From
1976 to 2003, Concorde flew passengers across the Atlantic Ocean at speeds
reaching Mach 2.04—twice the speed of sound. This aircraft, a collaboration
between Great Britain and France, reflected decades of engineering, imagination
and innovation. Experience Concorde through the collections of the Intrepid
Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Need for Speed
Flying the Bell X-1 rocket plane on October 4, 1947, Capt. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager became the first human being recorded to exceed the speed of sound. A Mach number measures the speed of an aircraft in relation to the speed of sound, which changes according to the temperature of the air. An aircraft flying at Mach 1 is flying at the speed of sound. At sea level, Mach 1 is approximately 760 miles per hour (1,223 kph). Traveling through the air at these extreme speeds produces a continuous shockwave behind the aircraft, much like the wake of a boat. This shockwave earned the nickname “sonic boom.”
Left Underside View of Concorde (1984-06-09)Intrepid Museum
Flying at a speed of Mach 2, Concorde endured extreme temperatures, pressures and shock waves while carrying 100 passengers in safety and comfort.
Wind Beneath Its Wings
A traditional swept wing equipped with flaps and slats would not have been effective on an aircraft flying at supersonic speeds. Concorde’s slender delta wing design performed efficiently at both supersonic and subsonic speeds. This wing shape utilized vortices to provide lift at slow speeds. As a result, Concorde took off and landed at a higher angle of attack and at a higher speed than conventional airliners.
Concorde Takeoff with AfterburnersIntrepid Museum
Afterburners, used mainly for military aircraft, produced extra thrust that allowed Concorde to achieve a high takeoff speed. Their noticeable push was a thrilling moment for passengers.
Concorde LandingIntrepid Museum
Concorde’s droop nose and movable visor gave pilots a better view of the runway during takeoff and landing, which required a high angle of attack.
Concorde Interior Prior to Test Flight (1977-09-01)Intrepid Museum
The flight engineer controlled and monitored many complex systems, such as fuel management, to keep Concorde flying smoothly.
Human Flight Computers
Designed in the 1950s and 1960s, Concorde’s flight deck was very different from the largely automated glass cockpits of modern-day airliners. On Concorde, the flight engineer was responsible for many operations that are now automated. The flight engineer adjusted the center of gravity of the aircraft, maintained cooling systems, manually transferred fuel and executed other tasks integral to flight. A former Concorde Captain and now friend of the Intrepid Museum, Leslie Scott, once described flight engineer Rick Eades as “the third and real pilot of the plane.”
Pilot in Concorde Cockpit SimulatorIntrepid Museum
British Airways flight crews trained for six months in Filton, England, with British Aerospace. After thorough simulator tests, they completed a week of training behind the controls of Concorde.
Leslie Scott in CockpitIntrepid Museum
Training to be a Concorde pilot was intense and challenging. Only four of the six candidates in Capt. Leslie Scott’s class went on to fly Concorde. Scott qualified in October 1994.
Concorde Engineering, Flight and Cabin Crews on TarmacIntrepid Museum
Nine crew members flew aboard Concorde. The ground crew (left), flight crew (top right) and cabin crew (bottom right) worked as one to assure swift and safe service.
First Commerial Concorde Flight for British AirwaysIntrepid Museum
On November 22, 1977, British Airways Concorde began flying between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Heathrow Airport in London. It made two flights a day from each city.
Concorde 1988–89 Winter Schedule Concorde 1988–89 Winter ScheduleIntrepid Museum
Concorde’s flights were primarily transatlantic. Destinations included New York City, London, Barbados, Miami and Washington, DC.
British Airways Concorde Boarding Lounge (1997-05-02)Intrepid Museum
Concorde passengers enjoyed a private lounge before their flights. It included a stocked wine cellar, luxurious decor and direct access to the aircraft for boarding.
Steward Pours Champagne (1976)Intrepid Museum
The six members of the cabin crew tended to 100 passengers on board Concorde. With an average flight time of three and a half hours, Concorde flights required a skilled, efficient staff.
Meal on Board Concorde (2003-10-24)Intrepid Museum
Initially at JFK Airport, a team of two made 208 meals daily by hand. Cook John Ninivaggi, working with Chef Henri Prieto, proudly said, “The only two things that came out of a can were caviar and pâté.”
View of the Curvature of Earth at Mach 2Intrepid Museum
Concorde flew at an average speed of 1,350 miles per hour and at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet. At such high altitudes, passengers could see the curvature of Earth.
What’s In a Name
Each Concorde has a unique name derived from its registration. This name is often shortened to the NATO phonetic alphabet code words for the last two letters of the registration. Concorde G-BOAD, or Alpha Delta, served a distinguished career with British Airways from August 25, 1976, to November 10, 2003.
G-BOAD was flown in partnership with other airlines and made record-breaking crossings of the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft still holds one of these records from February 7, 1996 when it traveled from New York to London in 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds.
G-BOAD in Singapore Airlines ColorsIntrepid Museum
In the 1970s, Singapore Airlines partnered with British Airways to connect London and Singapore. G-BOAD became the only Concorde to bear another airline’s livery (on the port, or left, side).
Leslie Scott on Concorde's Fastest Flight (2013-12-13)Intrepid Museum
Certificate from Record-Breaking Concorde Flight (1996-02-07)Intrepid Museum
Jubilee Flight (2002-06-04)Intrepid Museum
G-BOAD flew with the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows in a flypast of Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee on June 4, 2002.
Concorde of Concordes
When Concorde’s service ended in 2003, British Airways retired Concorde G-BOAD to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. Daily guided tours offer visitors the rare opportunity to enjoy the comfort of Concorde’s cabin and get an up-close look inside its sophisticated flight deck.
President, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: Susan Marenoff-Zausner
Curators: Eric Boehm and Daniel Burke
Collections and Oral Histories: Rebecca Bacheller, David Dzendzel, Jennifer Milani, Ann Stegina
Video Producer: Liam Marshall
Editor: Adrienne Johnson
The Intrepid Museum wishes to thank the Concorde Staff and passengers who have donated their artifacts to the Museum.
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Concorde tours are available daily at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
