Concorde......how........it....is...

[ashtonvillageuk]

Dear All

I should like to bring to your attention the following from this month's edition of Aircraft Illustrated, this covers the recent meeting of the Save-Concorde Group at the Cribbs Business Centre, Bristol. This makes clear that there is "NO" justifiable reason why Concorde should not return to our skies in a heritage role, am certain you will come to the same conclusion. To return Concorde to flight is possible, we cannot abandon the most beautiful civil aircraft the world has ever seen. She is our heritage, Concorde must return to our skies for that is where she belongs..JOIN THE FIGHT.....

AIRCRAFT ILLUSTRATED

On 20th March, the day that the last Concorde (G-BOAF/216) was moved across Filton airfield to its new public display location, and on the 35th anniversary of the maiden flight of Concorde 001, the 'Save Concorde Group' held a public meeting at the nearby Cribbs Business Centre to launch a campaign to get Concorde back into the air.

Ross Mallett, a management accountant and chairman of the group said that the action group would do everything to get the 'great white bird' airborne again. 'This is an innovative scheme - we aim to raise the money to enable it to return to flight. Concorde is for flying and not for museums', he told the audience. 'The campaign already has over 6,000
signatures from people who share our determination to keep '216' flying and not let this technological marvel go to waste. The aircraft must continue to be a focus of love and pride for the whole nation.'Bristol, where Concorde 216 made its first and last flights, was a logical choice for the campaign's launch venue. The Group's aim is to try and get '216' airworthy again so that the public can see it flying at airshows and national events, before it is finally placed in a museum. It is accepted that future commercial/passenger-carrying operations would not be possible.

The Save Concorde Group chairman said that discussions with various agencies including the CAA, established that there is no technological reason why Concorde should not continue to fly until at least 2017. A former senior Concorde flight engineer, Ian Kirby, said that there was no technological reason why the aircraft could not continue to fly. He estimated that it would cost about £1.5m to get '216' airworthy again for the issue of a Permit to Fly without passengers to make appearances at airshows and flypasts. With so many volunteers offering to be involved, operating costs could be in the region of £3,500 per hour.

Finance is clearly a significant issue and the CAA needs to be convinced that the proposal is feasible. British Airways, owners of the Concorde would also have to support the venture. Ian Kirby estimated that it would probably take up to three years for '216' to be back in the air again.

Ross Mallett said they had been overwhelmed by the reaction of people who had first thought such a proposal would be impossible, but now wanted to back it. 'We are now rallying wide public support for this new initiative where the public will become the stakeholder and funding source to get Concorde into the air again. Now it has started the campaign must be kept on the boil' he said.

For more information and up-dates visit the website at www.save-concorde.co.uk please don't forget to sign the petition on the way in or out. You can also make a donation to the campaign via the website. Also view the range of Concorde merchandise, for each item purchased a contribution is made to the campaign fund.

Should you wish to become actively involved in the campaign, please drop a line to [email protected]


Kind regards


SteveSAVE CONCORDE

 

[EagleRJ]

£3,500 per hour?

That's about $6200/hr. The Concorde's four RR Olympus engines burn 60,000 pounds/hour just during taxi. At current fuel prices, that works out to $15,000/hr. If you want to actually fly, the figure will be closer to $50,000/hr, since you will be doing a lot of flying at low altitude. That's £28,000 per hour just for fuel!

Add in maintenance, finding parts like the special Goodyear tires that were only made for Concorde. Add in an insurance bill that is likely to be staggering. Add in the cost of maintaining currency of the pilots who are rated in the aircraft. Add in a ground-support team that will follow the aircraft around to shows.

The Concorde was a stunning technological achievement, and one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built, but unless a government or billionaire supports this project financially, I'm afraid she's grounded for good.

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE....HOW....IT....IS....

EAGLE RJ.....thank you for pointing out the costs etc, they are not insurmountable as we do have access to significant funds etc.

The " BIGGEST" hurdle is BA and Airbus, we need to bring them onside, this is proving to be the most difficult part of the campaign.

This is the area where we need your support and assistance.

Should there be any management from BA or Airbus viewing this fantastic Aviation Forum, please get in touch.

" WOULD YOU PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION ON THE WEBSITE"

Many thanks

Steve

....." THE UK&US ONE NATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM"

........................GOD BLESS OUR VALIANT TROOPS...........................

 

[Hawker rider]

not going to happen.....

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE....HOW........IT....IS....

You are totally wrong, a negative and defeatist attitude is not a British trait !

Regards


Steve
www.save-concorde.co.uk

 

[EagleRJ]

There's a similar group trying to get an Avro Vulcan back in the air. You should get in touch with them and share resources in obtaining Olympus parts and doing maintenance.

