Concorde Speedbird Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Hello all, The 40% Heathrow roundabout Concorde model now sits at the Brooklands museum. She sat at the entrance to Heathrow for about 20 years, as an advertusement for BA. But she was replaced by an Emirates A380 model sadly (at a British airport?!). Here she is at Heathrow... . And now she sits at the entrance to Brooklands where Concorde G-BBDG also rests. For me really this represents the true end of an era, unless a Concorde flies again in the future. Who knows. CS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 when i went to brooklands a year ago, the model was sat looking all forlorn by the entrance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concorde Speedbird Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 Yes, they have put it on a stand at take-off angle of attack now, like it used to sit at Heathrow. CS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avtur Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I think 'alpha charlie' has ended up with one of the best retiremenet locations, undercover in it's own purpose built hanger / event hall at MAN ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concorde Speedbird Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Yes, AC has got the best home at Manchester, and the airframe is in great condition apparently. Here she is... G-BOAE (212) is also undercover in Barbados so she also has a good home and as a result is in good condition. Anyone been to either? CS Two birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reno Racer Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Here you go CS, you'll like this an RC Concorde in Germany, listed in a US magazine. Edited By Christian Ackroyd on 04/01/2013 15:20:34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Walters Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 That was well worth watching! Lovely! Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avtur Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Cracking model and video .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyB Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I agree that G - BOAC has been treated in a fitting manner and is a great commercial success at Manchester Airport. A great tribute to a great aircraft. However, the same cannot be said for G - BOAB which remains at Heathrow and for several years just remained parked up along side one of the taxi ways near to the engineering hangars. As far as I know, it has now been moved but still remains outside. This airframe has probably been totally neglected and will eventually be declared as being 'beyond economic repair' and then just scrapped. I think BA should be treating this aircraft with the respect she deserves. I hope I am totally wrong, but does anyone have any update on this aircraft and its future prospects. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concorde Speedbird Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Superb video, thanks! G-BOAB is still outside, there are some pictures here. On the exterior it looks as if she may have been cleaned, maybe when BA used her in 2011 for their advert, but the interior is awful, since they put loads of old BA flight magazines for balance which was stupid since it has ruined the aircraft. There were plans for AB to go to Dubai, but that never happened. Many proposals of her going to sit next to the London Eye have been made too. I think she should join AF at Filton or if she has to be scrapped (hopefully not) then to provide spare parts for AC to fly! Wouldn't that be great... CS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avtur Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 'alpha fox' at FZO is outside too, saw her a few months back, sort of beng looked after but not really getting the attention you would want to see for being kept outside. Edited By avtur on 04/01/2013 17:36:17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyB Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Thank you for that CS. I seem to remember that 'OB was going to be incorperated into T5. That to is obviously not going to happen either!! She would have looked great in T5. A great reminder to the travelling public of our dominance in air travel. As much as I'd love to see a Concorde flying again, I can't actually see it happening. Just look at what has happened to Vulcan 558. It costs approx £2M + per annum to keep her in the air, and every year it just about makes it. I think a Concorde would cost alot more to maintain and fly. £2M per annum is quite a small amount in the big scheme of things but relying on public donations year after year could probably not be sustained. Now, if it had been an American aircraft, I think it would have been treated alot differently. American Corporations would have, in all probability, given tremendous support both financially and technically. Of course, I'm only guessing here, but it does seem a great shame that such an iconic aircraft should just be left to decay. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concorde Speedbird Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Foxy will be put undercover fairly soon in a new museum, British Aerospace donated about £2 million for the museum to be built. G-BOAG is also outside in Seattle, as is G-BOAD in New York. As for return to flight, it would be very very very difficult and tremendously expensive, but it is still possible so you never know! CS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I went round Alpha Charlie before she went indoors and is certainly in wonderful condition internally. Those beautiful Connolly hide light weight seats installed after the last refit (to compensate for the new fuel tank lining) still look brand new and make an interesting comparison to the cockpit which would best be described as 'well used' - the interior refit definitely stopped at the cockpit door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barryorbik Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I remember hearing there was a Concord in Edinburgh under cover in a museum. Does anyone know if that is correct? Also does anyone know what happened to the French group that was trying to get one of their Concords flying? Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Barry, a quick 'google' will take you here. And from the pics it certainly looks like she's under cover. I haven't heard anything recently about the French one that is the most likely (or at least the least unlikely) of all remaining Concordes to fly again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concorde Speedbird Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 The one in Edinburgh is G-BOAA, the second British production model (AC the first). F-BTSD in France had her engines looked at and her nose-visor operates, but nothing has come off it- yet. CS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concorde Speedbird Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 I'll put all my Concorde things on this thread, if a mod could rename it that would be nice! Here is an interesting picture from airliners.net, Concorde and an A380 tail. CS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josip Vrandecic -Mes Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Dear CSB , The A-380 fin is bigger...but my favorite is Concorde....I'm old-fashioned,but I can not help myself.... Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concorde Speedbird Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Same with me Josip. I think it looks more modern (despite being nearly 40 years older!) and nicer. CS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josip Vrandecic -Mes Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Hi CS ,The Concorde's designers were guided by natural laws ....while the A-380 accountants (designers) driven by profit note:maybe not be true,but I like it.... Cheers Joe Edited By Josip Vrandecic -Mes on 08/01/2013 08:35:05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Unfortunately Concorde used as much fuel with 100 passengers as an A380 does with 500+. In economic terms a 'no brainer' but nevertheless Concorde was (and still is) more elegant and impressive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Tarling Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 I hope that you'll all be pleased to hear that G-BOAB is being painted in BA's paint shop, either right now or in the very near future. After painting, it's going to be positioned on a purpose-built area close to the threshold of runway 27L, where the old 'BEA' canteen used to be, so visible to arriving and departing passengers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concorde Speedbird Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 Josip, yes I agree! Simon, yes correct. But BA did make a profit with Concorde right up to retirement, because of the higher fares (in fact BA wanted to carry on after 2003 but they could not without the engneering support from Airbus). Gordon, that is great to hear that she is being put to some use and we can see her! Where did you fid this out may I ask? CS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Tarling Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 CS - I'm ex-Concorde maintenance and keep in touch with the 'lads' who still work there. There's not many left there now, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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