Paris says farewell to Concorde
Concorde’s farewell echoed the subdued tone of the air show
French President Jacques Chirac has paid tribute to the retiring supersonic passenger plane Concorde at the 45th Paris air show.
The president, along with hundreds of spectators, applauded as one of Air France’s Concordes performed a flight of honour over Le Bourget airport, before landing and taking its place at the nearby Air and Space Museum.
Air France retired its fleet in May, and in June donated the oldest of its five Concorde aircraft to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in the US.
British Airways will put its Concordes out of commission by October.
The Paris show is being attended by nearly 40 countries, displaying about 200 aircraft.
However the event this year has been considerably more subdued after many US firms pulled out because of bad blood between the two countries following the US-led Iraqi conflict.
No recovery
No US military planes will be present at the event, and no senior executives from US aerospace or military firms, including Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest arms maker, will be present.
US exhibitors will total 183, down from 350 at the last Paris show in 2001, Reuters news agency reported.
Business is also not expected to be as brisk as in previous years.
Analyst say that although some major contracts could be announced, a full recovery in the aviation industry is unlikely in the next two years.
The event also comes amid a sharp downturn in global travel because of the continuing US-led war against terrorism, and the Sars epidemic.
However officials at the show insisted that they would still provide enough spectacle for the crowds.
By: Saab 2000 - 15th June 2003 at 09:11
I am going to miss the AF flying over during the week at 4 p.m every weekday. I always used to hear the sonic boom and if it were a clear day, see the aircraft flying over. Sad to see it gone.
By: KabirT - 15th June 2003 at 09:08
say whatever u want but the bird was the greatest legend of Civil Aviation for me!:)
By: T5 - 14th June 2003 at 22:28
Expensive to run and a pain when it comes to noise pollution, but it’s a classic supersonic airliner which has plenty of life left in it. I don’t think withdrawing it from service completely, opposed to allowing other airlines to sample it, is the best idea.
I’ll certainly be at Heathrow for it’s last departure/arrival.
By: A330Crazy - 14th June 2003 at 22:24
Very sad for the French and for lovers all over the world of concorde… soon be the UK’s turn. 🙁
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June 14, 2003 at 5:41 pm