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE...IT....IS.......

EAGLE RJ

Am pleased to inform you that Vulcan XH 558 will be back in flight soon. They have been awarded Lottery Funding......check them out at....http://www.vulcan558club.com

We are most certainly in contact.

Have you signed the petition ?


Regards


Steve
www.save-concorde.co.uk

 

[Traumahawk]

You guys should get in touch with Mr Concorde.
He might have some helpful ideas.....

T-Hawk

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE....HOW........IT..IS.....

Hi T-Hawk

Good to hear from you. I haven't been introduced to Mr Concorde.....any idea where he hides out ?

Regards


Steve
www.save-concorde.co.uk


















SAVE CONCORDE

 

[bobbysamd]

Concorde project

It would be wonderful if you could keep a Concorde flying.

Just to put some of the cynicism in perspective, there are quite a few people in the U.S., and in the U.K., too, I'm sure, who have restored and fly vintage airplanes to airshows and aviation events. Doing so is very expensive, and these aircraft are comparatively simple (to the Concorde) and very fragile. The Commemorative Air Force, fka the Confederate Air Force, is an organization devoted to keep these aircraft flying. Aside from the CAF, there are many individual owners of vintage military aircraft who expend much money, time and effort to fly their aircraft. I have known of people who own ubiquitous types, such as T-6s (Harvards), who invest greatly to fly these airplanes. Knowing how expensive it is to operate these aircraft without having major resources to help them, and then seeing that your group wants to keep a Concorde flying and realizing how expensive it would be, perhaps you can understand why some people would be cynical of your efforts. After all, the Concorde was backed by two goverments and two airlines; American warbird owners have no such backing for their activities.

Finally, Mr_Concorde was someone who appeared here last year, claiming to be an experienced Concorde pilot. He made all kinds of outrageous claims about himself, which the savvy members of this board disproved quickly. It turned out that Mr_Concorde was a child. It was very entertaining. The moderators deleted his more outrageous posts, but here's a link to his apology and responses thereto.

Good luck with your efforts.

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE.....HOW........IT....IS....

Bobbysamd.....a lot of cynicism existed in the UK initially but that is diminishing as people realise that there is a genuine opportunity to return a Concorde to flight. The " BIGGEST" obstacle is BA and Airbus, am hoping that discussions will begin soon with both companies.

If you looked at the website you will see a number of UK politicians are fully supportive of the campaign. We are gathering more and more support each day. This is due to the unswerving tenacity of Ross Mallet the Chairman of the Group. Drop him a line, he will be delighted to hear from you.

Sir Terence Conran, has put his weight behind the camapign.....click on... http://www.sundayherald.com/40992 this is the gentleman who did the total interior redesign of the BA Concordes' and was a frequent flyer of Concorde.

In the UK we have the Heritage Lottery Fund, this has just paid out several million dollars to the Vulcan Team. Vulcan will fly again soon, this is approx 10 yrs after her final flight with the RAF.


Regards

Steve
PS: I hope all you guys are signing the petition.Thank you.




SAVE CONCORDE

 

[Hawker rider]

I would truly love to see this bird back in the air again.

But what are people going to do about all the security sensitive parts that they destroyed when concorde went out of service. i also think that they destoyed the blueprints and all the molds to eveything.

Might be a tad difficult to design all the critical parts ourselves. I also believe that most if not all of the concorde engineers had to sign a clause that they would not work on a concorde(clone).

the British an the french are/were very proud to have made the only supersonic transport in the world, they won't cooperate that easily.

 

[dmspilot00]

I also believe that most if not all of the concorde engineers had to sign a clause that they would not work on a concorde(clone).

I see profits take precedent over technological innovation

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE...HOW......IT...IS.....

Am not aware of any agreement with former BA Concorde engineers etc who are still on the company payroll which prevents them working or advising on the return of a Concorde to flight. Of course there are a number of former or retired employees who are supporting www.save-concorde.co.uk

With regard to parts etc, BA were cannibalising two Concordes at Heathrow to support the airborne fleet. This would have to continue in some shape or form.

The UK has a number of world leading aircraft maintenance specialists, the following http://www.marshallaerospace.com are heavily involved in the return of Vulcan to flight, they or another company would have to support Concorde.

You might find http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1060535,00.html an interesting read.

Regards

Steve
PSON'T FORGET THE PETITION


SAVE CONCORDE

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE....HOW.........IT.....IS....

With regard to BA staff signing an undertaking not to assist in the return to flight of a single Concorde in a Heritage role.

