Flight of fantasy?

The trend for the mainstream press to publish ever more ‘eye catching’ headlines (often with hardly a mention in the text that follows) shows no signs of abating. The internet and TV have driven them to this extreme – but it is the wrong reaction and will hasten their demise.

This could also be a wind up from the media, just think, splashed on the front pages of newspapers it would be popular with most people and increase high street paper sales for a while. With the Vulcan now going into retirement, will air shows slowly become a thing of the past as vintage jet air frames reach their fly by dates. Only leaves the Red Arrows and maybe what ever the RAF Have left.

J Boyle, very good!

Aren’t they also resurrecting the TU-144 project ?

Nonetheless we should start planning.

On its maiden passenger flight lets arrange for a formation with the Vulcan, I’ll see about the USAF loaning a B-58, or better yet get the XB-70 out of the museum.
A low level flyby down the Mall, then low level aerobatics over central London.

And we must have a flyby of Lightnings, Shackeltons, Buccaneers, I’m sure the CAA won’t mind.

These threads make me laugh! It will NEVER EVER HAPPEN. Who in their right mind would shoulder the RISK????? The manufacturers aren’t interested, and they NEED to provide support. No amount of money will make it happen.

Spare parts? Engines? None left, no chance.
mmitch.

Indeed, it appears so at first glance…

However, given a near-infinite pot of money, it would theoretically be possible to have new engines, and all necessary spares manufactured from new by the OEMs (assuming they can be paid enough to be bothered to do so). And, with another chunk of that infinite pot of cash, it would, theoretically be possible to do a full refurbishment to airworthiness of one, or more, of the retired airframes – or even to build a new example from the ground up. Granted, it is very, very unlikely to happen, but it is not (quite) impossible. Likewise, all the special engine airflow management systems that were removed upon retirement would need to be found and re-installed, or re-engineered from scratch…

But, with Airbus having withdrawn design authority for the type (IIRC), no-one will be able to gain the necessary permits/licences to fly one as a commercial venture as none of the aviation authorities will grant approval for commercial use of a type unless there is a suitable body to act as design authority holder. And surely, commercial ops are the the whole point of the exercise?

Again, were that infinite pot of money to be SO infinite that it can persuade/pay Airbus to re-open and hold the design authority etc, then that hurdle could theoretically be overcome too.

So, never say never!

But in reality I agree it isn’t ever likely to happen, as I doubt anyone has (or ever will have) deep-enough pockets to persuade all the necessary players to play ball.

As I understand it, Concordes were withdrawn from service and grounded when the type certificate was withdrawn by the manufacturers. Presumably, re-instating the type certificate would be a necessary first step in getting one into service again, quite apart from the little matters of no complete airframes, no spares, no engine support, etc etc.

I wonder if the newspaper has got confused over the difference between a “Concorde Experience” involving a pretend flight, and the real thing.

Spare parts? Engines? None left, no chance.
mmitch.

I think the thread title says it all. Vintage jets are one thing but paying passenger carriers are another. Commercial jets are usually retired after 25 years service, I think the Concorde’s are well past that now, to get one back in the air again. Sure there is lots of enthusiasm and I am also sure it would be fully booked on every flight. Being realistic. Personally no I don’t think it will ever happen unless someone stumped up the cash to build a new one.

Almost certainly, I suggest.

As an email recipient I have followed this for a few years. I wonder if it will remain, in reality, a pipe dream……

To save people clicking on the link The revival of Concorde Plans are in place to resume Concorde flights in the near future, and fans of the aircraft could soon board one in central London