The Concorde aircraft were retired in 2003, 27 years after commercial operations had begun. Most of the aircraft remain on display in Europe and America.
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Elsewhere, the frames at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington and another in Barbados have been preserved to a high standard. Despite the ongoing preservation, none of these Concordes are anywhere close to being airworthy.
Concorde was a supersonic passenger airliner designed and produced as a joint venture between BAC (England) and Sud Aviation (France). 20 aircraft were built in France and the United Kingdom, 6 of which were used as prototype and development aircraft. Concorde was retired from service in 2003 and no longer flies.
The Concorde soared so high that you could see the Earth's curve. A ticket from London to New York on a flight operated by British Airways cost a whopping $7,574 (Rs5,50,000), which is equivalent to $12,460 (Rs9 lakh) today. But for the price, the Concorde experience wasn't exactly comfortable or luxurious.
No manufacturer has yet been able to recreate the days of the Concorde, but some are trying. Denver-based Boom Supersonic is leading the pack with its faster-than-sound Overture jet, already securing over 100 orders from United Airlines, Japan Airlines, and American Airlines.
The aircraft quickly proved itself unquestionably as it reached speeds of up to 1,354 mph. To put that into context, that is around 800 mph faster than a Boeing 747 and over 350 mph faster than the earth spins on its axis!
Concorde used the most powerful pure jet engines flying commercially. The Aircraft's four engines took advantage of what is known as 'reheat' technology, adding fuel to the final stage of the engine, which produced the extra power required for take-off and the transition to supersonic flight.
Boom Supersonic, the US plane manufacturer, plans to have the answer with its new Overture jet, which is set to transport customers at twice the speed of today's fastest commercial aircraft, and is regarded as the new Concorde.
Today, British travellers have a better chance than many to spy one of the remaining aircraft, with seven dotted across the UK, more than in any other country. Anyone to have passed through London Heathrow might have spotted Concorde 208 - or G-BOAB, nicknamed Alpha Bravo - sat on the tarmac near one of the runways.
It's over 40 years since Scotland's Concorde took to the skies in the first BA Concorde fleet commercial passenger flight. Don't miss the chance to get up close to G-BOAA. The National Museum of Flight is home to Scotland's only Concorde.
Over the Irish sea and rapidly running out of fuel the Tornado had a hard time catching up with the mighty Concorde. Over more than a hundred miles or so, 5–10 minutes the Concord could outrun every fighter.
About ConcordeWith a take-off speed of 220 knots (250mph) and a cruising speed of 1350mph – more than twice the speed of sound - a typical London to New York crossing would take a little less than three and a half hours, as opposed to about eight hours for a subsonic flight.
The main reason is that the Concorde had a different design, engine, and fuel system than most fighters. These features allowed it to overcome the challenges and limitations of supersonic flight, such as drag, heat, noise, and fuel consumption.
The short answer is no. While the Concorde was undoubtedly fast, reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph or 2,180 km/h), it fell short of the blistering speeds of a bullet.
Concorde was also popular with the Queen and celebrities. Joan Collins travelled with the aircraft so frequently that she became something of an ambassador for the service. Other notable passengers included Elton John, Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and Sean Connery.