Has Raised About $155 Million Towards Effort To Get A Concorde Flying Again

The Concorde SST was retired in 2003 by British Airways and Air France after the plane's popularity wane following an accident in 2000 in Paris. But there are some who hope to see the airplane fly again, and they have been engaged in a years-long fundraising effort to make that happen.

Now, Club Concorde says it has raised the £120 million (approx. $156 million U.S.) to acquire one of the retired aircraft and bring it back to flight status both for private charters and air shows.

There are 11 Concordes on static display or in storage in the U.K., France, Germany and the United States. The U.K. newspaper The Mirror reports that Club Concorde president Paul James said that they hope to be able to acquire one of the jets that is currently in at Le Bourget airport in Paris. He said interest in the project is very high. "The support shows how much people still admire the Concorde and want to see if flying again," he told the paper.

The group also would like to purchase a second SST to put on display in central London, according to The Mirror. James said that they had hoped to lease and restore a British Airways Concorde and put it on display next to the London Eye, but they were thwarted by British Airways. The airline said it would be willing to talk to Club Concorde, but the airplanes in its fleet are "currently displayed at sites around the globe and we have no plans to change these contracts at this time."

(Image from file)

FMI: www.clubconcorde.co.uk/index.php