EGTESkyGod From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1686 posts, RR: 14 Posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 9136 times:
Hello all...
I am now safely in Australia, pretty much settled in after a week of sun, sea and sand. However, before I came to the land down under, I went to visit my grandparents in Cheshire and took my grandad to the AVP at Manchester Airport. This was the first time I'd been since Alpha Charlie had been put inside the hangar and I have to say I was very impressed.
I took the liberty of asking if it would be ok to take a few pics in the hangar, not necessarily to go on board and was initially declined until my Grandad suddenly out of nowhere discovered the gift of the gab that had never before appeared in my 23 years on this planet and told the gentleman that I'd helped out a few times with the restoration of G-BBDG at Brooklands with Gordon Roxburgh and the gang in 2006, at which point we were given a full private tour of Alpha Charlie. So as well as passing my thanks again to the Brooklands crew for the opportunity back in 2006 to help out, I must take this opportunity to give a MASSIVE thank you to Paul Heslop, Head of Tours of the Concorde At Manchester experience.
Paul was extremely informative, and extremely helpful and Paul, if you frequent these forums, please know that my Grandad will be coming with a thank you gift next time he comes to the AVP to see you.
I enclose a few pics from Manchester, and once again thanks to Paul Heslop. Extremely grateful.
1) Boarding
2) Looking forward at the windows... great to have daylight on the Great White Bird
3) My Grandfather and I in the cabin
4) The lovely interior... seatbelts removed to avoid damage.
5) Machmeter in the cabin
6) Me in the FO's seat
7) The Flight Deck.
8) AC in daylight
9) The rear of AC inside
10) Looking from the outside in...
11) My attempt at an arty-farty pic... AC Looks out on the world
Hope you like these pictures. It was an absolute pleasure to see that Alpha Charlie is properly looked after and is now preserved in an environment that will be best for the long term future of the aircraft. It feels as though one more goal has been achieved with the BA Concordes, with G-BOAA inside at Edinburgh, G-BBDG fully restored at Brooklands, G-BOAE opened last year in Barbados, the Concorde SIM taking shape at Brooklands, the G-CONC model at Brooklands and now G-BOAC inside at Manchester. I am thinking that the next goal should be to ensure G-BOAF gets her purpose built housing at Filton, as well as G-BOAB's future anywhere being secured. I would still like to see her on the T5 roundabout, but that's another debate.
CALRAMPER From United States of America, joined Jun 2008, 92 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 9102 times:
Very nice report. Great to see places that allow those of us unable to fly on the Concorde to experience it firsthand instead of from the pages of books.
Babybus From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 3512 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 9056 times:
It is amazing how Manchester are so proud of their Concorde and here in London we're trying to our best to get rid of it. Well done to Manchester in leading the way.
I don't know if it's me but don't you think Concorde looks a bit sad? I often think that every time I look at a Concorde head on photo.
and with that..cabin crew, seats for landing please.
Cpd From Australia, joined Jun 2008, 4879 posts, RR: 44 Reply 3, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 9032 times:
Quoting Babybus (Reply 2): I don't know if it's me but don't you think Concorde looks a bit sad? I often think that every time I look at a Concorde head on photo
She's only sad that her Olympus engines are no longer able to roar.
Really happy with seeing it inside. Good on them for looking after so well.
EGTESkyGod From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1686 posts, RR: 14 Reply 4, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 9004 times:
Quoting Babybus (Reply 2): I don't know if it's me but don't you think Concorde looks a bit sad? I often think that every time I look at a Concorde head on photo.
It is almost as though she is longing to get out and fly again, which I guess some would see as being sad. One of the pleasing things about this exhibit, having visited Manchester several times when she was outside, is there is still daylight on the aircraft and some natural light for photography.
If the same kind of thinking is used for G-BOAF at Filton that would be fantastic. For those of you who have never been to Manchester AVP, have a look at a weekend for the tours they do of Concorde. G-BOAC is the only Concorde exhibit that allows access to the flight deck as part of the tour.
Think of s small island nation like Barbados and look at the wonderful work they have done and how they take such wonderful care of their Concorde AE and promote it to all the tour and ship operators to the tourists coming to the island.
