Alpha Alpha     G-BOAA

Manufacturer’s No. – 206

Present location – East Fortune, Scotland, UK (Open to the Public)

Owned by British Airways

VISITING DETAILS –

National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Fortune, Scotland, EH39 5LF   Tel – 0131 247 4238 

WEBSITE –  http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/museum_of_flight/concorde.aspx 

COST- Adults  £9.00, Children under 12 Free, Concessions £7.00  (Ticket prices include Concorde boarding passes)

GETTING THERE BY CAR

From Edinburgh: follow the A1 south exit at Abbotsview Junction. Take second exit from roundabout onto A199 for East Linton. After approximately 2.5 miles, turn left onto B1347 and follow the signs for the National Museum of Flight.

From the south: follow the A1 north to Thistlycross Roundabout. Take second exit to East Linton. At Beltonford Roundabout take second exit onto A199 for East Linton. After approximately 6 miles, turn right onto B1347 and follow the signs for the National Museum of Flight.

BY BUS

The Museum is serviced by bus service no. 121 (First Bus Edinburgh), running between Haddington and North Berwick. You can download the timetable for 2010 here.

Regular bus services run from Edinburgh to North Berwick, and an express bus service from Edinburgh to Haddington. Call Traveline on 0870 608 2 608 for timetable details. 

BY TRAIN

First Scotrail run regular services from Edinburgh to North Berwick. You can download the current timetable here.

COMMENTS -

The first Concorde delivered to British Airways!

This airframe was due to have an Inter 4 (C check), so she never received the modifications required by the CAA following the Paris accident, which would have allowed her to return to flight status. In 2004 she was dismantled to be moved by road and sea, and she was re-assembled and opened to the public in 2005. Because Concorde unlike other aircraft, does not have wings attached to the fuselage using manufacturer’s joints. The wing had to be  cut off , and if you know where to look, you can still see the scars, which remain to this day as a reminder of what seemed to be a crude act, but this action did in fact save Alpha Alpha from the only other option, the scrap-man!

A part from that, the museum has put on a super Concorde display and provided her a home undercover, well worth a visit.

Discover the story of Concorde

See Scotland’s Concorde up close!

Learn about the highs and lows of its 30 year lifetime!

Find out about the technology behind supersonic flight and the luxury lifestyle so closely associated with it!

Listen to an on-board audio tour to investigate the life of Concorde, from the flights of the rich and famous to facts from the crew who worked aboard!

View the short film presentation!

Alpha Bravo     G-BOAB

Manufacturer’s No. – 208

Present location – Heathrow Airport, UK (Not open to the Public)

Owned by British Airways PLC

VISTING DETAILS -

(NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, OR ON DISPLAY) 

COMMENTS –

This Concorde was the third one delivered to British Airways

Concorde G-BOAB is the last Concorde to remain at Heathrow, the plan back in 2003 was for her to be placed on display next to the new Terminal 5, the home of British Airways at Heathrow. Her future now remains unsure at this time. There are many plans and idea’s concerning her future display, but by far the best one is the plan by the Save Concorde Group (www.save-concorde.co.uk) Known as Project Alpha Bravo. Their plan is to place her on display at Heathrow in front of Terminal 5. This for sure is the right place for her to end her days and to remind us all of the supersonic departures, that once allowed us to fly from here to New York in less than 3 hours. She would then truly be an ambassador for British Airways and the heritage of Concorde!

30% of the flight deck controls and all seats have been removed; these items were donated to the Brooklands Museum for to be fitted to the newly restored Concorde G-BBDG. She also never received the post Paris crash refit/ upgrade which was required by the CAA to allow her to enter service once again, although BA had plans to carry out this work before Airbus SAS (Holder of the Concorde Type Certificate) suspended support for Concorde back in 2003

It’s not possible to visit her at this stage, but she can be seen sometimes behind BA Engineering at Heathrow. It would truly be wonderful if you could offer your support to the Save Concorde Group in their fight to keep her in her rightful place, her home for nearly 27 years, Heathrow Airport, after all Alpha Bravo’s ownership had been “gifted” to BAA on condition that the aircraft remained at Heathrow. There has also been a problem with a rat infestation in Alpha Bravo.

 Alpha Charlie     G-BOAC

Manufacturer’s No. -  204

Present location – Manchester Airport, UK (Open to the Public)   

Owned by British Airways PLC

VISITING DETAILS –

Manchester Aviation Viewing Park, Sunbank Lane, Altrincham, WA158XQ   Tel – 0161 4893932. Cost- Technical Tour £21.00, Classic Tour £13.00

Book Online

Visit Concorde G-BOAC, at Manchester Airport’s Runway Visitor Park for a great family day out and spend some quality time in the cabin and cockpit of Concorde G-BOAC and you’ll understand why she was the pride of the ‘World’s favourite airline’ for so long. Our Concorde tours get you up close and personal with an aviation legend, enabling you to fully appreciate her majesty, power and sheer supersonic luxury.

