In the words of a certain Prime Minister: This was once the future. And what an amazing future it seemed to be.
Concorde was conceived in the 1950s, designed in the 1960s and launched in the 1970s. It was supersonic proof that Britain can still be a world leader in science, technology and design – with a little help from our friends, of course.
For this work of genius was either an Anglo-French or a Franco-British triumph, depending on which side of the English Channel you stood.
And then exactly 20 years ago today it all came to an end.
Concorde managed to shrink the Atlantic from an ocean to the proverbial pond. The world’s most valuable air route, London-New York, evolved from a long-haul to a long-haul route (although the first two commercial flights were simultaneously London-Bahrain and Paris-Senegal).
A consortium of aviation and travel industry experts is preparing a proposal to place a Concorde – ideally the Heathrow aircraft – in the middle of London, directly opposite Parliament
Exactly 20 years ago today, the Concorde came to an end – a Franco-British or Anglo-French triumph, depending on which side of the English Channel you were on
Captain Robert Hardman on the Concorde flight deck at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey
The last British Airways Concorde flight landed at Heathrow Airport on October 24, 2003
“Arrive before you go,” they used to say. And so it is also possible if you leave Heathrow at 10:30 a.m. and arrive at John F. Kennedy in New York at 9:00 a.m. after a three-hour flight.
And all this before anyone had even heard of a cell phone or the Internet. This was a time when, for most of us, a shrimp cocktail or a triumph stag was the height of sophistication; When the hottest items in the Argos catalog included a chest expander for £3.99 and a ‘stereo’ record player for £34.95; when Britain was such an economic problem that the Labor Chancellor of the Exchequer – one Denis Healey – had to ask the International Monetary Fund for a bailout.
And yet paying passengers could travel to the edge of space at more than twice the speed of sound. Stunning.
Concorde ruled the skies for almost three decades.
However, the catastrophic crash of an Air France Concorde in Paris in 2000 and the impact of 9/11 a year later meant that costs were no longer sustainable.
At 1.05pm this afternoon it will be exactly two decades since the most fascinating aircraft in the annals of civil aviation last landed, following a final transfer flight from Heathrow to Bristol, where the aircraft was largely designed. How have we evolved since then?
Well, in almost every other way, life has moved on. When it comes to transportation, we have bigger, more efficient cars, bigger ships, cheaper flights, and so on. We have the digital age, a longer life expectancy, cashless shopping, canned draft beer and vegan sausage. But what replaced Concorde?
Absolutely nothing.
And that’s why a bold and exciting new plan is being unveiled today. Because if we can no longer see Concorde in the sky, let’s at least make sure we can celebrate her on the ground.
As strange as it may sound, the only major city that doesn’t properly celebrate Concorde is London. Of the 20 planes built, one crashed in Paris, one was scrapped and the other 18 are scattered around the globe.
You can still see a Concorde in New York, Paris, Barbados and Seattle. There are seven in the UK – from the National Museum of Flight near Edinburgh to Duxford in Cambridgeshire and a lone Concorde parked in a corner of Heathrow.
But the point is, you have to go looking. Now a consortium of aviation and travel industry experts is preparing an application to place a Concorde – ideally the Heathrow aircraft – in the middle of London, directly opposite Parliament.
Despite advances in almost every aspect of life, from more efficient cars to cashless shopping, nothing has replaced the Concorde
On July 24, 2000, a Concorde took off from Heathrow Airport
Concorde Captain John “Hutch” Hutchinson was at the helm of Concorde for 15 years and had the honor of flying the Queen to (and around) the United States on her historic state visit in 1991
He now lectures all over the world to audiences who are still fascinated by stories about the larger world. Neither he nor she can understand why or how it could have disappeared from the public imagination
The catastrophic crash of Air France Concorde Flight 4590 in Paris in 2000 and the impact of 9/11 a year later meant costs were no longer sustainable
The idea is to place the aircraft, called Concorde on the Thames, on a biplane platform over the Thames next to the London Eye.
The aircraft would be open to the public, while the lower floor would house a ‘Best of British’ museum celebrating other success stories from Formula 1 to virtual reality technology and encouraging children to study STEM subjects (natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics).
The project would be funded through ticket sales and hospitality events (where guests could sit back and relive the days of lobster and champagne, if not at Mach 2). “It is extraordinary that the Concorde is a major tourist attraction in New York and stands majestically at the entrance to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, but London seems to have forgotten it,” says former Concorde captain John “Hutch” Hutchinson. A former RAF aircraftman, he was at the helm of Concorde for 15 years and had the honor of flying the Queen to (and around) the US on her historic state visit in 1991.
Today he lectures around the world to audiences still captivated by stories about the larger world. Neither he nor she can understand why or how it could have disappeared from the public imagination.
