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Aviation History Month Day 26 - 26th of November 2003

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The final flight of a Concorde, British Airways G-BOAF (MSN 216), took place on this day in aviation history, the 26th of November 2003.

G-BOAF on final approach to Bristol Filton Airport for the last ever Concorde landing (© Concorde SST)


This final Concorde flight was operated by the last Concorde that came of the production line. Initially registered as G-BFKX it made its first flight on the 20th of April 1970 and was delivered to British Airways on the 9th of June 1980. It was subsequently reregistered as G-BOAF. The very last flight of a Concorde took off from London Heathrow Airport and had Bristol Filton Airport as a destination. Onboard, besides the crew, 100 (lucky) British Airways employees. The flight crew was a heavy crew for the flight that would take ~1 1/2 hours;

  • Captain Les Brodie (Commander)

  • Captain Mike Bannister (Chief Pilot)

  • Captain Paul Douglas

  • Senior Flight Engineer Warren Hazleby

  • Senior Flight Engineer Trevor Norcott

Concorde G-BOAF (msn 216) over the Clifton Suspension bridge


After its final landing G-BOAF had flown 18.257 hours, made 6045 landings and had made 5639 supersonic flights.

A short clip of the final landing and taxi at Filton.

A total of only 20 Concords were built, six pre-production airframes and fourteen production airframes. Air France and British Airways both operated a fleet of 7 aircraft. On this historic day of the last flight of a Concorde it is fitting to have a look at some of the records that the aircraft set during its operational life;

  • 7th of February 1996 Fastest transatlantic flight from New York JFK to London Heathrow in 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds. (with the help of a 152 knots / 175 mph / 282 kph tailwind!)

  • 13th of February 1985 The fastest flight between London Heathrow and Sydney, including fuel stops, in 17 hours 3 minutes and 45 seconds

  • 12 & 13 October 1992 Westbound around the world in 32 hours, 49 minutes and 3 seconds (with 6 fuel stops along the route)

  • 15 & 16 August 1995 Eastbound around the world in 31 hours, 27 minutes and 39 seconds (with 6 fuel stops along the route)

  • 5th of November 2003 Final Concorde flight in the USA. Fastest ever flight between New York JFK and Seattle Boeing Field in 3 hours, 55 minutes and 12 seconds

There are many websites with loads of detailed information, for those who are interested have a look at https://www.heritageconcorde.com/. A great site with lots of (technical) information. Some (impressive) specifications of Concorde;


General characteristics

  • Crew: 3 (2 pilots and 1 flight engineer)

  • Capacity: 92–120 passengers (128 in high-density layout)[N 9]

  • Length: 202 ft 4 in (61.66 m)

  • Wingspan: 84 ft 0 in (25.6 m)

  • Height: 40 ft 0 in (12.2 m)

  • Wing area: 3,856.2 sq ft (358.25 m2)

  • Empty weight: 173,504 lb (78,700 kg)

  • Gross weight: 245,000 lb (111,130 kg)

  • Max takeoff weight: 408,010 lb (185,070 kg)

  • Fuel capacity: 210,940 lb (95,680 kg)

  • Fuselage internal length: 129 ft 0 in (39.32 m)

  • Fuselage width: maximum of 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) external, 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) internal

  • Fuselage height: maximum of 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) external, 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) internal

  • Maximum taxiing weight: 412,000 lb (187,000 kg)

  • Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 Mk 610 turbojets with reheat, 31,000 lbf (140 kN) thrust each dry, 38,050 lbf (169.3 kN) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,354 mph (2,179 km/h, 1,177 kn)

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.04 (temperature limited)

  • Cruise speed: 1,341 mph (2,158 km/h, 1,165 kn)

  • Range: 4,488.0 mi (7,222.8 km, 3,900.0 nmi)

  • Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)

  • Rate of climb: 3,300–4,900 ft/min (17–25 m/s) at sea level[333][334]

  • Lift-to-drag: Low speed– 3.94; Approach– 4.35; 250 kn, 10,000 ft– 9.27; Mach 0.94– 11.47, Mach 2.04– 7.14

  • Fuel consumption: 47 lb/mi (13.2 kg/km)

  • Thrust/weight: 0.373

  • Maximum nose tip temperature: 127 °C (260 °F; 400 K)

  • Runway requirement (with maximum load): 3,600 m (11,800 ft)




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