The Concorde Conference Centre which is where she is now located has a glass frontage which allows a ‘nose-on’ view of the aircraft. There may occasionally be a restricted view when an event is in progress.

The Classic Tour

What’s Included?

• Welcome briefing and short audio-visual show
• Guided tour underneath Concorde to explore the technology behind the icon
• On-board tour, with the chance to sit in the famous leather seats in the front cabin
• Learn about some of the aircraft’s famous passengers and see where the Queen used to sit whenever she flew Concorde
• A short visit onto the flight deck – the only fully accessible Concorde flight deck in the world
• A certificate to commemorate your visit

 

COST – £13.00 – now fully inclusive of the Runway Visitor Park entry charge. As tours are very popular, we always recommend advance booking.

Call 0161 489 3932 (lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm)
Email Concorde Team

The Technical Tour

Tour Summary

An in-depth tour (1.5 hours) of the aircraft with extended time on the flight deck. Small groups, allowing more time in the cabin and on the flight deck. Includes a personalised certificate of boarding

COST – £21.00 – now fully inclusive of Runway Visitor Park entry charge. As tours are very popular, we always recommend advance booking.

Call 0161 489 3932 (lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm)
Email Concorde Team

COMMENTS –

British Airways Flag Ship Concorde!

This Airframe has now been placed on view undercover within a wonderful purpose built hanger, but her airframe shows some signs of the years on display outside. But apart from that, she still looks good and is well worth a visit. Try to park away from the museum as you are charged for parking as well as entrance to Concorde. Manchester carries out some super tours including being able to sit in the captains seat, being able to touch and move the flight deck controls, you can even get married on this Concorde. The technical tour is amazing and well worth the extra money. The only draw backs to some of these tours are that some visitors have acted without care and broken some switches, if you visit her please be careful. I noticed during my last visit in 2009 that she has a broken window on her flight deck, but there are plans in progress to repair this damage, nobody at the museum seems to be aware of how this damage occurred in the first place. Seatbelts have had to be removed, due to some visitors cutting them off. Also there seemed to be leaking drips of dirty water coming from the underside of her airframe, this could indicated that her airframe might lack a air-conditioning  unit, and therefore not be very dry, or that water is being used to weight her down.

Alpha Delta     G-BOAD

Manufacturer’s No. – 210

Present location – New York, USA (Open to the Public)                                                                        

Owned by British Airways PLC

VISITING DETAILS -

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. W 46^th & 12 Avenue. New York. NY 10036. USA  www.intrepidmuseum.org   Cost – Adults $ 19.50, Seniors $15.50, Youths (6-12) $14.50 Child (2-5) $7.50

COMMENTS -

This Concorde holds the record for the fastest flight from Heathrow to New York JFK (2 hours 53 minutes 23 Seconds)!

She also flew the fly past with the red arrows at the Queens Golden Jubilee in 2002. There have been many reports concerning her condition; none of them are good I am sorry to say. For a while she was parked near to a sports centre, whilst the museum underwent major refurbishment. During this time a lorry/truck drove into her and ripped her nose cone off, this has now been repaired.

But there have been further reports stating that she smells of mildew and damp, due to her location on a floating barge and I have seen some pictures of her interior, showing marks and damage to carpets, overhead lockers and so on. One big area for concern is that there have been comments concerning her fuel tanks.  Most of Concorde weight is at the rear, mainly due to the location of her engines, therefore a Concorde needs some weight located in the front, while parked up on the ground. Many believe that Concorde G-BOAD has had her forward fuel tanks filled with concrete, but I feel that this is untrue for many reasons, which have been listed in the section concering the condition of Concorde today.

Alpha Echo     G-BOAE

Manufacturer’s No – 212

Present location – Barbados (Open to the Public)

Owned by British Airways PLC

VISITING DETAILS –

Barbados Concorde Experience, Grantley Adams International Airport, Christ Church, Barbados.  Tel – (246) 420-7738,

 WEBSITE – www.barbadosconcorde.com 

COST- $20

 COMMENTS -

 There have been many reports concerning her condition, all very good apart from the fact that they may have cut a hole in her rear underside. The hole seems to provide a space to feed the cables needed for some sort of light show also a small dent in the tail cone. The rear galley (which was part of the cabin fittings, and not structural) has been taken out, so that the visitors can now enter through the rear baggage hold door, and then walk the full length of the aircraft

They have built an excellent facility for viewing and touring the aircraft. She has been beautifully maintained.