I like to see them sitting inside among other aircrafts, the Dulles Airport Air and Space Museum have done such a wonderful job preserving and displaying Concorde FA she is in such good hands there. I always manage a few hours layover and visit each time I go through IAD.
This is how I like to see her each time among all her other airplane friends
I only wish poor G-BOAD would get similar treatment not far up the road from there in Manhattan.
Although they are sitting in tight space, the museum at Le Bourget and the team of caretakers are also really doing all they can preserving their two aircrafts, the old Sud Aviation prototype F-WTSS and neighbour F-BTSD.
I hope Filton will soon build a shelter for AF. She greatly deserves it.
I have no recent news of AG at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. I hope they will build her a house there too.
MEA-707 From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4117 posts, RR: 37 Reply 8, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 8608 times:
Quoting EGTESkyGod (Reply 4): G-BOAC is the only Concorde exhibit that allows access to the flight deck as part of the tour.
The Filton Concorde's cockpit is also accessible during the tour although I was being barked at by the staff when I wanted to sit in the captains seat.
nobody has ever died from hard work, but why take the risk?
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21488 posts, RR: 24 Reply 10, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7921 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 5): Think of s small island nation like Barbados and look at the wonderful work they have done and how they take such wonderful care of their Concorde AE and promote it to all the tour and ship operators to the tourists coming to the island.
Aren't all the ex-BA Concordes still owned by BA and only on loan to the various museums/airports where they are now on display?
HOOB747 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 420 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 7734 times:
Amazing access, and thanks for the photos. She is beautiful, inside and out. I am jealous....
JAGflyer From Canada, joined Aug 2004, 3321 posts, RR: 4 Reply 12, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 7480 times:
Concorde is certainly a beautiful plane and it is great to see the preservation of some of the airframes. It is very important in my opinion that the Concorde be remembered physically since it is a symbol of flight, most importantly supersonic flight which is something not very well experienced by most people.
Supported the beer and soda can industry, recycle old airplanes!
UnitedFA07 From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 6944 times:
So G-BOAD is the Concorde you see when landing at JFK? Always wondered "who" it was, and wanted to get out there and see it when I was based there. Didn't realize there was a museum there.
Is that the interior of all BA Concordes? Looks very plain for such an amazing plane. I'm guess for space and the years in use that is what they had to work with? I'd never seen inside one before. Now that I'm here in DC I need to get to the Air & Space Museum.
EGTESkyGod From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1686 posts, RR: 14 Reply 14, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 5875 times:
Quoting UnitedFA07 (Reply 13): Is that the interior of all BA Concordes? Looks very plain for such an amazing plane. I'm guess for space and the years in use that is what they had to work with? I'd never seen inside one before. Now that I'm here in DC I need to get to the Air & Space Museum.
The BA Concordes that received the Return To Service upgrades in 2001 at a cost of millions of pounds will have these seats in. If you are ever in the UK, I recommend you go to Brooklands musuem in Weybridge, Surrey and take a look at G-BBDG. She has an example of all seating used by BA on their fleet from 1976, into the 1980's and 1990's, and then some examples of the final upgrade.
Air France have their own interior, however as far as I'm aware you can't go inside F-BVFA at Dulles. It is my aim to see all Concordes in their museums at some point, I only have G-BOAA at Edinburgh and G-BOAB at Heathrow (not in a museum or exhibited yet) left of the UK models before I do the overseas ones.
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 10): Aren't all the ex-BA Concordes still owned by BA and only on loan to the various museums/airports where they are now on display?
Yes, British Airways retains ownership on ALL of their Concordes and each of the museums has them under their own loan agreement.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26718 posts, RR: 83 Reply 15, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 5807 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 5): I have no recent news of AG at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. I hope they will build her a house there too.
There at least was a plan to enclose the Air Park in a hangar for all of the planes on display there, but I'm not sure how that program is progressing (since it would be powered by donations).
OA412 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 4980 posts, RR: 25 Reply 16, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 5764 times:
Quoting UnitedFA07 (Reply 13): Now that I'm here in DC I need to get to the Air & Space Museum.
