Pudsey Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Did anyone else see the Concorde programme this evening? So sad again to see a true flag ship of everything British and British Engineering moth balled, just imagine if we kept on developing and pushing boundaries like we did back in the 1970's. One fact I remembered which was quiet amazing,... Concorde covered 8.5 miles in 23 seconds. Now thats quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony tt Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I just caught the end of it. Looked like a good programme its a shame they will never fly again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudsey Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 I just caught the end of it. Looked like a good programme its a shame they will never fly again. Yeah was really good. Awful to see the accident again obviously, and to think of the poor people who lost their lives just on there way on holiday. But thinking in terms of leeps of engineering was quiet amazing for its time. At maximum speed the body stretched 8 inches, and the shots of the Caps stuck in the dash was quiet something at the end on its last flight. All parked up never to fly again shocking.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraGirlie Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Yeah was really good. Awful to see the accident again obviously, and to think of the poor people who lost their lives just on there way on holiday. But thinking in terms of leeps of engineering was quiet amazing for its time. At maximum speed the body stretched 8 inches, and the shots of the Caps stuck in the dash was quiet something at the end on its last flight. All parked up never to fly again shocking.... Agreed. An accident that could've been prevented it would seem. Sad seeing the pilot cry talking about it's last ever flight. I actually felt angry towards BA at the end! Those poor Concordes just gathering dust now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty71 Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 http://www.channel4.com/programmes/concordes-last-flight/4od#3105076 for anyone who missed it (like me) its on 4 on demand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobD Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Really good program, I love the Concorde, just wished I had the chance to go in one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Just finished watching it (Sky+). What a great program that was, quite sad at the end with the pilot in tears on Concorde's last flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty71 Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 yes just watched on 4 o D. tremendous really what they did to design it and that in the 60's... I remember watching a YT video about the moon landings in 1969 (and to whether it actually happened) and they stated that the computers used on the lunar module had less than todays calculators!! So quite an extraordinary design concorde was/is. I remember seeing it at East Midlands Airport flying in as a kid, it was a great spectical to see and hear... As stated its dubious it will fly again but I hope someday it does but due to maintainance costs to get it flyworthy with them being just sat there I doubt it. Cost killed it off in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty71 Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 oh just read this too so maybe a glimmer of hope http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-06/4/concorde-may-fly-again-for-2012-olympics?page=all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 i was really emotional when i watched that. i love the concorde, i used to have so many models when i was a small child. loads of posters etc. it was simply an engineering master piece! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 I so hope this is true. If hosting the 2012 Olympics means we get to see Concorde fly again i'll consider it worth the cost! Never mind all the pomp and ceremony of the Olympics, give me a flypast by a Concorde and the Red arrows and I'll be happy. http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/galleries/images/792/500x400/british-airways-concorde-with-the-red-arrows.jpg oh just read this too so maybe a glimmer of hope http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-06/4/concorde-may-fly-again-for-2012-olympics?page=all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Let Branson take it over and run it - he's publicly stated he's prepared to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 He did when they grounded them Johnny but BA would "rather have them disposed of than let anyone else operate them" Shame really but I can see why, its a pride thing. They'll never fly again, Im surpised they still have engines fitted, normally thats the first thing to get removed. But engines are the least of the worries, corrosion is the biggest. Planes like to fly so sitting around for 7 years will do them no good at all. And then theres the cost, just look at the Vulcan project, Concorde is a whole new level of operating cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Aye, I guess so - but, maybe with BA being in such financial woes, selling off a few Concorde's might help, and let them keep Alpha Alpha? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Whilst Concorde will always hold a special place in the hearts of all Brits who have any national pride or even just a feint interest in aviation or engineering, I think it's wrong to keep looking back. Concorde was a marvel of engineering for its time, but things move on. My personal feeling is that as a nation we should look forward, and support our engineers in developing the next thing we can be proud of. If we can develop a product that brings the nation together in the way that Concorde did, in todays economic climate, I think that would really be something. But yes, brilliant programme. I laughed about the woman getting pregnant after the supersonic boom disrupted her rythm method! