Concorde, which retired in 2003 after 27 years of flying commercially, may rise from the plane aviation graveyard and take to the skies again, thanks to the dedication of a group of enthusiasts and retired professionals.
The supersonic jetliner, one of only two that entered commercial service - Tupolev Tu-144 being the other one - was built under the Anglo-French collaboration of the British Aircraft Corporation and Aérospatiale. Concorde, which first took flight in 1969, hit speeds of Mach 2.04, which is twice that of sound.
However, due to increasing cost of maintenance and diminished passenger numbers following the July 25, 2000 Concorde crash and the 9/11 attack, British Airways and Air France pulled the plug and retired the Concorde line. Attempts by other airlines to buy and continue Concorde's commercial run were thwarted by Airbus' discontinued maintenance support.
Now, 12 years after its wings were clipped, a group known as Club Concorde, which is made up of retired Concorde specialists, pilots and people who flew frequently on-board one of the 20 Concorde jetliners when they were still in service, is looking to revive the supersonic behemoth.
Using about $61 million raised from private investments and reserve funds of about $184 million, Club Concorde is looking to set up a tourist attraction that will center on the iconic jetliner. With a $24.50 per head charge, the attraction will serve the same items found on Concorde's original menu, which involves a selection of drinks, fresh seafood, red meat dishes, desserts and a selection of cheese.
By 2017, Club Concorde hopes to set up the attraction by the London Eye and above the Thames.
The same funds will also be used to restore one of the supersonic jets to its former glory and have it cover the skies during airshows and corporate events. Flying Concorde as a private charter and re-establishing the former commercial routes are also possibilities that the group is hoping will materialize by 2019.
Photo: Paisley Scotland | Flickr
