Concorde supersonic display

The Concorde, an Anglo-French supersonic airliner, defined commercial aviation with its Mach 2 speed and iconic delta-wing design.

About this subject

The Concorde was a supersonic commercial airliner jointly developed by Aérospatiale (France) and the British Aircraft Corporation (United Kingdom). Its maiden flight took place on March 2, 1969, and commercial service began on January 21, 1976. Carrying about 100 passengers, the Concorde cruised at altitudes up to 18,300 meters (60,000 feet) and reached a top speed of Mach 2.04 (approximately 2,180 km/h). It halved travel time on transatlantic routes, such as Paris, New York (3.5 hours) or London, New York (3 hours). The design featured delta wings and afterburning engines to accelerate through the sound barrier. Due to high fuel consumption and operating costs, only 20 aircraft were built: 14 commercial and 6 prototypes/test. The crash of Air France Flight 4590 in 2000 and the drop in traffic after the September 11 attacks accelerated its retirement. The last commercial flight occurred on October 24, 2003. Today, examples are displayed in museums like the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace in Paris and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York. The Concorde's legacy inspires modern supersonic projects, such as Boom Supersonic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long did the Concorde take to cross the Atlantic?

The Concorde flew from Paris to New York in about 3 hours 30 minutes, and from London to New York in roughly 3 hours, less than half the time of a subsonic airliner.

Why was the Concorde retired?

Retirement was due to high operating costs, reduced demand after the 2000 crash and the 9/11 attacks, and expensive maintenance of the aging fleet.

How many passengers did the Concorde carry?

The Concorde carried between 92 and 128 passengers, depending on the configuration, with a narrow fuselage and 2x2 seating.