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 I've not watched it yet, Tony - but I'll get it on 4OD later. As for a new Concorde, I can't see one happening anytime soon, as the Boeing/Airbus/etc race is all about volume rather than speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garethr Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 I still think this is one of the best photographs ever taken. http://www.pictureawards.net/gallery/2004/photos/16060-I1.jpg Not in technical terms, but for its evocation of "Great" Britain... and also of our love/hate relationship with the French (Brunel's father was born in Normandy, after all). TimesOnline - The Story Behind the Picture BBC Bristol - Concorde's final flight back home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 I've not watched it yet, Tony - but I'll get it on 4OD later. As for a new Concorde, I can't see one happening anytime soon, as the Boeing/Airbus/etc race is all about volume rather than speed. It doesn't have to be an aircraft, just something that the nation can be proud of. Some feat of engineering that no other nation would or could do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 We should stick to suspension bridges now then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelfill Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 It was actually Airbus that finally grounded Concorde, they refused to support / maintain the Concorde fleet irrespective of who operated them. It will be good to see one back flying in airshows, even if it is a French one... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 It was actually Airbus that finally grounded Concorde, they refused to support / maintain the Concorde fleet irrespective of who operated them. It will be good to see one back flying in airshows, even if it is a French one... Mike Didn't the US when realising their supersonic contender wouldn't work, suddenly decide flying supersonic over US airspace was banned, effectively rendering Concorde economically impractical. They pulled a similar stunt with the Vulcan. Promising us a missile (think it was called blue steel) so we'd scrap our own projects including down sizing the vulcans, only to be told they wouldn't then Supply the rocket in the end. It now looks to be going the same way with the Lockheed Martin X-35,.. we'll get a watered down version that needs US technicians and support to fly,... that assuming we get a VTOL aircraft. We need to be independent in these matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelfill Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Didn't the US when realising their supersonic contender wouldn't work, suddenly decide flying supersonic over US airspace was banned, effectively rendering Concorde economically impractical. They pulled a similar stunt with the Vulcan. Promising us a missile (think it was called blue steel) so we'd scrap our own projects including down sizing the vulcans, only to be told they wouldn't then Supply the rocket in the end. It now looks to be going the same way with the Lockheed Martin X-35,.. we'll get a watered down version that needs US technicians and support to fly,... that assuming we get a VTOL aircraft. We need to be independent in these matters. I believe initially the US refused Concorde permission to land in the US, hence the reason the first transatlantic flight was to Rio. but they had to back down eventually. I may be wrong but I thought Blue Steel was our attempt at an ICBM, and once we had proved that we could develop our own Nukes, the americans let us buy theirs. very generous of them. What are your reservations over the F-35 Ed? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 You're right about blue steel Mike. Doh! I think I have my facts mixed up, but,... the bottom line is, US did back down on a joint nuclear weapon program that caused us to scale down the V bombers. Wish I could find the damn article. I'm a big fan of the F-35 Mike. My only concerns are if we start compromising on spec. If we loose the aircraft carriers we won't need a VTOL aircraft and that will be a huge part of the F-35s capability lost not to mention £££££s lost in development. We might aswell have bought the F-22 or another FA2 Sea Harrier upgrade. I really want to see Navy F-35 operating from Navy flight decks (and not french) but in this day and age, I can't see the cheques being signed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagman Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 It doesn't have to be an aircraft, just something that the nation can be proud of. Some feat of engineering that no other nation would or could do. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/10557724.stm You think that's likely??!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelfill Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 You're right about blue steel Mike. Doh! I think I have my facts mixed up, but,... the bottom line is, US did back down on a joint nuclear weapon program that caused us to scale down the V bombers. Wish I could find the damn article. I'm a big fan of the F-35 Mike. My only concerns are if we start compromising on spec. If we loose the aircraft carriers we won't need a VTOL aircraft and that will be a huge part of the F-35s capability lost not to mention £££££s lost in development. We might aswell have bought the F-22 or another FA2 Sea Harrier upgrade. I really want to see Navy F-35 operating from Navy flight decks (and not french) but in this day and age, I can't see the cheques being signed. Skybolt. - but at least they sold us Polaris as a compromise Hopefully they won't cancel the carriers then we'll be happy Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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