Concorde Goes The Way Of The Do-Do

The single commercial entry into supersonic flight is now museum fodder, after both British Airways and Air France retired their Concorde fleets in 2003. It was a traumatic decision for many aviation enthusiasts -- especially those in the United Kingdom, where there's still an effort afoot to keep the supersonic aircraft in the air.

The death knell for the Concorde was sounded twice -- once, when an Air France version crashed on take-off from Charles de Gaulle in Paris and finally in the massive industry downturn following the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. The Concorde's passing was without a sonic boom, but with a whimper. In May, Air France retired its last supersonic aircraft:

Friday, hundreds of people stood around the fence at New York's JFK Airport to watch Air France bring to a close 34 years of supersonic passenger flight. The Concorde flew to Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris in just three hours. The 79 passengers, some with tears in their eyes, deplaned the Concorde, one saying (with perhaps typical French fatalism), "In France we don't know how to hold on to what is beautiful."

"Concorde will never really stop flying because it will live on in people's imagination," Air France Chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta told Reuters.

"It's the end of an era in aviation," Dominique Bussereau, France's transport secretary, told the Associated Press. The last Air France Concorde flight originated at JFK, as fire trucks sprayed a rainbow of colored water to send the supersonic aircraft off in style.

Those who were on board were fully appreciative of the standard-setting Mach 2 service. Christophe Mazel, the chief financial officer of Michelin Tires in Thailand, said of the jet: "You're eating the most beautiful food, drinking the most beautiful wine. You can't compare it even to first class."

"I kept my eyes wide open during the whole flight" to look out the window, said passenger Vincent Olivetto, adding, "It's an unforgettable memory." Olivetto unashamedly admits having shed a few tears upon landing in Paris.

Then, with the pomp and circumstance normally reserved for a retiring head of state, Britain put its last Concorde out to pasture in October:

A Stunning End To A Modern Legend

The aviation world bid a longing goodbye Friday to a noisy, bothersome, beautiful and remarkable legend. With a grand finale befitting its reputation, the Concorde landed forever at Heathrow Airport in London.

In fact, three of them landed in a spectacularly coordinated finale to the dream which began on a drawing board in 1962.

We've worked this story over pretty good at Aero-News (ANN: "Last Concordes To Retire Friday" -- 20 October 2003). We've said our goodbyes and shed our tears. Here's what the rest of the world had to say:

Air traffic controller Ivor Sims, 51, sending the last Concorde to its gate: "We have all enjoyed you over the years. Best wishes from us all."

Vicky Giannakas of Little Neck (NJ) and a BA customer service rep for a decade: "That's it -- that's the end. It's sad. I shed a tear. I guess it's off to a museum now."

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn/Queens): "While there may be some who will shed a tear over the final flight of the Concorde, there will be no crying in Queens today. This is one flight cancellation that was long overdue."

Julia Zuk, 50, who lives near Heathrow airport: "It's like wearing stilettos. They hurt your feet, but you know they look a lot sexier than ordinary shoes."

The Advertiser, Australia: "Russia had the Sputnik and the first manned space flight. The US hit back with Neil Armstrong's lunar landing. But in an era of superpower one-upmanship, neither could boast launching the world's first supersonic jet liner."

FMI: Farewell At Mach 2; Concorde's Grand Finale; Concorde's Final-Final Flight