'Concorde' to take to the UK skies 20 years after supersonic jet's final flight
"Concorde" is set to take to the skies again this week, 20 years after its final ever flight.
An 11 foot model of the iconic supersonic plane will be whizzing across the West Country on November 25 in tribute to its last outing. Back in 2003, Concorde Alpha Foxtrot was watched by thousands as it passed over Somermset on the way to its final touchdown at Filton and an eventual home in a purpose-built hangar at the Aerospace Bristol museum.
A model of the jet will now soar across the skies on Saturday to mark the special anniversary. The radio-controlled model, weighing 25lbs and built of a mixture of balsa, plywood, foam and composites, is powered by a Wren jet turbine engine, Bristol Live reported.
It was built 10 years ago by Bruce McKay and Bob Blackmore, two late members of the Woodspring Wings Model Aircraft Club. It will take flight over the 21 aircraft club’s site on the outskirts of Yatton. The model will be flown by its current owner, Andy Johnson, of Liverpool, and take-off is scheduled for 2pm. It will be joined by other aircraft models flown by members of the Woodspring Wings club.
Andy Johnson with his model Concorde (Jake McPherson / SWNS)On February 7, 1996, Concorde set the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a civil aircraft when it flew from New York to London in just 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds. New York to London was also the route of Concorde's last commercial flight on 24 October, 2003.
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Show organiser Chris Armitage said: "It will be great to see Concorde flying over North Somerset again, especially as this superb model was made by two of our late members."
As iconic and well loved as Concorde was, the supersonic plane was beset with problems from the start, including its high cost, issues with providing back-up planes and the environmental impact of the gas guzzler. Those issues, combined with a horrifying crash in the early 2000s, saw the aircraft be put out of service.
While many of these issues would reappear today if the full-sized Concorde were dusted off and put in the air again, the future of sound-barrier shattering travel is not empty. A new aircraft is currently being developed.
Called The Overture, it will be able to reach 1,300mph - over double the speed of the quickest commercial planes flying today. Boom Supersonic is the firm behind the ambitious plans which would hugely reduce time in the air. The company is based in Colorado, US, and hopes to cut flights between Miami and London from eight hours and 45 minutes to just five hours. Other routes - such as trips between New York and London - could be reduced by six-and-a-half hours to just three-and-a-half.
Blake Scholl, CEO of Boom Supersonic, claimed the 'son of Concorde' would confine jet lag to history as travellers could beat any time difference. He said: "If a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo is cut from 12 hours to six, you can leave a whole day later. If you leave Sunday morning, you’ll get there Sunday afternoon, which is Monday morning Japan time, do a day of meetings and arrive back home 24 hours after you left without any jet lag."
Boom’s commercial order book for Overture currently stands at 130 aircraft. In August 2022, American Airlines placed a deposit on up to 20 aircraft, with an option for 40 more. In June 2021, United Airlines ordered 15 Overture aircraft, with an option for 35 more. Japan Airlines made a pre-order for 20 aircraft in 2017, the company told the Mirror.
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