Concorde rot?

…As for the ‘glass-house’ idea,I don’t think it would do her much good,and might even make things worse.I’d imagine the heat inside would be tremendous on a sunny day,particularly if it’s not air conditioned,not to mentioned the humidity…

I thought the airframe had to be white to reflect the heat that built up at supersonic speeds… Being America I can’t imagine that such a project wouldn’t have air conditioning built into the proposal.

Flood.™

Just to add my tuppence-worth…
Firstly,G-BOAD on the Intrepid.IMHO,the aircraft should never have been put there,anyone with any knowledge of aircraft preservation could only have suggested that location as a joke.About the only thing dafter they could’ve done with it was dangle it off the arm of the Statue of Liberty.The only way I can see the aircraft surviving in anything like the long term is if they ferry it back to JFK on a regular basis for conservation work. As for the ‘glass-house’ idea,I don’t think it would do her much good,and might even make things worse.I’d imagine the heat inside would be tremendous on a sunny day,particularly if it’s not air conditioned,not to mentioned the humidity. The only way this aircraft can be preserved in NY is to stick it in an air-conditioned building,which would de-salinate the air as well as keeping out the elements. What chance there is of that,who knows,but it doesn’t seem likely somehow. IMHO,it’s a case of bye-bye BOAD…
As for BOAA,I agree to some extent that chopping her up and carting her off to EF was a sad episode.My parents’ place is only 2mins from where she was loaded onto a barge,so I went to see it being done.Although the event attracted quite a crowd,I still felt it was sad to see her dismembered like that and my mind still boggles at the expense.That said,EF now have a major crowd puller,so there is something of a happy ending to her story.
One museum that I felt really should have had a Concorde was the Science Museum.I know they already have Concorde 002 at Yeovilton,but the prototypes had almost no parts in common with the production examples. Secondly,what chance is there of ever displaying the Yeovilton Concorde on Science Museum property?002 is surely stuck at the FAAM for life (unless they chop her up,God forbid)).IMHO,it would’ve been great to see a BA Concorde take up wasted indoor space at Wroughton.
As for the argument about whether multiple Concordes are worthy of preservation,I would say yes.The one thing that is often an uphill battle for us enthusiasts is to actually enthuse those around us and impress on the them the importance of preserving old aeroplanes in static condition.I know a number of people who show a passing interest in planes that fly,but if you suggest visiting a museum they often say they don’t much fancy going to have a look around a junkyard! Concorde’s reputation has followed her into retirement,and I think she could be a useful demonstration tool in terms of showing the general public the value of static exhibits and the challenges that face those trying to preserve them,whilst also boosting attendance figures to museums and getting people interested in planes in general.I know barely any ‘normal’ people who wouldn’t atleast show a passing interest in going to see a static Concorde. To sum up,I’d say the more Concordes that are preserved the better for the preservation scene as a whole because of the potential they have for bringing new life into the movement.
Btw,I’m a bit surprised to see Concorde being spelt without the E,or is this a veiled anti-Frenchie sentiment? 😉

Certainley is one of the best in the UK… 🙂
Such a shame Alpha Alpha was reduced to a hacked up airfix kit though, gonna need a big supply of welding rods and grinding discs to put it together again…. 😉 😀

They have apparently started the process of re-attaching the wings, according to the local press. I’ve not been down to East Fortune for a few weeks, so I don’t know how it’s going. Could be interesting. :rolleyes:

John,

Thanks for your post. It looks as though I read more into your comments than was intended, so no harm done. There are some who would have meant that the Concordes should have stayed in the south!

I agree that the timing wasn’t ideal, but that’s just something the museum has had to deal with. I suspect there would have been no alternative – it’s unlikely anyone would have had room for them at short notice and, if they did, would probably have charged ‘storage’ fees, thereby making the overall cost for places like East Fortune even higher.

I fully agree about the Beaufighter (which has always been my favourite type anyway). It’s disgraceful to have spent £190,000 acquiring it and then leave it to rot in a water-logged hangar (no word of a lie – rain has been coming in through the roof and floor for weeks, but that’s another story) without any restoration work being carried out. The APSS volunteers who have always maintained the aircraft aren’t allowed to touch them any more, so not only are a/c like the Beau not being worked on, but most of the others are actively deteriorating.

Despite all this it is a superb collection – it could just be so much more if the curatorial staff had the will and knowledge … 😡

which is why I take exception to the suggestion that it’s not one of the main collections – it’s one of the best in the UK and it’s one of a very few north of the border.

Certainley is one of the best in the UK… 🙂
Such a shame Alpha Alpha was reduced to a hacked up airfix kit though, gonna need a big supply of welding rods and grinding discs to put it together again…. 😉 😀

Hi Ian

I am sorry if you took offence at my comments as I completely agree with you about East Fortune. That is why I travelled 12,000 miles last year to visit it on my tour of major UK museums – I think it is a fantastic place and will only grow in the future. I will again be visiting there this year to further enjoy the facility.

