Concorde engines being examined!

Will it …won’t it ????

Twas my understanding from the original notice issued that the group was intending to perform a feasibility study on the aircrafts engines with a view too starting them once again and from there to possibly taxi the aircraft around the airport, no information was given at that time as to why they wished to do this.

Since this time hysteria seems to have swept the forums with all manner of wild and woolly dreams being aired so without wishing to pour water on those heated dreams a small taste of sanity might be in order.

They have announced they are looking at the engines to see if are safe to start and how much work would be required to achieve this aim, from there a full survey of the airframes systems will be needed to be undertaken to asses what work is required to rectify years of deterioration so that a start can be undertaken then on to the ancillary systems required to taxi the aircraft, again a lot of work just to get the brakes operational again, 15 million is a conservative estimate to attempt this work.

Top this off with the question, not if they can do it but should they even attempt to do it considering this airframe is a museum piece, retired from service and parked up for that expressed purpose, a very large ornament for people to gawk at, take endless pikkies of and remind them selves of the days when the aviation industries of both involved countries was not so timid and could produce such icons of imagination.

I would love to see it fly once more, but have to resign myself to fact that it never will.

F-BTSD

Looks like F-BTSD at Toulouse would be the candidate. Spring chicken with only 12,974 hours on the clock. She is likely the closest to being flight or taxi worthy of the fleet. As noted most of the others have been kept outside, stripped or delivered to a place that could not easily do the work needed.

I’d love to see a Concorde taxiing or flying again! I love under Heathrow’s holding pattern area and saw the Concorde may times here. Got up to Heathrow to see the old gal take off an land a few times too…….what an unforgettable noise that made!

I think if they did taxiing of it in the same style Bruntingthorpe do, you wouldn’t be able to use all 4 of those RR Olympus engines without blowing everyones eardrums!

I’m backing whatever the garlic munchers do with their Delta wing beasts!

SR-71?

Roger Smith

Hi Roger,

The Septics have been operating vehicles far superior to SR-71 for some considerable time now.

Recall how long it took to make the public domain and also ref the F-117.

Similarly, given the imminent retirement of Shuttle, I’d be highly surprised if they haven’t a manned means to orbit also off the public radar, that keeps a taxi available if required.

The Musee De L’Air example would be the obvious candidate for any return to flight as I think it has been under cover ever since it was retired and if it happens then good luck to them.
Concorde was an icon of it’s era and was one of the early steps in what was meant to be a brave new world of super technology that never quite seems to have accomplished everything that was promised (not yet anyway).
OK it apparently never made a profit but it was a beautiful and unique airliner the like of which we may never see again.
I agree that there are other worthy projects out there that need a fraction of the likely cost but the truth is that the money would never be diverted to other projects and from what I understand they aren’t asking for public donations either.
If anyone could get a Concorde flying again the French have to be the most likely candidates as they have a unique ability to interpret any rules in a way which best suits themselves – a trait which can be very frustrating at times but equally can be very useful if you happen to be in the right place at the right time.

I believe the plan is for taxi runs only, any thought of flight status is totally out of the question, the support infrastructure of workshop skills/test facilities/knowledge/spares/material that existed has gone, not only within BAE/BA/Airbus/Rolls/Air France but at all the many sub contractors. That and getting French and UK authorities to allow it make it even more unlikely.
I know its a pity but flying one should be filed in the pipe dream drawer.

Richard

Oh, I don’t know – after the last 13 years I think there’d be a few of us “Rosbifs” lining up to have a go…

Genuinely LMAO!

I have it on good authority that the various BA Concordes have significant corrosion problems particularly around the engine exhausts…. Forget flying a BA example.

It’s a fargin’ crime, I tell ye. A CRIME!!!!!

I have it on good authority that the various BA Concordes have significant corrosion problems particularly around the engine exhausts…. Forget flying a BA example.

Have there been any indications as to Airbus’ reaction to this story? Without design authority support, the project is dead in the water.

Concorde, the only museum piece that isn’t obsolete!!

SR-71?

Roger Smith

There is a similar thread running on WIX, and according to a Belgian contributor on there a statement has been made by the Musee de l’Air saying that the intention is only to taxi the aircraft on special occasions, and on only two engines.

Not quite the return to flight the UK press have been reporting…

Concorde, the only museum piece that isn’t obsolete!!

Euro fighter in Duxford, – – oh hang on, maybe you were correct 🙂
I would rather see the Vulcan than Concorde but i daresay they may be able to get some money back from fare paying passengers,a long road to go down.

Concorde, the only museum piece that isn’t obsolete!!

Would be nice if it got in the air again but reckon there is little hope of that happening.

Yes, as a nation they seem to have a lot more balls than us Brits.

Especially when it comes to handling them…..FOOTballs that is..

from one very pi**ed off Irishman who will never forgive that cheating sod Henry !:mad:

Airbus have the type certificate -without their co-operation nothing will happen that resembles flight! Bear in mind also that the Concorde enquiry is still underway in France which might well bring a few truths regarding the operation of the type into the public domain.

I thought our own G-BOAF at Filton was a good candidate for flight again??

Press release says starting engines only

Not quite the same story is it, starting engines only or getting it to fly. Someone is hoodwinking people, and it’s not any of the Olympus 593 group.

Were they to start an England bashing thread, I am sure I would soon have any number of you knocking on my door.

Oh, I don’t know – after the last 13 years I think there’d be a few of us “Rosbifs” lining up to have a go…

Sorry Bruce, I made some pretty stupid comments there looking back on it 🙁

ANYWAY – Honestly I would love to see this happen, I dont think ive ever seen a concorde fly up close in real life 🙁 Seen them at about 20-30k feet but never up close