The meeting will take place on Saturday 4th September at 5pm at the Filton Leisure Centre, Elm Park, Filton. Representatives from the Concorde Trust, Airbus, British Airways and the Bristol Aero Collection have been formally invited to take part in this opportunity for the public to show their support in our campaign to keep Concorde alive in Bristol.

Ben Lord, Chairman of Save Concorde Group said “This meeting is incredibly important and long overdue. It is for the people of Bristol and those connected to Concorde to come and air their views. We’re delighted to be welcoming the MP for Filton, Jack Lopresti, who will be joining us on Saturday in support of this and we hope as many of the other invited officials are able to make it.”

With the situation still remaining uncertain as to the future of Concorde, and the prospect of the current visitor centre being dismantled at the end of October, it is important this meeting is held in order to address the many points which continue to be unanswered.

Ben Lord continues “Allegedly, Airbus has confirmed that it intends to remove Concorde G-BOAF (216) from the public in order to relocate the aircraft to one of its Brabazon hangars at Filton for “essential maintenance”. Airbus remain uncooperative to any calls from ourselves, the media or even politicians who have taken an interest in supporting this story, to explain exactly what’s happening to the aircraft and what it’s future is. The frustrating factor in all of this is that the volunteers that have spent tireless amounts of hours showing the public around the attraction, previously worked on Concorde and are able to judge first hand the condition of the aircraft and they do not see why the plane needs to be removed from public display. It therefore makes no sense at all, that Airbus intends to spend £250,000 towards removing the plane from public display, when it is alleged they are closing the centre down in order to save costs! One of the central tenets of the retirement of the Concorde fleet was that at least the airframes would be placed on public display for many years to come and in fact a contractual agreement is in place between BA and Airbus ensuring that Alpha Foxtrot is on display until 2013 by which point a permanent home should be available for her to be placed undercover.”

The Save Concorde Group looks forward to seeing as many people as possible on Saturday.

ENDS

For more information regarding this PR and the Save Concorde Group, please contact:
Ben Lord
Chairman
Tel: 01284 747163 / 07791 394143
E-Mail: ben.lord@save-concorde.co.uk | Web: www.save-concorde.co.uk
Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (save_concorde)

It’s been reported that Airbus UK intend to close BA Concorde Alpha-Foxtrot (G-BOAF) as a public visitor centre this Autumn for alleged maintenance.

Airbus has made plans to remove Concorde G-BOAF (216) from the public in order to relocate the aircraft to one of its Brabazon hangars at Filton for “maintenance”. Unfortunately, no information seems to be forthcoming from Airbus as to the nature of this proposed maintenance: remarkably they are unable to issue a timetable for this maintenance which must call into question exactly what they (Airbus) intend to do.

Ben Lord, Vice Chairman, said: “We are absolutely stunned by this apparent attitude towards Alpha-Foxtrot. As the last Concorde to fly, back to it’s birthplace, we have wholeheartedly supported the fantastic efforts of the volunteers and visitor centre staff at Filton in creating Alpha-Foxtrot into the best possible museum piece despite several restrictions on what they could and couldn’t do with the aircraft.”

“We have launched an immediate inquiry, in full support of the volunteers and staff as it’s those people that deserve to know exactly what is going on. As much as we are campaigning for this marvellous aircraft to fly again in a heritage capacity, of which we hope Alpha-Foxtrot would be the British candidate alongside the French example being worked on near Paris. We are in the process of speaking with both British Airways and Airbus concerning this”

Naturally, the whole team at Filton (in addition to the rest of the Concorde community) is in a state of shock about this planned action. Not only have staff at the centre already allegedly been given “verbal redundancy”, people the world over will no longer be able to marvel at and go onboard this wonderful aircraft. Worse still, BA, the legal owner of Alpha-Foxtrot, seem to have washed their hands of this issue. One of the central tenets of the retirement of the Concorde fleet was that at least the airframes would be placed on public display for many years to come inviting proposals from museums so as to choose suitable locations. BA seems to have conveniently forgotten this fact. Instead, a BA spokesman has reported that “they visit each of the eight Concorde’s annually to conduct a maintenance audit on the BA aircraft”.

Ben Lord adds “BA state that it is a matter for Airbus as to whether the public is given access to the aircraft and the extent of the maintenance to be conducted. This makes no sense at all since BA have stated that together with Airbus, they know the plane better than anyone else, yet they seem to be burying their heads into the sand even more.”

In an ironic twist, this major development gives further weight to the distinct possibility that this work could be in reaction to what’s happening with Air France Concorde “Sierra Delta” in France in getting Alpha-Foxtrot flight-worthy to feature in the opening ceremony of the greatest event on the planet – the 2012 London Olympics.

We at the Save Concorde Group sincerely hopes that our 6+ years of campaigning is possibly being finally listened to and that the sight of a any Concorde back in the skies will no doubt strengthen the resolve of the British people, to allow us to return one of the BA planes to flight and thus satisfy the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the British public.

ENDS

For more information regarding this PR and the Save Concorde Group, please contact:
Ben Lord
Vice Chairman
Tel: 01359 231640 / 07791 394143
E-Mail: ben.lord@save-concorde.co.uk | Web: www.save-concorde.co.uk

You can also follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

Earlier this month, negotations at the Le Bourget Air and Space Museum near Paris, co-ordinated with our French alliance counterparts, known as Olympus593, were finalised and agreed that the famous four Rolls Royce engines of former Air France Concorde, known as “Sierra Delta” will undergo a baroscopy.

