Concorde: what is there to say? The world’s premier supersonic passenger jet†, a marvel of engineering and Anglo-French cooperation, one of the greatest follies in aviation history – and a legend.

Originally conceived in the 1950s, Concorde only entered service in 1976, and then only with BA and Air France, with the British and French governments absorbing most of the nearly £2 billion (in 1976 prices) cost, up from an initial estimate of £70 million. But what a plane it was, flying just 100 people at twice the speed of sound, high enough to see the curvature of the earth. Passengers had to put up with relatively cramped seating and the smell of jet fuel leaking from the tanks as they expanded at supersonic speeds – but in return they got to their destination fast. The total flying time for this SIN-LHR route was just over eight hours (plus a stop), compared to 14 today. 

This route only ran intermittently for a few years, due to complaints and restrictions from Malaysia and India. And following a fatal crash in 2000, caused by metal on the runway but trashing the plane’s reputation, Concorde made its final commercial flights in 2003. 

*Courtesy Private Collection.

† The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 was technically first and fastest. But it was a Concorde rip-off, crashed a lot, and only flew passengers 55 times before being retired in 1978.