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are fulfilled already 20 years of the last commercial flight of the famous supersonic plane Concorde, one of the most important legendary aircraft of the aviation history. Foto BAE Systems
The 24 October 2003, a Concord of British Airways took off from New York a London on his last commercial flight. The era of commercial supersonic transportation had come to an end.
The Concorde was a revolutionary aircraft in many ways.. It was the world's first commercial supersonic aircraft., capable of flying at Mach 2,23 (2.405 km/h). It was also one of the most expensive airplanes in history., with a production cost of about 200 millions of dollars at that time, Now it would almost triple its value.
History and last flight of the Concorde
The Concorde was a supersonic passenger aircraft developed by a Franco-British consortium formed by Aerospatiale, British Aircraft Corporation y Rolls-Royce. The plane made its first flight on 2 march 1969 and entered commercial service on 21 of January of 1976, winning the game at that time against the also supersonic Túpolev Tu-144, Soviet Concorde competition, which entered passenger service on 1 November 1977, but he also did not achieve success.
For it to take off, The Concorde began as a project in 1962 as a joint effort between France and the United Kingdom. The goal was to create a supersonic plane that could fly between London and New York in about three hours..
It was a complex and expensive project., which to this day has prevented new supersonic projects from taking off, Despite the multiple projects that are being developed, such as the so-called Boom Overture. The aircraft was designed to withstand the high speeds and pressures that occur at supersonic speeds.. It also had to comply with strict safety regulations..
Air France and British Airways They were the only airlines that operated the Concorde. The plane flew between London, Paris, New York, Washington D.C., Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo is included Caracas, all in record time.
The Concorde was a commercial success during its first years of service. Nevertheless, Its operating cost was high and the aircraft was susceptible to technical problems.. On 2000, A Concorde accident in Paris caused the death of 113 people.
After the accident, Air France and British Airways They retired their Concorde planes shortly after. The French airline formally removed it from service on 30 May 2003 with a last flight between New York and Paris, but he continued to make some final farewell flights for a few more months, until finally putting it on the ground 27 June of the same year.
The last commercial flight of the Concorde took place on 24 October 2003 between New York and London, after a farewell tour carried out by British Airways through North America and some cities in the United Kingdom. This day British formally grounded and always passes to the supersonic mystic.
Finally, Concorde made its last formal flight on 26 November 2003, departing London Heathrow Airport and landing in Bristol, England, where he was received by a large crowd as witnesses of the last flight of a supersonic plane passenger.
The Concorde was a symbol of luxury and glamor given the prices of a round-trip ticket on its most famous route that exceeded the $7.500 Dollars (today more than $14.000).
Why did the Concorde stop flying??
The Concorde stopped flying due to a combination of factors, including:
- The accident of 25 July 2000. The flight 4590 Air France crashed in Gonesse, France, killing the 113 people. The accident was caused by a ruptured tire on the main landing gear., which caused a fire in one of the engines.
- The accident damaged Concorde's reputation and led to a decline in demand for tickets..
- Rising operating costs. The Concorde was an expensive plane to operate.. Their engines were powerful, but they also consumed a lot of fuel. What's more, The plane was subject to special restrictions for noise and pollution emissions.
- Competition from wide-body aircraft. In the years after the accident, wide body aircraft, As the Boeing 747, became more efficient and comfortable. These planes could fly long distances without reaching supersonic speeds., which made them more competitive in terms of cost.
Technical characteristics of the Concorde
Let's now talk about their technical characteristics that made them a unique and special aircraft.:
- Type: Supersonic commercial passenger plane
- Maker: Franco-British consortium formed by Aerospatiale, British Aircraft Corporation y Rolls-Royce
- Production period: 1965-1978
- Quantity produced: 20 (plus 6 non-commercial aircraft)
- First flight: 2 march 1969
- Introduction into service: 21 of January of 1976
- Withdrawal from service: 26 November 2003
Dimensions
- Length: 62,66 meters
- Wingspan: 25,60 meters
- Height: 12,20 meters
Pesos
- Empty weight: 78.900 kg
- maximum takeoff weight: 186.880 kg
- Propulsion
- engines: 4 x Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus post-combustion turbojets 593 Mk 610
- Pushing force (per engine): 14.217 kgf (169.000 N)
- Fuerza con postquemador: 4 x 38.058 pounds
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2,23 (2.405 km/h)
- cruise speed: Mach 2,02 (2.179 km/h)
- Scope (MTOW): 6.667 kilometres
- Maximum ceiling: 18.300 m (60.000 pies)
- Rate of rise: 25,41 m/s
Unique features
- Streamlined fuselage with a retractable nose to reduce air resistance and given the landing angle to be able to see out..
- Special cooling system to prevent passengers from being burned by the heat of air friction.
- Noise protection system to reduce noise emissions at supersonic speeds.
Concorde Legacy
The Concorde left a lasting legacy in aviation history. The plane demonstrated that it was possible to fly at supersonic speeds safely and efficiently.. Concorde also helped boost the development of aeronautical technology, and his innovations continue to be used in modern aircraft.
This legendary aircraft remains an aviation icon to this day., and its withdrawal from service was a significant event for the industry. The plane is a reminder of the achievements of human engineering, and his legacy will last for many years, and we can enjoy it static form in various museums and airports around the world.
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