On October 1, 1969, the “Concorde” plane broke the sound barrier for the first time.
In the 1950s, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union considered developing a supersonic airliner to carry passengers at high speeds.
The British Bristol Aeroplane Company and the French Sud Aviation worked on two designs.
While the British developed the model called the Type 223, the French worked on an aircraft called the Super-Caravelle.
Both projects were financed largely by the governments of their respective countries.
The British were working on the development of a long-range aircraft with a capacity of one hundred people.
For their part, the French intended to build a medium-range aircraft.
The designs were ready in the early 1960s, but the cost of construction was so great that the British government required BAC, the aircraft manufacturer, to seek help in building and financing the plane.
France and Britain negotiated the project as if it were an international treaty, rather than a trade agreement.
Clauses were included that severely penalized the abandonment of any of the parties involved.
The treaty was signed on November 28, 1962.
At that time the companies Aérospatiale and BAC joined together to begin the joint construction of the Concorde.
However, potential customers showed no interest in purchasing the short-range version, which was abandoned.
On the contrary, the long-distance version obtained more demand and several units were ordered for production.
In February 1965, construction began on two prototypes: Concorde 001, built by Aérospatiale in Toulouse, and 002 by BAC in Bristol.
Concorde 001 made its first test flight on March 2, 1969, in Toulouse, piloted by André Turcat.
On October 1 of that same year, it exceeded the speed of sound for the first time.
While in Great Britain, Concorde 002 made its first flight on April 9, 1969, piloted by Brian Trubshaw.
From there they began to have demonstrations and shows in different places, which led to orders exceeding 70 units in 1972.
On October 1, 1969, the Concorde plane broke the sound barrier for the first time.
History is also news. Radio Profile.
Script by Sebastián Rojas and voice over by Pita Fortín.
by Radio Profile
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