Concorde 2000.07

In July 2000, I had a chance to fly the Concorde - by accident - and for free.

I was on my way from London to San Francisco when a system wide radar failure occurred. One flight after another from Heathrow was delayed, delayed again, delayed yet again ... and so it was with my flight. I noticed they were readying the Concorde for take-off and I asked if there was space aboard. Yes, came the answer. I'm a gold-tier British Airways flyer ... can you put me in one of those empty seats, I asked. yes, came the answer and the rest was history. Little did i know that a few weeks later, a Concorde would crash at Le Bourget and end the types flying history.

Do Not Adjust Your Set: These pictures were taken in July 2000 with a first generation digital camera. They are as big and as good as they'll ever get.

Concorde: Image courtesy British Airways.
Cabin: The cabin is similar to an MD-80 with 26 rows of 4 seats and an isle down the middle. At the front is a display with continuously updates speed (mach and miles per hour), altitude, and outside air temperature.
Cockpit: Inside the cockpit looking forward. This was before 911 and after the industry had controlled hijacking. The captain invited the passengers to visit the flight deck in flight.

Instrument Panel: Right side of the aircraft, in front of the flight engineer. This was before 911 and after the industry had controlled hijacking. The captain invited the passengers to visit the flight deck in flight.
Not my photo ... one I "borrowed" from the internet.
Not my photo ... one I "borrowed" from the internet.
"Ticket to Ride: An Air France Concorde takes off from Istes, southern France, yesterday bound for Paris after two weeks of tests. Engineers remain hopeful that the plane will be able to resume commercial flights after last July's crash that left 113 dead." -- London Sunday Times, 4 February, 2001