Was the Concorde profitable?
Was the Concorde profitable? The development costs of the Concorde were so great that they could never be recovered from operations, and the aircraft was never financially profitable.
Was Concorde crash pilot error?
In the words of John Hutchinson, a Concorde captain for 15 years, the fire on its own should have been “eminently survivable; the pilot should have been able to fly his way out of trouble.” The reason why he failed to do so, Hutchinson believes, was a lethal combination of operational error and negligence.
Did Virgin want to buy Concorde?
It's no secret that Richard Branson tried to buy the Concorde fleet from British Airways in 2003, when the airline was forced to close its supersonic operation. At the time BA dismissed the offer as a publicity stunt from Virgin, saying: maintenance would be too expensive and it is just not viable.
Could Concorde crash have been avoided?
Despite the crew being trained and certified, no plan existed for the simultaneous failure of two engines on the runway, as it was considered highly unlikely. Aborting the takeoff would have led to a high-speed runway excursion and collapse of the landing gear, which also would have caused the aircraft to crash.
Were Concorde pilots paid more?
Surprisingly, Concorde pilots were paid the same salary as commercial line pilots at BA and Air France. Concorde pilots at BA have the same salary as any mainline pilots flying any other aircraft. There is a salary scale depending on length of service. Top salary is 120,700 sterling basic for captains.
Did Virgin try to buy Concorde?
Virgin may have been shut down by British Airways over 15 years ago, but Virgin Galactic and Boom Supersonic briefly had a deal to acquire the Overture, the manufacturer's supersonic flagship jet, dubbed 'the New Concorde.
Was Concorde too expensive?
It was small, cramped, and featured seats so narrow they would put Ryanair or Spirit Airlines to shame. The supersonic aircraft also offered a very noisy inflight experience by today's standards. The Concorde was also horrendously expensive to fly on, with very few enjoying the privilege during its 27 years in service.
Why was Concorde so fast?
Concorde used the most powerful pure jet engines flying commercially. The Aircraft's four engines took advantage of what is known as 'reheat' technology, adding fuel to the final stage of the engine, which produced the extra power required for take-off and the transition to supersonic flight.
How much would a Concorde ticket cost today?
The Concorde soared so high that you could see the Earth's curve. A ticket from London to New York on a flight operated by British Airways cost a whopping $7,574 (Rs5,50,000), which is equivalent to $12,460 (Rs9 lakh) today. But for the price, the Concorde experience wasn't exactly comfortable or luxurious.
How fast was the Concorde vs 747?
The aircraft quickly proved itself unquestionably as it reached speeds of up to 1,354 mph. To put that into context, that is around 800 mph faster than a Boeing 747 and over 350 mph faster than the earth spins on its axis!
How many Concordes are left?
Concorde is sadly no longer flying, but it is still possible to visit some of the remaining 18 airframes, there are others not open to the public but you can still see them.
Did Princess Diana fly on the Concorde?
In real life, Diana took several trips aboard the Concorde, both with Prince Charles and solo.
Why were Concorde tickets so expensive?
The Concorde's production and operation was an enormous financial undertaking for both the United Kingdom and France, contributing to sky-high ticket pricing for most consumers.
Will Concorde ever fly again?
Technical, financial, and regulatory hurdles make a return to the skies extremely unlikely. Concorde is an aircraft that captures the imagination and is instantly recognizable even to non-aviation fanatics.