On October 23, 2003, the last Concorde flight took place between New York and London.
The most iconic airliner in history was the first supersonic commercial aircraft to travel at more than twice the speed of light.
The “Concorde” project began in the midst of the technological race during the Cold War and took several years of development.
Its construction was the result of joint work between the state aircraft manufacturers of the United Kingdom and France, and it is considered an engineering marvel that revolutionized the history of aviation.
The name “Concorde” was chosen from the word “Concordia”, whose writing, use and meaning is similar in the English and French languages.
Both Air France and British Airways, the flag carriers of France and the United States, took seven of the twenty Concorde aircraft developed. The remaining six never took off.
The first flight was made in 1969, however it entered service in 1976, with London, Paris, New York and Washington as the main destinations.
Due to its supersonic speed technology and advanced design, the Concorde could complete its trips in half the time of a conventional aircraft.
On November 22, 1977, the ship made its first transcontinental flight between the United Kingdom and the United States, a journey it could travel in just three and a half hours.
During its 27 years of history, Concorde managed to exceed 5,000 flights, transporting a total of 2.5 million passengers.
The high fuel consumption of the ship transformed it into a luxury plane, adding food and drink services on board that justified the high price of the ticket.
The Concorde became an instrument of economic and social prestige, a symbol of class, elegance and luxury. Among her passengers were Queen Elizabeth of England, Elthon John and Mick Jagger.
The high costs of keeping Concorde running made it a commercial failure in the late 1990s, and a tragic plane crash precipitated its end.
On July 25, 2000, Air France flight 4590 crashed in Gonesse after a mechanical failure, causing the death of one hundred passengers, nine crew members and four people on the ground.
The accident decreased demand for travel on the Concorde, and on April 10, 2003 Air France and British Airways announced the retirement of the model.
On October 24, 2003, flight BA002, the last Concorde flight to London, took off from New York.
The story is also news on Radio Perfil. Voiceover by Pita Fortín and script by Nicolás Ziccardi.
The story is also news. Radio Profile.
by Radio Profile
Image gallery