Yes you do. The Udvar-Hazy center is absolutely amazing (as is the original museum on the Mall for the matter). To be a be able to see a Concorde, the dash 80, an SR-71, a space shuttle, a Connie, etc., etc. all in one place is breathtaking.
EGTESkyGod From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1686 posts, RR: 14 Reply 17, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 4952 times:
Quoting Stitch (Reply 15): There at least was a plan to enclose the Air Park in a hangar for all of the planes on display there, but I'm not sure how that program is progressing (since it would be powered by donations).
Good to hear... Hope G-BOAG gets a nice new home too and follows the example of G-BOAC.
RIX From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1785 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4812 times:
Quoting UnitedFA07 (Reply 13): Is that the interior of all BA Concordes? Looks very plain for such an amazing plane.
- I'm not sure what picture you are talking about - but, in reality (as of Jan 2002), it was far from plain - at least, for 2-2 narrowbody...
...A380 gets more airline operators... 748 takes final shape, gorgeous as aver and even more... 787 getting close to finally be in the air... 350 is not just "paper airplane" anymore... come and go, come and go... And this is the one to stay forever, beautiful and unique, with noghing to ever come any close... well, other than Apollo spacecraft ...
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26718 posts, RR: 83 Reply 19, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4778 times:
Quoting UnitedFA07 (Reply 13): Is that the interior of all BA Concordes? Looks very plain for such an amazing plane.
Quoting RIX (Reply 18): - I'm not sure what picture you are talking about - but, in reality (as of Jan 2002), it was far from plain - at least, for 2-2 narrowbody...
GDB From United Kingdom, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 12713 posts, RR: 80 Reply 20, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 4665 times:
Very nice pics, great account of an obviously memorable visit.
MAN and AVP got there in the end, as did BGI, as will Seattle and NYC.
It's in the contract folks.
I last saw G-BOAC at MAN in October 2004, when still outside as part of a concordesst.com visit.
Full access, I had to try and remember all the flight deck and general info that we did for visitors at BA when still operational.
I enjoyed it, but with a slight tinge of melancholy, as I privately realized the last time I was on this aircraft was almost exactly a year before, at LHR, with some colleagues doing the standard (non reheated) engine runs to check for any leaks after changing some filters.
The juxtaposition between the superbly maintained, but dead cockpit, with the live, powered up one a year before, was palpable for me.
Then came the 2005-2007 period when in different circumstances, with no 9/11, perhaps no AF crash either, the fleet would have been retired anyway.
Then any melancholic feelings pretty much dissipated.
On a side note, one of the BA flight crew who retired recently, was Barbara Harmer, who in 1992 became the first female Concorde pilot, until 2000.
(Later AF would have one too).
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7421 posts, RR: 65 Reply 21, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 4317 times:
Quoting Cpd (Reply 3):
She's only sad that her Olympus engines are no longer able to roar.
Trued words have never been spoken! Shame there is no potential for taxi runs and the sort.
Quoting UnitedFA07 (Reply 13): So G-BOAD is the Concorde you see when landing at JFK? Always wondered "who" it was, and wanted to get out there and see it when I was based there.
Not sure what you mean. G-BOAD is in NY, at the Intrepid Museum. But it is not at the airport and therefore not seen when landing in NY.
The only way you can see it if landing at JFK or EWR or LGA for that matter, is if you route takes you south over the Hudson river and you are sitting in the portside of the aircraft. is that what you mean?
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 5): Such "housing" should have been made mandatory for all the places chosen by British Airways to host their aircrafts.
I totally agree. You know, some years ago, there was a really great moment on the internet, where total strangers, all passionate about Concorde, made great strides to have an individual fulfill his dream of flying on Concorde. They all raised money for him to fly on Concorde.
In the same respect, I do not know nor understand the reluctance at the Intrepid museum for them NOT to have BOAD under a roof of sorts. Complete bubble cover. We here in NY are quite proud and protective of her. Her nose was broken off in a freak accident. Within moments of his occurrence, emails were sent around the world to alert Concorde lovers about this.
And it was beautifully restored.
