Sad day for me. Shame to see Concorde go.
First worked on the aircraft in 1965 in design stages, & first flew on it from Filton on trials. The engines were loud & smoky in those days..... (tries to get engine link in somewhere!)
I was involved in early weight & balance stuff, including trimming the aeroplane by shunting fuel up & down the tanks using computers ... all leading edge trickery then.
Also responsible for worldwide ground handling procedures, & had some strange problems. One daft one was that the nose was much higher from the tarmac than anything else BOAC had at the time, & there was a small baggage hold with a very small door underneath the nose in the fuselage. Needed new cherry pickers to get baggage handlers up there, & they didn't like the height!
One of my pals on our team left & joined BAC as a Concorde salesman.
3 years of the most amazing life style, but not a single commission cheque!
In later life, I picked up Concorde as one of my aircraft portfolio when I managed a few thousand cabin crew. Was always proud of it, & we knew many of the regular passengers well. It had a cadre of about 800 who were very regular users.
I was working in Florida when the Air France flight went down. Hit me intensely -- strange how an inanimate object creates loyalty. Was much less impacted by Sep 11 as an event, even 'tho I lost friends then.
Used to fly the aircraft regularly. Didn't talk about it much then -- never quite the right thing to say in the pub in the evening when asked what you did today -- "Just popped over to New York for a meeting". Preferred to say "Mine's a Brakspears".
Sad to relate that the last truly splendid flying experience died many years ago. I've never found anything before or since that was as relaxing as long haul flying in the upper desk B747 first class lounges that existed in the early '70's. Excellent space, seats, cuisine -- & your own chiefie for a dozen or so passengers. All gone now, even 'tho Richard Branson tries harder than most.
Ah, I remember when ..... & to think I packed up work because I coudn't any more bear the charade & irritation of security checks, constant queues, lack of service/courtesy etc etc. Alright once in a blue moon, but became intolerable when crossing the pond every week -- Concorde or not. Perhaps I should sign up for the next run of "Grumpy (even older) old men"
Result is that I still have a few million air miles that I shall probably carry to the grave, if the kids don't spend them first!
Colin
(looking at his original BOAC giveaway Concorde model -- even 'tho it never flew in BOAC ownership)