Farewell Concorde

[Lanesra]

Today is a very sad day in the history of aviation, the 3 remaining British airways concorde aircraft have just made their final landings at heathrow, London, after 27 years in service.

I never got to fly on the plane, not many people did, but watched it fly over on many occasions,it is in my opinion the most graceful machine ever to take to the skies, and as of yet nothing has replaced it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3211053.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3211601.stm

[ 10-24-2003, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: Lanesra ]

[KDogRex]

*affects his best John Cleese accest* AHEM!

"Farewell, Sweet Concorde!! You shall not have died in vain!!!"

[Timber Loftis]

Yes, it is sad, very sad. Concorde is following a long line of airlines to be surplussed. United Airlines is another example. The problem with these airlines is they are built on the very philosophy that airplanes are luxury machines, like limos. As Southwest, Jet Blue, and AirBus have figured out, though, most people think of an airplane as a bus, not a limo.

These companies were too engrained in the "high end service" philosophy to ever change. I used to do work for UA and know a few counselors over there -- the mindset is built into the company, nearly impossible to change.

[ 10-24-2003, 02:04 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

[Dundee Slaytern]

All I know is... this has killed my dream of flying on one.

[Chewbacca]

I dont understand why Richard Branson doesn't buy a couple and add them to the Virgin fleet. He is probably rich enough and that exactly the kind of "toy" that sets one apart the typical mudane airlines.

[Lanesra]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: I dont understand why Richard Branson doesn't buy a couple and add them to the Virgin fleet. He is probably rich enough and that exactly the kind of "toy" that sets one apart the typical mudane airlines.

He tried, but they wouldn't let him. He offered £1 the sum BA paid the government for them

[Faceman]

I think it's sad and it takes away possibilities.
I know that it's not really likely that I need to go to the US really FAST, but if I did I could take comfort in the fact that there is a supersonic plane at everybody's disposal (if he has enough money). Now it's 747 again no matter how little time and how much moeny you have

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Lanesra: quote: Originally posted by Chewbacca: I dont understand why Richard Branson doesn't buy a couple and add them to the Virgin fleet. He is probably rich enough and that exactly the kind of "toy" that sets one apart the typical mudane airlines.

He tried, but they wouldn't let him. He offered £1 the sum BA paid the government for them [/QUOTE]Aha, I had a hunch Branson wouldn't let that kind of opportunity pass by. I wonder what the reasoning was behind the refusal to sell.

[Davros]

Goodbye old Concorde
though I never, flew you at all
you had the speed to burn
Speed that those around you lacked

And you had that nose
but the press it turned on you
Oh but that was late in life
Yes, when all those tires blew

And it seems to me that you lived your life
Flying faster than the wind
And the world it so did love you
As your journey did begin

Oh I would've loved to have flown you
but now that just won't be
Your candle now has all blown out
But your name is legendary.

[Skunk]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: Aha, I had a hunch Branson wouldn't let that kind of opportunity pass by. I wonder what the reasoning was behind the refusal to sell.

Both fear and prestige.

Fear comes into the equation because BA is worried that Branson might actually make a success of it (knowing Branson, he'd probably reduce the price of a trip and *still* find a way to produce a profit).

The prestige part is obvious - Concorde was BA's 'flagship' airliner and simply doesn't want another airline to take over this 'symbol'.


When the British government first 'gave' the Concorde to BA, a clause was inserted into the sale documents allowing the government to re-take ownership of the planes and sell them on to another carrier should BA no longer wish to operate them. The reason for this was that the government has invested billions of pounds (in today's money) in the R&D of it's development. So the British government has the right to interfere in this business. And I think it should.

Concorde is a part of British and French heritage. It marks a technological leap on the scale of R.L. Stephenson's "Locamotive". It is also a shining example of the technological expertise of the two countries and a living advertisement for British and French companies today.

Instead what we are seeing is a testimony into how the current British government is more interested in the cash lobbying of British Airways than it is in the interests of its own country.

The blame for the loss of Concorde falls entirely at Blair's door.