Supersonic Airplanes and the Age of Irrational Technology
Was the Concorde a triumph of modern engineering, a metaphor for misplaced 20th-century values, or both? Link
Reminiscences and discussion of the Aérospatiale-BAC supersonic Concorde by an author who opens up the box of his grandfather's passports and documents. His grandfather was in global sales, and flew the Concorde monthly; he was one who had "his" favourite seat (1B aisle) and regularly received gifts, such as flasks of liquor, etc.
But the greatest gift of all was time. From 1976 through 2003 you could travel LHR -JFK in 3.5 hours, put in a day's work and go home.
“The only reason I was able to fly so much was because of Concorde,” my grandpa said, referring to his monthly business trips from Miami to London and back in the 1970s and 1980s. “The most wonderful thing was reducing the number of hours in the air. From London to Singapore, you cut 17 hours down to seven.” International businesspeople especially were inclined to splurge on airfare because of the practical benefit; saving hours, even days, and avoiding jet lag. With twice-daily service from London to New York, it was not uncommon for businesspeople to take day trips and return home before pubs closed.
(I've my own memories of the Concorde. Aviation photography was an avocation (I was a shooter for Bruce Drum), and the time I flew one of Air France's Concordes, F-BVFF (today on static display across from the Hilton in Roissy at CDG), I received a nice commemorative digital watch as a gift - it didn't outsurvive the Concorde, I'm afraid. I'll admit I've visited on occasion, having a glass of wine in the Hilton lounge as I thoughtfully gaze at F-BVFF and reminisce. Speed. Sleek. She's still beautiful.)