The chairman and driving force behind the campaign is former tour operator Paul James. He chartered and organized many Concorde flights back then and is convinced that the public still loves the aircraft. “Whenever the Concorde passed over us, people stopped what they were doing and went out to look,” he says. “It’s still something to be proud of.” It’s meant to inspire younger generations because it shows what you can achieve when you think big.”
The project is also supported by former stewardess Julia van den Bosch, who was on duty throughout the Concorde era, serving rock stars, members of the royal family or simply those who had saved up for a “Trip Round the Bay” flight over Biscay .
She remembers the constant demand for lobster and caviar (which were of no interest to Julia due to her fish allergy); the captain, who greeted the passengers with the words: “Dear fellow astronauts”; to serve the Queen and Prince Philip across the Atlantic; by former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath cheekily asking if she could slip an extra bottle of vintage wine into his bag. But her favorite passenger?
“I remember when I was having a pretty painful bust-up and Lauren Bacall sensed something was wrong and was very sweet. “She gave me a lot of advice,” Julia remembers. “She said, ‘Whatever you do, stay busy.’ And I did.’
Julia was on board the very last commercial Concorde flight from New York to Heathrow on October 24, 2003, a few weeks before the final trip to Bristol. I still remember the scenes when the plane landed at Heathrow – because I was also on board. We were at the end of a triple Concorde flypast. It seemed as if all of London had retreated to the streets and parks. Cars were left behind as people rushed to get the best view.
Two planes full of BA employees and competition winners landed in front of us. Our plane – packed with celebrities and loyal customers, as well as a few hacks in the background – had the last bow, the last Concorde to ever cross the Atlantic.
Many passengers blinked hard as we came to a graceful stop and Captain Mike Bannister of British Airways said over the intercom: “Concorde was born of dreams, built with vision and operated with pride,” he said in farewell. “From now on, tomorrow’s world will be yesterday’s.”
The only other aircraft that enjoy such enduring affection everywhere – for very different reasons – are the Spitfire and the Lancaster.
Concorde can be seen in New York (pictured), Paris, Seattle and Barbados, as well as seven museums in the UK, but not in central London
The farewell in New York was just as moving. Every US television station broadcast our departure live, while fire trucks sprayed red, white and blue beams across the runway in honor and an experienced air traffic controller sent us off with the words: “It was a privilege.” He was visibly moved. That was the global appeal of The Bird. So has the magic gone?
Not to mention the number of people who flock to places like the excellent Brooklands Museum in Surrey to see Delta Golf; or “Alpha Charlie” in a hangar in Manchester. Imagine the wow factor of a Concorde in the heart of London.
The only other aircraft that enjoy such enduring affection everywhere – for very different reasons – are the Spitfire and the Lancaster.
Now there is still a long way to go before this new plan becomes reality. At this point, the organizers are simply launching a crowdfunding call to get the first building application underway. That alone could cost £500,000. Once this is complete and interest is clearly demonstrated, other stakeholders – including engineers and architects – have agreed to participate. Donations are non-binding, but donors will receive free entry to an experience which is expected to cost around £30 in due course.
If sufficient funds are not raised to submit a planning application, all donations will be refunded to donors under the Go Fund Me guarantee.
The current proposal has been in the draft phase for several years, but follows discussions at various points in time with key stakeholders such as British Airways, the Port of London Authority and local politicians. The project hopes to make use of the only surplus Concorde – GOAB – which has been pushed around in the back yard of Heathrow since its retirement. It is known as “Alpha Bravo” and is currently in the hands of British Airways. It can still be seen from certain angles during landing and takeoff.
During his tenure, BA boss Alex Cruz was extremely enthusiastic about the idea. As he told activists: “The plane would be much better placed and in better hands than you suggest.”
Since his departure in 2021, current management has tempered its interest, stating that there are currently “no plans” to move. Those who have been to Alpha Bravo in recent years have shown me photos of a rather deserted sight, a dismantled hull with wires hanging from the walls.
John Hutchinson fears it will eventually end up in the scrapyard if it is left to “rot”.
Julia Van den Bosch, Concorde’s longest-serving cabin crew
Enthusiasts wave goodbye to the final British Airways Concorde flight departing from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport
A fan of the new project recalls that British Airways was the main sponsor, launching the London Eye – now one of the capital’s most popular landmarks – on the same site.
“Initially we had a lot of opposition to a Ferris wheel from politicians and the heritage lobby,” says Baroness Hoey, who campaigned long and hard for the creation of the Eye during her time as Labor MP for Vauxhall.
“It was BA managing director Bob Ayling who had the vision and made it a reality.” “The Concorde placement would certainly help BA rejuvenate its image.”
Lady Hoey, who has nothing to do with the project, points out that the eye was one of those bold ideas that people doubted but now can’t imagine living without. She is absolutely right.
What would the London skyline be without the Eye?
Now imagine what it would look like with the Concorde next to it.
Some consider this an implausible idea, chauvinistic nonsense or just absurdly ambitious. But then wasn’t exactly the same thing said about the Concorde itself?