Concorde awards being discontinued because planes are being scrapped.
 

British Airways will confirm on Thursday that it is retiring its supersonic Concorde service, the BBC has learned.
Passenger numbers have never recovered since the crash near Paris in 2000 and the aircraft no longer makes a profit.

Concorde is expected to cease flying in the autumn, probably when BA's summer timetable ends on the last weekend of October, BBC transport correspondent Simon Montague said.

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2934257.stm

This is the worse news of today! Just as I was hoping that NW will soon offer an AF Concorde award (the only good part of a DL-NW-CO link), this news! AF will not be far behind BA because their 5 planes is not enough to support the program.

I know the nose has to drop down upon landing so that the pilot can view the runway, but how/why does it move as the plane is approaching supersonic speed?

The nose is also down for take-off, as well as landing. It needs to be in the "fully up and locked position" for supersonic flight.

Does Concorde have a "climb-out" position where the nose would not be fully raised (as I know the nose makes a great deal of drag - and racket - when fully down)?

Or do they just raise the nose, but not the forward heat shield?

[This message has been edited by SEA_Tigger (edited 04-09-2003).]

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How sad http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif I guess we cashed out some miles for AF just in time for 7/4 wknd.

This is so sad. A real part of aviation history down the drain

The nose has a few different positions, with the forward heat shield in place only when the nose is fully raised.

The nose is dropped the lowest for landing. For takeoff, it is in an intermediate (mostly up) position. As flight progresses, the nose is fully raised as is the shield. The noise is caused by wind hitting the main windshield. When the heat shield is in place, the cockpit noise level drops considerably.

I do not have my notes handy, but crossing M1.00 happens ~ 25min after takeoff. Obviously the nose and heat shield are fully raised by then.

So, if they do announce this on Thursday, can we still redeem awards until they pull it or is this post supposed to mean they will cancel Concorde awards immediately??

Wow.., although I never flew it, I it is a sad day for aviation and the airline industry.

One more thing gone that added that little touch of glamour to the world of flying. One more step forward for the ryanairs, easyjets and shell suited scousers that are starting to infest airport terminals the world over.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I blame Yoko Ono for this.

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Very sad. A mythos becomes a legend ...

It seems that AF is grounding their Concordes as of May 31. You might want to call and find out what's up.

We are scheduled to fly the BA Concorde LHR-JFK in a couple of weeks. I am glad I will have the opportunity to fly a legend, and hope nothing gets rescheduled between now and then.

Robin

The most beautiful bird ever to fly IMO.

Joh and I burned a bunch of miles to fly her both ways last year as this fate was looming pretty large we thought.

Great memories - the best use of award points either of us have ever had. Go for it if you have the points and they are still accepting bookings is my advice. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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~ Glen ~

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