So goes the great British maxim usually applied to buses, in this case however my Concorde quest and a visit to the new Aeroscopia Museum in Toulouse which I visited before speaking at the 2016 Toulouse Space Show. The new Museum contains a really well presented collection of interesting aircraft including this lovely Airbus owned Messerschmitt Bf109G.
I have a album of photos here of the collection as well as the nearby Association Ailes Anciennes Toulouse site which feels like a small gallic version of Tuscon’s boneyard.
Of course the main reason for my visit was the unique opportunity to visit two preserved Concorde aircraft within 100m of each other as Aeroscopia in the home to Concorde 201 F-WTSB and Concorde 209 F-BVFC.
Alpha Foxtrot was the last Concorde to be built completed in 1979 and was the last Concorde to fly arriving at it’s current resting place back at the Filton Factory where it was originally constructed on 26th November 2003. The Concorde version of the Circle of Life then…
The Filton airfield is like Concorde itself no longer operational except for some emergency helicopter traffic and as a result of this Alpha Foxtrot is currently one of the least accessible airframes.
For a few years following its arrival in 2003 there was a pre-booked tour of aircraft necessary because the aircraft is parked with the Airbus Factory site at Filton, however this was stopped in 2010 and the opportunity to get close to this particular aircraft awaits the completion of the new Aerospace Bristol Museum next year.
As a result about the only view of Alpha Fox now possible if from the opposite of the airfield near the Nissan Garage on Hayes Way.
Poor Alpha Foxtrot was not really wanted by British Airways, it was hoped that aircraft 216 could be sold to British Caledonian or Singapore Airlines by British Aerospace, but with no other buyers coming forward the legend is that British Airways paid the nominal price of £1000 for the Airframe, and £100 each for the four Olympus 593 engines
So one of the more disappointing of my Concorde visits, but I’m pleased with my progress so far.. five visited with thirteen to do and 332 day left to visit them !
Update – February 2017
Great news, Alpha Foxtrot is under cover in it’s new hangar and Aerospace Bristol is on schedule to open in the summer !
G-BOAC was always going to be a bit special for me..
Not only was Concorde 204 the flagship of the British Airways fleet, is was the Concorde I flew back from New York to London in May 2003. Alpha Charlie is displayed at the Manchester Runway Visitor Park in a small purpose built Hangar. Alpha Charlie is not the most accessible of the retired Concordes as it is operated as a Conference and Wedding Venue – Yes Really ! As a Result you need to book one of the tours which includes a visit to the aircraft to get inside the hangar and take a look around.
The Tours are recommended however, I did the “Technical Tour” which was interesting; but is still aimed at “normal people” rather than real AvGeeks such as myself (modest I know!) This tour includes a walk from nose to tail of the aircraft where various aspects of the design are explained, a chance to sit in the front cabin still in it’s final BA blue Connolly leather interior and a cockpit tour.
The short cockpit tour is well worth the admission, as you get to sit in the Captains seat and admire close up the very best of 1960’s engineering.A aircraft retired for nearly 13 years does not have the same sense of excitement or anticipation as a living machine, so even though I sat in 6D once again, it did not really bring back the emotions of that amazing trip 2003.
G-BOAC Then and Now
I enjoyed talking to some of the team looking after Alpha Charlie which arrived in Manchester October 2003, like all of the British Airways operated Concordes it is still owned by the Airline and maintenance is their responsibility – so a broken windscreen in front of the First Officers seat remains broken until someone from Heathrow can come to fix it.. I would guess the last BA licensed Concorde engineer has retired !
