got up especially
early on Sunday morning to photograph them passing over my apartment.
That day though there was a thick fog (never seen before or since on the
Cote d'Azur) so all I heard was the noise - I couldn't see a thing.
The previous year, the air traffic controllers or the baggage handlers (or
possibly both) went on strike during the Grand Prix which meant the
Concordes could not leave till after midnight. All the local
residents heard each one depart in turn while tucked up in bed.
Reading: For over 20 years I have heard Concorde flying over
Reading each day. On Sundays it was a perfect alarm clock as
it woke me at about 10h45 - it really was time to get up after that.
Even now, when it flew overhead, people would stop and look.
Perhaps it was the noise, or perhaps it was the shape. It was
just that sort of plane. |
| |
| Links |
|
|
| |
| A bientot |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The very final Concorde flies
over Bracknell for the very last time heading for retirement at Filton. |
|
