Photo: the sun might have set on the commercial life of Concorde, but its role as a pretty spectacular museum exhibit has just begun. © James Kightly.
Last week thousands turned out to witness Concorde, the world’s first and only supersonic airliner, roar across British skies for the final time.
Following months of speculation and 60 applications, British Airways has finally revealed the seven permanent homes of its retired supersonic fleet.
Among the UK venues to house a Concorde are Manchester and Heathrow airports, Airbus UK at Filton, Bristol and the Museum of Flight at East Fortune, near Edinburgh.
As Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums of Scotland explained, the news was received with jubilation by museum staff and supporters.
"I am thrilled that we have managed to secure this wonderful aircraft for the Scottish people," he said.
Concorde G-BOAA will now form the centre piece of the museum’s extensive collection and become a key focus of a planned redevelopment of the whole institution.
Photo: over the years Concorde has become one of the most iconic sights in world aviation. Courtesy Newscast.
"I believe that the level of interest shown in recent weeks reflects the fondness we have for this breathtaking piece of engineering. Once on display the aircraft is certain to be hugely popular with both local people and visitors from abroad," added Dr Rintoul.
BA Chief Executive Rod Eddington explained how his company’s decision to bring Concorde’s commercial life to an end sparked a global scramble for the seven aircraft.
"Since we announced the retirement of Concorde we have received a wide variety of interesting proposals from organisations wanting to give the aircraft permanent homes," he said.
"We have chosen the final homes based on a number of criteria: their ability to properly exhibit and preserve the aircraft, their geographical location and accessibility to the public."
For Oliver Dearden, Trustee and General Manager of the Bristol Aero Collection, the arrival of Concorde G-BOAF at Filton airfield where ten supersonic aircraft were built during the 1960s and 70s, will be a particularly special occasion.
Photo: when Concorde flew into Heathrow for the last time on October 24, thousands gathered to witness the event. Courtesy Newscast.
"Not only is it Concorde coming home, but it is a very significant aircraft for this area," explained Mr Dearden.
"G-BOAF was the last Concorde ever built, but when you come to the history of Filton as an aerospace site, it also happens to be the last ever aircraft built here after 69 years of continuous operation."
Mr Dearden explained how Airbus UK are intending to build a heritage centre at Filton, which will house the aircraft and where his organisation will ensure public access to it.
Currently based near Cirencester, the Bristol Aero Collection is planning a move to the Filton site, where its large number of historic aircraft will be displayed alongside Concorde.
"We have an arrangement whereby they will be looking after it on behalf of BA, but the Bristol Aero Collection will be providing the volunteers to run the public exhibition of Concorde."
Inevitably the announcement has left many institutions disappointed. Among those that narrowly missed out was Yorkshire Air Museum.
Photo: the IWM, Duxford's pre-production Concorde has already proved a top visitor attraction, not an airliner version. © James Kightly.
"The Museum is obviously disappointed at not being selected as one of the final public venues for Concorde," explained a spokesperson.
"Yorkshire Air Museum expresses good wishes to those museum's and airports around the world now identified as recipients of this iconic supersonic airliner for public display."
However, despite efforts to ensure at least one of the supersonic airliners could be kept in a flight-worthy condition for public events, it now appears this will not be possible.
"A detailed study with Airbus has regrettably led us both to conclude that it would not be possible," added Rod Eddington. "The technical and financial challenges of keeping a Concorde airworthy are absolutely prohibitive."
The other three Concordes will take up residence at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, USA, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York and Grantley Adams Airport, Barbados.