My point was that rather than punt all the Concords off to various museums before they were ready for them they should have been subject to transport to sites close by to Heathrow (not just big museums) or other airports until proper planning and dispersal proceedures could be put in place. I also accept that the notice was less than optimal which is why I think the best plan would have been to observe a moritorium prior to placing them. I think the Concord should have gone to East Fortune but only once they were ready for it. I will probably again this year be unable to see the East Fortune Beaufighter because of the hasty rearrangement that was necessary due to the arrival of the Concord. I don’t blame the Museum administrators for availing themselves of this great exhibit I just question the Timing – Timing is everything

Unfortunately in my photo collection I have numerous photos of the scrapping of quite a few Vulcans etc that were “preserved” and what about the Beverly at Hendon – I am fearful that despite being attractions at present some of these machines may not recieve the same attention in the future and what of the fate of the airframes that are displaced to allow for the Concord display.

Anyway Ian I am sorry if I caused you any distress by my comments – we are all in this hobby for the fun and I regret that it upset you.

Kindest regards
John P

Sorry, that should be “my comment”, not “MY comment.” I wasn’t inferring anything! :rolleyes:

Not surprising when you consider Hendon is the RAF Museum…….. 😉 :rolleyes:

Well, exactly! MY comment wasn’t meant as a criticism of Hendon which “does exactly what it says on the tin.” However, as the Museum of Flight, East Fortune has a godo mix of both military and civil, which is why I take exception to the suggestion that it’s not one of the main collections – it’s one of the best in the UK and it’s one of a very few north of the border.

The museum has a superb balance between military and civil aircraft (which is more than can be said for Hendon).

Not surprising when you consider Hendon is the RAF Museum…….. 😉 :rolleyes:

John,

I agree with most of what you say – the money being spent to transport and restore Concorde, at the expense of more historically important aircraft which are being left to rot depresses me. However, this money only came from the Scottish Executive specifically for the Concorde and the Museum of Flight would not have had it to spend for other projects. There is also the fact that Concorde is a huge public draw, despite what we might think of it. It will, and already is, bringing punters in in their thousands, which is good!

What I do take great exception to is your comment, “in main collections in the UK.” Just what exactly do you mean by this? I assume you’re referring to Duxford, Hendon and other such places in SE England? East Fortune may not be huge, but it has one of the most impotrant collections in the UK, including the oldest aircraft in the UK (3rd oldest in the world). The museum has a superb balance between military and civil aircraft (which is more than can be said for Hendon). It has several airframes which are entirely unique so whilst I accept most of your points I am deeply offended by your suggestion that aircraft should stay down in the south of England where you all can enjoy them. What about people in the rest of the UK, who often have to travel dozens, if not hundreds of miles, just to get to a small aviation museum.

Hi all

At the risk of creating a riot I am deeply concerned at the amount of resources being pumped into the duplicated preservation of all of these Concords. It was just a joke to see the amount of wasted money being expended to transport all of these to some really exotic and bizare locations and what happens when the novelty wears off ? Wheres the business case for an ongoing preservation of them . I am not against all of them being preserved – just the imature way it was done.
Think about for instance the one which went to East Fortune – the cost of that little exercise could have been a lot better spent on preserving all of their machines and the upgrading of their facilities. It would have been better for all concerned if the machines had gone to good homes in main collections in the UK even temporarily for much less cost and some passed on later when better arrangements were worked out.
If you think I am just a grouch then look at what has happened to a lot of vulcans/Victors/valiants? Beverlys/Lightnings etc over the years – No plan just expensive future saucpans.

kindest regards
john Parker

Their was a rumor that this Concorde was going to be put in a glass cube.

still it must be a nice advert for BA sitting like that in New York.

The one Concorde that was causing the most worry last autumn was the one in Barbados but that seems to be getting treated better than most other examples.

These are a few pictures I took from the deck of USS Intrepid in early March this year. Depressing is the best way to describe it I think. Sticking Alpha-Delta on a barge in the river is not the way to preserve a rare and historic aeroplane in my opinion. 🙁

The Scimitar looks tattier than this photo suggests and no work appears to have been done on the aeroplane since my previous visit in 2001. There’s not even a tail number painted on.

Having said that the USMC Harrier which was looking rather faded on the port deck lift on my 2001 visit had returned in March this year with a nice fresh paint job. So maybe there is hope…but don’t hold your breath.

I just worry when planes are held by a tourist attraction rather than a “proper” aviation museum/group.

I agree with you 100% there John but, sadly, it keeps happening – Blackburn Beverley/Fort Paull anyone? 😡

The Scimitar is XD220 and is on ‘loan’ from the FAAM (exchanged for a Phantom of all things!). It was last flown 22/7/70 to Lee On Solent before going into storage for the Fleet Air Arm Museum, at RNAY Wroughton, but never displayed and was loaded onto RFA Olna at Portsmouth, in June 1986 (where, incidentally, I saw it as I was returning from the RNAY Fleetlands Open Day), for transportation to the US for display on USS Intrepid.
One of only three complete Scimitars, too…:(

Info from Air Britains The Scimitar File.

Flood.™