Concorde celebrates its 40th birthday
Tuesday, 24th March 2009
It’s 40 years since the skies first thundered to the awesome sound of Concorde, the world’s first and last supersonic passenger aircraft.
Concorde 002 first took off from Filton in Bristol on April 9th 1969 and after seven years of flight
testing during which she flew for some 723 hours and flew supersonically for 173 hours, she finally flew to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton on March 4th 1976 where she has remained in a purpose built hangar ever since.
To mark the occasion of the 40th anniversary, the Fleet Air Arm Museum is planning a very special day with talks and films taking place under Concorde.
Among the speakers will be Concorde Captains David Rowland and Ian McNeilly, First Officer Peter Benn and Snr Flight Crew Jo Bramley who will talk about her time as a First Class Stewardess.
Also, speaking on the scientific achievements which enabled this remarkable aircraft to fly at more than twice the speed of sound will be former ITV science presenter Tony English. Later in the day a giant Concorde shaped birthday cake will be cut by the Concorde staff and Seamus Hart on his tenth birthday. Seamus is the grandson of the test pilot of the Handly Page 115 (also on display in the museum) which was first flown to test the efficiency of the delta wing later used on Concorde.
In addition to the above there will be a number of family activities and a book signing by aviation author and publisher Jonathan Falconer who will sign his new book entitled Concorde a Photographic History which shows a stunning collection of colour photographs that portray Concorde from its first flights in 1969 to its swansong in 2003.
The Concorde 40 event will take place on April 9th at the Fleet Air Arm Museum and normal admission prices will apply.
Find out more about Fleet Air Arm Museum.