All said, I wonder if, in the same way, we could coordinate an effort to see that BOAD gets in internal housing. What if we could raise the money to see it happen in the same way we raised $$ to get that user to ride Concorde.
Money is always an object but it you have 100,000 passionate users pledge only $10, its a start.
Just a thought.
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
STT757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 16260 posts, RR: 52 Reply 22, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 4295 times:
My only issue with Concorde at the Intrepid is that the Intrepid is a military aviation/ Sea Power Musuem. Fleet Week, Veteran's Day clebrations are hosted at the Intrepid. Having Concorde there just doesn't jive with the rest of the displays or themes, I know it's an extreme comparison but it would be like berthing the QM2 or QE2 at Pearl Harbor.
For all the history in the New York region surrounding aviation I think a separate museum dedicated to civilian aviation would be a great idea, fundiing and where to place it would be the big hurdle. Obviously there's no room in Manhattan.
I envision someplace where a Pan Am 707 and 747 would be displayed next to the Concorde etc..
GDB From United Kingdom, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 12713 posts, RR: 80 Reply 23, posted (3 years 8 months 1 week ago) and read 4192 times:
Quoting STT757 (Reply 22): For all the history in the New York region surrounding aviation I think a separate museum dedicated to civilian aviation would be a great idea, fundiing and where to place it would be the big hurdle. Obviously there's no room in Manhattan.
All fair comment, BA were always going to have one in NYC, for sound reasons for both the history of the aircraft and for BA.
Let's just say Interpid was not so much the preferred choice, more it was the only viable one in the area, at that time.
Other interested parties in and around NYC did make offers, but could not meet various criteria such as funds, public access, a viable business plan, any real expertise in aircraft preservation or long term commitment.
It was always going to be difficult there, it would be just the same for centeral London.
I visited Interpid in 2002, I have been to NY since the Concorde retirement, but not to see G-BOAD, since when I visited the museum Alpha Delta was the one that I flew out on!
But I probably will go see it one day.
EGTESkyGod From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1686 posts, RR: 14 Reply 24, posted (3 years 8 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 3889 times:
Quoting Mirrodie (Reply 21): Not sure what you mean. G-BOAD is in NY, at the Intrepid Museum. But it is not at the airport and therefore not seen when landing in NY.
The only way you can see it if landing at JFK or EWR or LGA for that matter, is if you route takes you south over the Hudson river and you are sitting in the portside of the aircraft. is that what you mean?
G-BOAD was temporarily moved to Floyd Bennett Field while the Intrepid went under a revamp, so aircraft flying over Jamaica Bay would have been able to see her
I came, I saw, I Concorde! RIP Michael Jackson
25 Mirrodie: Very true but I interpreted his post as meaning that BOAD was actually @ JFK. It was never actually at JFK. And to clarify, the only way you could se
26 EGTESkyGod: Could people sat on the left of an aircraft see her as they came in to land on 04L, for example? Maybe not close up, but close enough to know it was
27 Crownvic: Does anyone know what will become of G-BOAD?? I know they moved her finally but only after sitting exposed and deteriorating away with the sea air and
28 Mirrodie: Might be tough. Just perused a few pics on anet to show. This is a pic shown departing 22R/04L, looking right down 31L. Doubt he may see Concorde from
29 EGTESkyGod: Oh, totally agree... I just wondered if any other departure or approch may offer a sight of G-BOAD. Not sure really... she is back on board her barge
30 EGTESkyGod: Not quite... Floyd Bennett is further around the bay than that, on Barren Island.
31 Mirrodie: Yes. Which segues us back to my original thought. It we can raised funds to send a Jetinder to fly on Concorde, perhaps we can raise funds to cover a
32 EGTESkyGod: Jet was among friends on ConcordeSST.com and that was incredibly kind. To this day, Jet still goes on about it! He actually flew on G-BOAD so he sees
33 Mirrodie: He sure does! Love his TR but too bad some of the latter pages fail to load. There is a lovely museum but its an hour away from JFK and NYC, so it do
34 EGTESkyGod: Deal. Should have been over 3 weeks ago when I took the pictures above... I am now in Sydney, Australia and not a Concorde in sight!
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