CONCORDE - A BRIEF TALE

--> Imagine flying high enough to see the curvature of the earth at one glance, at speeds nearing 2200km/h, while sipping
champagne without spilling a drop, in the 1960’s - yes, that is what the legendary Concorde had offered the wealthier
passengers for three decades before its final hop. Capturing the spotlight worldwide, the initial release of Concorde saw
orders from 18 different airline companies, including Air India and USA’s now defunct Pan Am, but the deliveries only
happened to Air France and BOAC (now British Airways).
--> A legacy that is yet to be matched by modern technology, the impact of the Concorde still resonates in the minds of the
greatest engineers today. Some projects, including that of the American Boom Supersonic and the Boeing 2707, are expeted
to bring supersonic travel back to the common man by the end of this decade. But a late 60’s aircraft with such unmatched
performance and luxury, is going to go down the pages of history as a legend.
--> However, the Concorde, like any other heroic persona, fell prey to time and had to bid farewell owing to economic and
environmental factors - it is said, that the aircraft would expand by as much as 10 inches when in flight, owing to heating from
friction. Also, the lacklustre safety and issue of sonic booms only fueled the termination of its services. Airports would have to
build separate terminals for the gigantic and niche shape of the aircraft, and the overall price of tickets just could not impress
customers well enough as time passed.
--> The last Concorde flight took off from New York’s JFK, heading to London Heathrow on the 24th of October, 2003.