Concorde Prototype 101

[RogMason]

Many years ago, an accountant colleague of mine, flew Concorde on business to London.  I was excited for his return, so I could grill him on the experience. Guess what?  He was underwhelmed by the whole affair! I couldn't believe that it didn't interest him to know the airframe lengthened 18" at Mach2 as the Titanium skin got hot?  Nah, not even a flicker of interest!  Did he know that the floor plates under his feet had slotted holes to accommodate this expansion?  Couldn't care less!   What a wasted experience on someone with so little imagination??   He did have one redeeming feature however that saved the day, he gave me his inFlight Brochure and Certificate, which by the way, he didn't even bother getting signed by the captain. Duh!   What a guy!   There's a link below to these now aging items - if you are interested? 

Also in the folder, is a Duxford Aviation Society document covering the arrival of Concorde 101, the second prototype aeroplane, to the airfield at RAF Duxford in August 1977.  Some of the technical details in this document are fascinating.   The runway at Duxford was immediately shortened after Concorde 101 landed as work recommenced in building the M10 Motorway across the end of the aerodrome and on to the city of Cambridge. (Why couldn't they have gone around the field?).  This meant the Concorde and a USAF B52 (which was swapped with the Americans for a Bristol Britannia, Whispering Giant, turbo prop airliner), were permanently grounded, as the runway was now too short for them to take off.

JoAnn and I were married in 1977 and were lucky enough to board this prototype a couple of days after it landed at RAF Duxford.  I had no idea it was there and was just taking my new wife for a drive in the countryside to see the deserted 12 Group Spitfire base I used to attend motorcycle sprint racing at when I was a teenager.  Unfortunately, the airfield was closed. I was disappointed.  I kept my mouth shut however, as JoAnn started talking to the gate guard.  He phoned someone in charge who allowed 'These two kids from Canada' to come in for a look around. Lovely!   Once in, our guide really got into the swing of things and offered to take us aboard the newly arrived prototype Concorde. It was incredible.  After 6 or so rows of passenger seating, the balance of the fuselage going aft, was an electronics lab, fitted out with 19" racks full of measurement equipment and instrumentation.  Wow!  Looking back - how lucky were we? And what a dumb duck my bean counter friend was?

Roger   -   Here's the link to the items if you are interested: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bya9mtxvjlsyjvr/AADvhnpyFd-rSJFiH88WchfXa?dl=0. 

[Frank v B]

Roger,

In the early '70's a friend of mine and his wife flew the Concorde from New York to London.  When I asked what it was like, he too was not impressed. 
He said something to the effect that if it were not for the Mach meter he thought he was on a normal airplane. 
He did love the short total flight time.

Frank

[RogMason]

Yes, I guess the short flight time was really the big attraction?

When BOAC first launched Concorde service, there was a large promotional poster ad in a London Tube Station that simply and impressively read...

Breakfast in London
Lunch in New York

BOAC Concorde Service

Famously, a Cockney comedian added another line with a marker pen and the revised poster read...

Breakfast in London
Lunch in New York
Baggage in the Bahamas
BOAC Concorde Service

😊