Concorde

Launched in 1969, the Concorde was the world's first supersonic civil transport. Due to the high development costs, the governments of Great Britain and France agreed to share the costs and develop a single airframe for the aviation industries of both nations. Operators were the flag carriers of both nations: British Airways and Air France. Designed primarily for trans Atlantic operations, the Concorde features a complex delta wing, engine pods mounted under the wing, slender fuselage and variable-geometry nose. The variable-geometry nose is lowered during ground operations, takeoff and landing to improve visibility.

The Concorde's first supersonic flight was on 1 October 1969. Revenue services began on 21 January 1976 and the Concorde's last revenue flight was on 24 October 2003. Final ferry flight of a Concorde was on 26 November 2003, delivering G-BOAF to Airbus' Filton facilities.

SPECIFICATION

First flight: 2 March 1969
Wingspan: 83 ft. 10 in. / 25.56 m
Length: 203 ft. 9 in. / 62.17 m
Height: 37 ft. 5 in. / 11.4 m
Ceiling: 51,000 ft.
Range: 3,360 nm / 6,223 km
MTOW: 408,000 lbs / 185,066 kg
Power plant: Four RR / Snecma Olympus 593 Mk 610 afterburning turbojets
Speed: 2.04 mach
Crew: 3
Accommodation: 128 - 144 depending on seat pitch