Concorde first took to the skies during a test flight on 2nd March 1969, piloted by Andre Turcat in Toulouse, France. The Franco-British turbojet-powered aircraft operated between 1976 and 2003. Here, we will be taking a look at five phenomenal facts about this supersonic passenger aircraft.
First and Last Flight
On 21st January 1976, Concorde made its first ever commercial flight from London Heathrow to Bahrain. Between then and 24th October 2003, it made just under 50,000 flights and flew more than 2.5 million passengers. Its final flight was from New York JFK to London Heathrow. Concorde’s oldest recorded passenger was 105-year old Eva Woodman.
Speed Records
Concorde was able to reach 60,000 ft, which is over 11 miles in height. This allowed passengers to see the curvature of the earth. Concorde’s take-off speed was recorded at 220 knots, which is 250 mph, and had a cruising speed of 1,350 mph. This speed is more than twice the speed of sound! Its landing speed was recorded at 187 mph.
Heat Generation
During flights, Concorde used to stretch between 6 to 10 inches due to the intense heat of the airframe, and by the end of the flight, all surfaces were warm to the touch. The aircraft was therefore painted a specific white paint that adapted to the temperature changes and dissipated the heat generated.
Around the World
One of the most impressive Concorde flights ever recorded was on 8th November 1986. A British Airway Concorde flew around the world, covering 28,238 miles in 29 hours and 59 minutes. On 7th February 1996, Concorde completed its fastest transatlantic crossing from New York to London in 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds.
Life-saving Flights
This supersonic aircraft didn’t just carry passengers. Concorde was also used to transport diamond shipments to the United States of America, and live human organs for transplant requirements. Concorde was once used to transport a rare snake bite serum to Africa as the victim only had a few hours to live, and due to its incredible speeds, the victim survived!
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