I put the question to a former BA Manager and he has NO knowledge of any such understanding. He also pointed that more experts have left BA than are in it.

Have an enjoyable day.


Regards


Steve
PS............PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION......THANK YOU.
SAVE CONCORDE

 

[350DRIVER]

ashtonvillageuk,

I truly applaud your efforts to make this venture become a reality but I surely do not think this is going to ever happen or materialize, atleast not in our lifetime. Too many obstacles and hurdles would have to be overcome to get this bird back into the sky and as much as I would like to see this happen I think the many odds are stacked against you and will be impossible to overcome. I don't think this would ever be economically possible, if anyone had the money and means to be able to do this it was Branson and he was turned away immediately. The British and French govt's have way too much pride to allow these airplanes to ever be flown again under different colors other than under BA/AF. There is much much more to this story than what meets the eye. In such a political environment this in itself would have to defy logical reasoning to actually happen.

what a great bird and we truly lost a "symbol" the day she took her last flight but there is not much you or I can do to change things for the better no matter how badly we would like. Some things in life are beyond one's control, I think this is a perfect example.


I can only wish you and your entire group the best of luck and I surely hope I am way off and incorrect in my assumptions.


good luck

3 5 0

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

Dear Sir

Many thanks for the reply. The Group are under no illusion that to return Concorde to the skies over the UK is an immense task. A fight which will require Churchillian qualities from the many members of www.save-concorde.co.uk the fighting spirit of the UK populace is legendary right round this great planet of ours. I can assure you that we will not surrender the fight !


The situation with AF and BA Concordes is very different. BA still owns the aircraft which are parked in the UK and other various locations in the world. I can only comment on the UK Concordes, we are focussed on "216" which is located at Bristol, the home of Concorde. To return this BA owned aircraft to flight, requires the cooperation of BA and Airbus, we are striving to get them round the table, a meeting of minds is crucial if we are to succeed with our plan.

"We have no argument with the reasons why she was grounded; we seek only to find the technical and financial solutions to having her grace our skies once more"

Regards

Steve....................PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION...THANK YOU....


SAVE CONCORDE

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE....HOW...IT....IS....

From a former BA member of staff (see below). The French have always been the curse of every Englishman over the centuries, it' s no different now !


"Essentially, the French wanted Concorde binned! It was a real problem for them, so much so that they withdrew their aircraft from service way ahead of the expiration of the aircrafts' C of A in France and of course way ahead of the British!

Airbus, who held the Type Certificate for the aircraft - part of the agreement under which Concorde was built - then expired that Certificate, effectively shutting the door on Concorde's future for any purpose that involved flying!

It is a international scandal that the French could get away with this and that the UK Government made no representation to the European Union over the issue!"

Regards

Steve.......PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION.....MANY THANKS...




SAVE CONCORDE

 

[avbug]

Crikey. Drop it already. The concorde was never economically viable. I wouldn't contribute to getting it in the air now; I couldn't afford to fly it the first time around. That only one ever crashed was a miracle, not a tribute to modern aeronautics. With some 30+ losses of the rudder/rudder sections and portions of the tail section in flight, and lord only knows how many tire failures and underside punctures, it's a wonder that only one downing every occured.

You are totally wrong, a negative and defeatist attitude is not a British trait !

Give me a break, mate. It's just a flesh wound, right? It's no coincidence that on this side of the pond we consider the British salute to be a sign of surrender. Or didn't ya know that?

Then again, in a supreme sense of denial, the brits still refer to the US as "the colonies." So perhaps defeatist translates to can't face the facts...like the fact that the concorde long outlived it's usefulness.

Bear in mind that most folks you're addressing here are not British. My family is (before you get all wound up about that). I'm not.

The Concorde is a pretty airplane, but who's footing the bill to go show it off after you restore it? Probably not by giving rides or taking donations from folks like me, I'm guessing.

Good luck, but give it a rest, already.

 

[ashtonvillageuk]

CONCORDE....HOW...IT...IS.....

WOW....you are upset......WHY THE ANGER.....I have visited the States many times and I have family on the East coast. Some of my best friends are American.

To think the British in general refer to the "GREATEST" country in the world as the colonies is way off the mark. In fact it's the most stupid remark I have heard in ages.

Concorde contributed approx 60 million dollars to BA's bottom line in its final year of flight. That is not a loss to me.It was most certainly viable, BA would have still been operating Concorde today and would have continued to do so for many years but the French scuppered the operation.

The AF Concorde crashed due to a number of factors ( all French) none of which would have happened in the UK. One Concorde crashed in approx 30 yrs that is not a bad safety record to me.

Regards


Steve