Hmm, I see here a lot of undue discredit done to BA. Some seem to think they were arrogant or too stubborn. And are to blame for concorde no longer flying.

Well, if they were stubborn, it was in the other direction. They invested something like £12 million in a new interior for their fleet that was lighter and would improve efficiency. Now, is that the action of an Airline that would willfully pull a plane out of service? Especially when the interiors had just been delivered and were awaiting installation?

I don’t think so.

There is also reason to believe that when Airbus announced it was withdrawing Concorde’s certificates and stopping the manufacture of spares, that BA tried to negotiate control of both the Certificate and Spare parts, even willing to buy up the engineers and specifications. Airbus refused.
It is also said that BA approached Air France to part out their already retired fleet. Air France refused, despite the fact that one of their planes had flown for the last few years mainly on BA spare parts.
If either are true, even in part, its pretty damning toward Airbus and Air France.

Also, remember that BA is the only one out of the two airlines that made money operating Concorde.

However, undeniable fact is that Airbus withdrew all manufacturer support. They pulled Concordes certificates. Without either of these, let alone both, no one could operate Concorde commercially. Regardless how much money Branson threw at BA.

The fault is collective. If anything BA are an innocent party. In my opinion it is clear that BA were planning on operating Concorde beyond her eventual retirement date.
I’m more willing to believe that the French consorted to stop BA, a British airline, being the only Supersonic airline.
There has always been a certain degree of jealously between the French and British. Many silly things have come about as a result. So if you think about it, its not at all far fetched.

For Once We both see eye to eye on a matter Sandy

Kevin

I agree The Polar in the Mist is a stuning shot 🙂
Kevin

Another thought,
Number 1 engine , is this the Left Engine?,Now if this is correct Following reasoning
The pilot could not start engines while passengers were boarding, a bit dangerous if the front door is open and the stairs are connected, I know that at Glasgow 1 Passenger was killed Many Years ago when the pilot started the engines (ATP) whilst passengers were boarding and a passenger decided to walk straight into one of the Props

Great Pics there Tartan,
Heres what I managed of the US from The Trident Gate
They say theres a pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow, what can you say
Kevin

very like the Russian Beriev A40 Albatros & BE42 Mermaid of the 8o,s

Cheers for the comments lads.
James, the AB does GLA-STN twice a day.
Damian i think you were the only local not there today, I’m sure i even saw a burger van and ice cream van at gate 3 😀 😀 😀

I, some of us had to work today :p :p
popped down early to see OY-VKB , which was in full MYT colour scheme , it showed up at 0730ish and I saw it depart at 0855, missed the rest but the Air Greenland was on stand at the tower and the MD82 was on stand 34-35 tonight

Great pictures though

Grate pics of the EMB and the DH8 , well worth waiting for

Kevin