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The first supersonic airliner to enter service, the Concorde flew thousands of passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound for over 25 years. Designed and built by Aérospatiale of France and the British Aviation Corporation, the graceful Concorde was a stunning technological achievement that could not overcome serious economic problems.
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This object is on display in the Boeing Aviation Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
In 1976 Air France and British Airways jointly inaugurated Concorde service to destinations around the globe. Carrying up to 100 passengers in great comfort, the Concorde catered to first class passengers for whom speed was critical. It could cross the Atlantic in fewer than four hours - half the time of a conventional jet airliner. However its high operating costs resulted in very high fares that limited the number of passengers who could afford to fly it. These problems and a shrinking market eventually forced the reduction of service until all Concordes were retired in 2003.
What special requirements did the Concorde have?
What special requirements did the Concorde have?
The Concorde had a runway requirement (with maximum load) of 11,800 ft (3,600 m). Typical commercial jets, like the Boeing 777, need a runway of about 8,000-10,000 ft (2,500-3,000 m).
Listen to the AirSpace Podcast's AirSpace Live at SXSW episode to learn how the Concorde led to important scientific research and a better understanding of our world.
For more on the Concorde, look at our page here.
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