Corcorde jets being retired permanently

[Atlanta Skins Fan]

The French/English Corcorde supersonic jet era is coming to an end, after a 27-year history beginning in 1976.

This reminds me of how the history of flight has changed before and after 1976. The 20th century history of air transport was phenomenal up to that year, from first flight to routine passenger planes, to military planes, jet aircraft, supersonic military aircraft, U2s, space flight, satellites, moon shot, space shuttle development and finally the Concorde in 1976.

By comparison, there have been few dramatic developments since 1976. The action has shifted to the computer industry, while space and air flight has become mainly a focus for museums.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2952594.stm

BBC News

31 May 2003

French Concorde bids adieu

French Concorde has arrived in Paris after making its final flight from New York.

Fans and well-wishers turned out to bid farewell to the last Air France Concorde to make the three and a half hour trip after 27 years of service.

Air France and British Airways, which between them own 12 Concordes, announced they were withdrawing the aircraft earlier this year, sounding the death knell for one of the most costly aviation projects ever.

Concorde never recovered after a horrific crash near Paris Charles de Gaulle airport three years ago, in which 113 people died.

October finale

More than 250 airport workers and maintenance staff formed a guard of honour at the Paris airport on Friday when the jet left. Some 2,000 more lined the edge of the airport to watch it take off.

The aircraft had first entered service in 1976 after more than a decade of development by the British and French governments.

British Airways will continue to operate its seven-strong fleet until October.

But for their French counterparts, museums at home and in the US and Germany beckon.

"For Air France, Concorde belongs to humanity's aviation heritage and it must therefore be possible to see and admire it," the airline said this week.

"This will be true of the entire Air France Concorde fleet: all planes that belong to it will be presented to the public."