In addition, at the exhibit they have really well informed tour guides, a display of assorted Concorde paraphernalia, video shows and even two Concorde flight simulator to practise flying out of Grantley Adams airport! 

I would say a big well done to the team in Barbados for the preservation and dedication to the exhibit.

Alpha Foxtrot     G-BOAF

Manufacturer’s No. – 216

Present location – Filton, Bristol, UK (Open to the Public)   BEING CLOSED DOWN BY AIRBUS DURING SEPTEMBER 2010!                                                              

Owned by British Airways PLC

VISTING DETAILS –

Airbus UK, Filton, Bristol, UK   Tel – 0870 3000 578 (Booking information hotline) www.concordeatfilton.org.uk  

COST – Adults £12.50, Students/OAP £10.00, Children under 14 £7.00. (Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on to the site) All tickets must be booked in advance. 

COMMENTS –

This Concorde was sold to British Airways for just £1.00. She was the last Concorde built here at Filton, and the last to fly in November 2003 when she came home!

This is by far the very best UK Concorde museum to visit, and the UK home of Concorde. Every step has been taken to ensure she remains in the condition that she arrived in. I cannot fault this museum in any way, and a must for a visit. Concorde G-BOAF, known to British Airways and all lovers of Concorde as Alpha Foxtrot, or just ‘Foxy’ is in super condition. In addition, at the exhibit they have some really well informed tour guides, a display of assorted Concorde paraphernalia, and a video show.

I made my last visit to Filton on May 1st 2010, and can report that G-BOAF is still looking in super condition. The tour guides give their time for free and treat this bird with so much love and respect. If you are planning to visit a Concorde within the UK, this one has to be number one on your list!

She is also the one that people who are working towards Return to flight, see as the British airframe to carry out this role. To visit this Concorde you must pre-book as you have to enter the Airbus Factory during your tour. All the proceeds received go toward creating a permanent home undercover for this Concorde.

Months of work have gone into building a visitors centre on Filton Airfield, which allows Concorde fans to see the aircraft at close quarters. Airbus UK have co-ordinated the building of the visitors centre, which is staffed by Bristol Aero Collection volunteers.

The site not only allows access to Concordes cabin, there are plenty of other things to do and see -

• - a reception area with seating, and a shop selling souvenirs
• - a continuously running ‘Concorde at Filton’ film
• - display boards depicting the history of Filton and Concorde
• - a raised path, allowing good views for photographers
• - an unrestricted external view of Concorde

Tours of Concorde 216 run Wednesday to Sunday, (There are three tours per day) . As Concorde at Filton is in the middle of a very active aircraft factory, access to the centre is only by the tour coach. The coach will collect you from a pick-up point outside the airfield, and includes a tour of the airfield and factory. Consult the http://www.concordeatfilton.org.uk/ website for full details of the schedules and the location of the pick-up points.  On arrival at the centre, you will be given a boarding card – this is so we can allow visitors on to the aircraft in small groups, as the cabin is narrow. While you wait your turn, you are welcome to watch the Concorde at Filton film, buy souvenirs at the shop, or just wander around the outside of the aircraft. The total tour time is around one and a half hours.

The Bristol Aero Collection was formed in 1988 to preserve the history of aeronautical development at Filton, where aircraft production started as far back as 1910. The site contains a unique history, being at the forefront of aircraft and aero engine design through both world wars, and continuing today with Airbus. Currently situated on Kemble Airfield, near Cirencester, the Collection has long been aiming to create a permanent aviation heritage museum at Filton. A detailed feasibility study is underway, and Concorde 216 would form the centrepiece of the museum.

All proceeds from the Concorde at Filton visitors centre will go towards the construction of the museum, on a site near Cribbs Causeway.

BEING CLOSED DOWN BY AIRBUS DURING SEPTEMBER 2010 -  CLICK HERE &LETS FIGHT THIS!

Alpha Golf     G-BOAG

Manufacturer’s No. – 214

Present location – Seattle,USA (Open to the Public)

Owned by British Airways PLC

VISITING DETAILS -

The Museum of Flight, 9404, East Marginal Way South Seattle, WA 98108-4097    

COST- $13.00

COMMENTS –

This Concorde was give special permission to fly her last flight supersonic over land in 2003. Due to this G-BOAG holds the record for the fastest east to west crossing of North America!

This seems to be the unknown Concorde; it seems to be so far away that it has nearly become forgotten about. But there have been some reports concerning peeling paint and once again concrete in the forward fuel tank as in the case with G-BOAD in New York.

On all Concordes that had a supersonic retirement flight, including this Airframe, the flight engineers placed their hats in this gap before it cooled, where the hats remain to this day. In the Seattle museum’s Concorde the protruding cap was cut off by a thief in an apparent attempt to steal it, leaving a part behind. An amnesty led to the severed cap being returned.