Photo: during the 1960s and 70s Concorde airframes were designed and manufactured at Brooklands. Photo: Brooklands Museum.
Brooklands Museum may soon be taking delivery of a retired Concorde despite missing out on the original allocation of British Airway’s retired supersonic fleet.
Last week BA announced the venues that will house all seven of its Concordes. However, the company is now negotiating with Brooklands Museum about the possibility of the disused Concorde C/N 202 going on display at the Weybridge site.
During the 1960s and 70s Concorde airframe parts were designed and manufactured by the 3500-strong workforce at Brooklands, which is now home to a significant aviation and motor collection.
"We are still discussing things and there are a lot of issues and points to be sorted out," Julian Temple, Brooklands Aviation Curator, told the 24 Hour Museum. "But we are positive and optimistic that we can get the thing here one way or another and we are pleased that we are still in the running."
Photo: over the course of its flying career, Concorde became possibly the world's most famous aircraft. Photo courtesy of Newscast.
Described by Temple as "the eighth Concorde that most people have forgotten about", 202, registered as G-BBGD, was the first British production Concorde.
In 1981, the aircraft was retired to Filton airfield near Bristol, where it has remained ever since and been used mainly as a source for spare parts.
"We have been in discussions with Brooklands about them housing the 202 Airframe, currently at Airbus at Filton," confirmed a spokesperson for BA.
As Julian Temple explained, Brooklands’ relationship with Concorde goes back to July 1961 when the partners behind it, the British Aircraft Corporation and Sud-Aviation, held their first meeting on UK soil there.
"A greater proportion of the Concorde airframe was manufactured by the British Aircraft Corporation at Brooklands than at any other factory in Britain or France," he said.
Photo: when BA announced its plans to retire the supersonic fleet earlier this year, museums all over the world queued up to give the planes a new home. © James Kightly.
"In particular all the forward and rear fuselages, the massive tail fins and rudders as well as many more smaller components, were made here. Thousands were employed here on Concorde in the sixties and seventies and many local people still have proud memories of their and their families’ associations with this outstanding supersonic airliner."
Built at Brooklands, the various parts would, like those from other British and French factories, be shipped to either Toulouse or Filton for final assembly and test flying.
"We are determined to ensure that the predominant role played by the British Aircraft Corporation’s Weybridge organisation headed by the late Sir George Edwards in the design, development and production of Concorde is recognised and celebrated," added Brooklands Museum Director Allan Winn.
"We will be working closely with British Airways over the next few weeks to determine how that story can best be told."
