What are some unique facts about the Concorde?
What are some unique facts about the Concorde? Concorde guzzled a staggering 25,629 litres of fuel per hour. Over one million bottles of champagne have been consumed on Concorde passenger flights. More than 2.5 million passengers have flown supersonically on British Airways Concorde since 1976.
Was it quiet on the Concorde?
The Concorde's sound at cruising altitude was about 105 decibels, but Buonanno said that based on tests, the X-plane would generate 70 to 80 decibels of noise. Quick and quiet are the buzz words.
Can Concorde go supersonic?
Constructed out of aluminium, it was the first airliner to have analogue fly-by-wire flight controls. The airliner could maintain a supercruise up to Mach 2.04 (2,170 km/h; 1,350 mph) at an altitude of 60,000 ft (18.3 km).
Why does Concorde have an E?
They fought over the name. Of course, “Concord” in English doesn't have an 'e' on it, and it does in French. The British compromised and said we'll put an 'e' on it, and we'll have the 'e' stand for excellence.” Indeed, Concorde's technological innovations still awe aviation experts today.
Did Concorde ever make money?
Concorde service was profitable by the late 1980s and if not for the economic downturn and Air France Concorde crash of 2000, may have survived to this day. Concorde earned £500 million for British Airways after tax profit, this was between a loss making 1982 and a highly profitable 2000 with just seven aircraft.
Why did Concorde nose bend?
But Concorde's long, pointed nose had a hinge. As the plane took off, landed, and taxied, the pilots tilted its nose forward so that they could see the runway. For supersonic flight, the nose was hydraulically lifted, streamlining the plane's shape and allowing it to efficiently pierce the air.
What could the Concorde fly faster than?
The world-famous Concorde was developed in the 70s as a very high-speed passenger plane to do just this, able to fly from London to New York, faster than the speed of sound, in just under 4 hours! It's one of those moments in the history of physics that stands out!
Was Concorde loud?
Thunderously noisy The Concorde was famously loud: a take-off at Washington airport in 1977 measured 119.4 decibels. By comparison, a clap of thunder hits 120 decibels while the pain threshold for the human ear is around 110.
Did the Queen go on Concorde?
On 2 November 1977, Queen Elizabeth II travelled for the first time aboard Concorde (aircraft G-BOAE). She then flew from the Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados, to London Heathrow, England. That occasion was also the first visit by a Concorde aircraft to Barbados.
Is A Concorde Faster Than A Bullet?
The short answer is no. While the Concorde was undoubtedly fast, reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph or 2,180 km/h), it fell short of the blistering speeds of a bullet.
How much did a Concorde ticket cost?
Such speed didn't come cheap, though: A transatlantic flight required the high-maintenance aircraft to gulp jet fuel at the rate of one ton per seat, and the average round-trip price was $12,000.
Is Concorde faster than a 747?
Cruising at Mach 2 – or 1,350 mph – at 60,000 feet, Concorde flew five miles above and 800 mph faster than the subsonic 747s plodding across the Atlantic.
Did Concorde create a sonic boom?
The Concorde carried out supersonic flights until 2003, when it was retired. Also, because the plane flew faster than the speed of sound, it created a sonic boom, an explosive noise caused by shock waves that were a nuisance to people on the ground.
Why were Concords banned?
The Concorde's retirement was due to a number of factors. The supersonic aircraft was noisy and extremely expensive to operate, which restricted flight availability. The operating costs required fare pricing that was prohibitively high for many consumers.
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.
Could Concorde go Mach 3?
Constructed out of aluminium, it was the first airliner to have analogue fly-by-wire flight controls. The airliner could maintain a supercruise up to Mach 2.04 (2,170 km/h; 1,350 mph) at an altitude of 60,000 ft (18.3 km).
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.