MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Posted (2 years 11 months 9 hours ago) and read 3676 times:
I just saw this on the ConcordeSST forum.
From the Bristol Evening Post
Fears are growing that Bristol's Concorde could be mothballed
FEARS are growing that Bristol's Concorde could be mothballed in a hangar and permanently closed as a visitor attraction.
The iconic aeroplane has been open to visitors at Filton since 2005, but today the Evening Post can exclusively reveal that the attraction will close in the autumn – with the supersonic plane being moved into a hangar on October 15 for maintenance to be carried out.
Could there be plans to return her to flight for the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony?
Why have they decided on this maintenance otherwise? How long will she be kept off from public viewing?
Maybe GDB can shed some light on this?
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
MEA-707 From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4117 posts, RR: 37 Reply 1, posted (2 years 11 months 8 hours ago) and read 3487 times:
I visited it last year and to me it seems they might stuggle to be an economical operation. The area is not public accessible so the handful of visitors have to be taken by a special bus. With 10-15 GBP revenue for each visitor, it takes too much overhead; they need staff and permits to drive over the Airbus factory. I can imagine they might at least close it at the winter times.
It should be much easier to make some money with the Manchester, Le Bourget, Boeing Field etc and even Edinburgh Concordes which are easier to visit.
nobody has ever died from hard work, but why take the risk?
ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21029 posts, RR: 60 Reply 2, posted (2 years 11 months 8 hours ago) and read 3445 times:
Quoting MEA-707 (Reply 1): It should be much easier to make some money with the Manchester, Le Bourget, Boeing Field etc and even Edinburgh Concordes which are easier to visit.
And the Intrepid Concorde, rather easy to get to in NYC...
The one in Germany was easy to get to too, and the museum was very busy.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Nothing specific on this, other to add that the reasons why the Concorde mentioned here last month in France, like all the rest, is a £150M pipe dream when it comes to flying, apply as much, if not more here, with G-BOAF.
Can we please not regurgitate all that again?
There is a recession, therefore museums are suffering too, something like G-BOAF at FZO, which is an impressive attraction, is one attraction out on it's own, not like say going to visit the range of different museums in London.
I also heard, a couple of years ago, what is IMHO the very best Concorde to see in a museum, G-BBDG at Brooklands, has struggled to get the expected numbers, and this before the recession.
So as before, to those who think that they will see a Concorde fly again, not only will it not happen but if you are interested/concerned about these preserved aircraft, go visit.
Visit as many as you can, encourage others, take a party of visitors.
This is a real contribution you can make to the future of these remarkable aircraft.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12715 posts, RR: 80 Reply 4, posted (2 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2686 times:
STOP PRESS.
A look at a forum which has those involved with G-BOAF as members as well as from the others, shows that this is routine maintenance, to ensure the long term viability of the aircraft.
Just like BA said they would ensure was the case.
Being at FZO, the work is to be carried out by Airbus technical staff.
So, a good news story it seems.
Always best to look behind the headlines.
UAL777UK From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2005, 3355 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (2 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2665 times:
I so hope Alpha Foxtrot is preserved. She holds a special place in my heart having flown her from JFK-LHR on my birthday in 1999. A fantastic experience. My fingers are crossed
vc10 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1382 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (2 years 10 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2083 times:
I hope you are all correct in saying it will be moved to the hanger for maintenance, however I heard on the grapevine that Airbus need the site where it is kept and have asked for it to be moved completely off site or they would put it in the hanger. They were also supposed to have said that they will now only support one heritage Concorde and that would be the one at Toulouse.
NQYGuy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (2 years 10 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 1820 times:
That thing certainly won't be flying. Its such a shame
Quoting vc10 (Reply 8): I hope you are all correct in saying it will be moved to the hanger for maintenance, however I heard on the grapevine that Airbus need the site where it is kept and have asked for it to be moved completely off site or they would put it in the hanger. They were also supposed to have said that they will now only support one heritage Concorde and that would be the one at Toulouse.
There is lots of room at FZO though, seems a strange excuse- if true.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12715 posts, RR: 80 Reply 10, posted (2 years 10 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1726 times:
On my visit to FZO in 2007 it was mentioned that the current site of OAF was nor ideal nor long term.
But remember, OAF does not belong to Airbus, but to BA.
Considering how eager they were at FZO to get OAF, I'd be surprised if there was not a plan 'b' for elsewhere on the site.
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