November 26, 2003 - The final flight of supersonic Concorde

The end of one of the most successful commercial airplanes in history.

November 26, 2003 - Concorde supersonic plane makes its last flight

Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde is the most successful commercial supersonic passenger aircraft operating alongside the " legendary" Tupolev Tu-144. Flying for the first time in 1969, Concorde began service in 1976 and had a 27-year operation. It usually flies from London's Heathrow Airport by British Airways or Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris by Air Francet to New York's JFK airport. This aircraft has set many records, including flight time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds between New York and London and February 7, 1996.

The costly development stage of Concorde made the British and French governments suffer quite a lot of economic losses, although for most of its time it also brought significant profits for British Airways. Commercial flights, operated by British Airways and Air France, began to open on January 21, 1976. Because of the only accident in 2000, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and many other factors, Concorde was decommissioned on October 24, 2003, its " retired " flight. was held on November 26, 2003. Although it has ceased operations, Concorde remains a symbol in aviation history.

On April 10, 2003, British Airways and Air France simultaneously stated that they would allow Concorde to shut down at the end of the year. The reason given by the number of passengers declined after the accident on July 25, 2000, the bad situation of air carriers after September 11 and the high maintenance costs. On the same day, billionaire Richard Branson offered to buy British Airways Concorde with "original £ 1 million" for use at his Virgin Atlantic Airways. Branson contends that this is also the British Airways symbolic price paid to the British Government according to rumors, but British Airways has denied this and rejected his proposal. However, despite the purchase of a Concorde of up to £ 26 million, the purchase of government-financed aircraft - the loan was removed when British Airways was privatized in 1987.

Air France's last commercial Concorde flight landed in the United States in New York from Paris on May 30, 2003. Fire trucks sprayed the traditional water arc through the Concorde F-BTSD on the JFK airport runway. The plane returned to Paris in a foggy morning in May. The last passenger plane was a charter flight around Biscay Bay . The following week, on June 2 and June 3, 2003, Concorde F-BTSD flew the last round from Paris to New York and returned with former employees and former employees on the Concorde. Air France's final Concorde flight took place on June 27, 2003 when the Concorde F-BVFC retired from Toulouse.

An auction of Concorde accessories and other treasures for Air France was held at Christie's auction house in Paris on November 15, 2003. One thousand three hundred people attended, many shipments were paid higher than expected. The two Concorde of France at Le Bourget and Toulouse are sometimes operated, and perhaps they can be prepared for future flights on special occasions.

The last British Airways Concorde flight took off from the Barbados Grantley Adams International Airport on August 30, 2003. British Airways held a farewell tour of North America and October 2003. Concorde G-BOAG arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport on October 1, 2003, to Logan International Airport in Boston on October 8, 2003, and Washington Dulles International Airport on October 14, 2003.Concorde G-BOAD 's flight to Boston has set the record for the fastest transatlantic flight from East to West, making the flight from Heathrow in London only 3 hours, 5 minutes, 34 seconds.

British Airways for Concorde shut down the next day, October 24. Concorde G-BOAG left New York for a similar music ceremony for the Air France Concorde. All British Airways Concordes were decommissioned, and flight permits were withdrawn and oil and grease removed. Former main pilot Concorde and fleet manager, Jock Lowe, estimates it will cost £ 10 to $ 15 million for the G-BOAF Concorder to work again, though British Airways continues to keep Concordes ownership, and said they will never fly again.