Concorde's First Passenger Flights
Next: January 21, 2027
Faster than sound, with dinner served.
The story
Where it comes from
On 21 January 1976 Concorde, the supersonic airliner built by Britain and France, began scheduled passenger service, and this Story marks the anniversary. British Airways flew from London to Bahrain, and Air France from Paris to Rio de Janeiro by way of Dakar. The first prototype had flown from Toulouse on 2 March 1969. Only twenty were ever built, seven airframes going to each airline, but for 27 years they carried passengers at about twice the speed of sound.
How it's celebrated
There is no organised observance, but retired Concordes are on display in museums, so it is a good day to visit one or look one up online. It is also a fine excuse to send a card to the friend who always arrives early, or to anyone who loves aeroplanes.
Did you know
- Concorde crossed the Atlantic in just under three and a half hours on average, against seven or eight hours for ordinary jets.
- In service it cruised at about Mach 2.02, and its skin grew so hot in flight that windows and panels were warm to the touch on landing.
- From December 1977 British Airways and Singapore Airlines shared a Concorde between London and Singapore via Bahrain, painted in Singapore Airlines colours on one side and British Airways on the other.
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