Ben Lord, Vice Chairman, said: “Today marks the most critical date in Concorde’s history since she was retired almost 7 years ago. Two members of our management team are in France this weekend to observe these amazing developments since SCG has always maintained that she could return to flight in a heritage capacity and the findings of today will hopefully go an awfully long way to proving our point. This is just the beginning but we are delighted and privileged to be working with a team of skilled Concorde engineers who both worked on the aircraft at British Airways and Air France.”

This latest major development has been made thanks to the excellent advantages our colleagues across the Channel have over us in the UK – largely down to the museum in France owning their airframe. Given this support within France, which is combined with that of our support network here in the UK, it is highly probable that this French Concorde, could be the first of the original airframes to once again become an aircraft and not a technological museum relic. Perhaps the ability to perform a ground taxi, or who knows, even one day to fly would be the next possible stages. SCG is using all their resources to assist Olympus 593 and the team in France at this point and this is moving almost supersonically. The possibility to hear those fine engines from Rolls-Royce fire up again will be simply magical.

“After today, we will know exactly what needs to be done with those four engines in order to take this to the next stage of engine test runs with an objective to hopefully perform a ground taxi.”

In an ironic twist, this major development gives further weight to the distinct possibility that Concorde could fly again and feature in the opening ceremony of the greatest event on the planet – the 2012 London Olympics.

Whilst efforts to return one of the British Airways Concorde’s to the skies goes on undiminished, the sight of a any Concorde back in the skies will no doubt strengthen the resolve of the British people, to allow us to return one of the BA planes to flight and thus satisfy the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the British public.

ENDS

For more information regarding this PR and the Save Concorde Group, please contact:
Ben Lord
Vice Chairman
Tel: 01359 231640 / 07791 394143
E-Mail: ben.lord@save-concorde.co.uk | Web: www.save-concorde.co.uk

You can also follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

It’s not a question of if anymore, but when – for the first time since Concorde’s retirement back in 2003, her engines will be bursting back to life.

Following a recent meeting earlier this week at the Le Bourget Air and Space Museum in France, with our French alliance counterparts, known as Olympus593, negotiations were finalised and agreed that the engines of former Air France Concorde, known as “Sierra Delta” will be powered up.

Ben Lord, Vice Chairman, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news and very exciting. We have always maintained, with the benefit of our experienced engineers, that Concorde could have their engines restarted and this has been proven thanks to the shared belief that our colleagues in France have. Furthermore, this brings us a step further to the possibility of Concorde being returned to the skies in our proposed heritage capacity. Having previously been told in so many directions none of this was possible, it strongly supports our ongoing belief that where there is the will, there will always be a way to success”

This latest major development has been made thanks to the excellent advantages our colleagues across the Channel have over us in the UK – largely down to the museum in France owning their airframe. Given this support within France, which is combined with that of our support network here in the UK, it is highly probable that this French Concorde, could be the first of the original airframes to once again become an aircraft and not a technological relic. Perhaps the ability to perform a ground taxi, or who knows, even one day to fly would be the next possible stages. SCG is using all their resources to assist Olympus 593 and the team in France at this point and this is moving almost supersonically. The possibility to hear those fine engines from Rolls-Royce fire up again will be simply magical.

In an ironic twist, this major development gives further weight to the distinct possibility that Concorde could feature in the opening ceremony of the greatest event on the planet – the 2012 London Olympics.

Whilst efforts to return one of the British Airways Concorde’s to the skies goes on undiminished, the sight of a any Concorde back in the skies will no doubt strengthen the resolve of the British people, to allow us to return one of the BA planes to flight and thus satisfy the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the British public.

ENDS

During a visit to the Le Bourget Air and Space Museum, we formed a new alliance with our French counterparts, known as Olympus593, which is appropriately named “La Nouvelle Entente Cordiale”. Just as was achieved in the 1960s, this alliance will combine the very best efforts of the English and the French working in partnership to achieve the same objective – to return Concorde to life and why not to the skies – where she belongs.

Ben Lord, Vice Chairman, said: “To establish a working joint-venture partnership such as this with like-minded colleagues in France is fantastic news and brings us one step closer in our now combined efforts. The recreation of history, some 40 years later, is a unique opportunity to bring Concorde back to her rightful place. Just as we have, our French colleagues have made fantastic progress in the work with Sierra-Delta and we hope that the combination of our skills resources will enable us to enhance this work even further”

Our French counterparts have made great strides and have some excellent advantages over us in the UK – not least due to ownership issues with the airframes but also because there is a huge will in France to see Concorde fly again. This will permeates from the ordinary man in the street to former aircraft engineers and flight crews to much higher political and possibly military levels. Given this support within France, it is highly probable one of the French Concorde’s, most likely F-BTSD, could be the first of the original airframes to once again become an aircraft and not a technological relic. Perhaps even the ability to be able to ignite one of her incredible Olympus engines, perform a ground taxi, or who knows, even one day to fly. SCG is using all their resources to assist Olympus 593 and the team in France at this point.

In an ironic twist, Concorde might even feature in the opening ceremony of the greatest event on the planet – the 2012 London Olympics.

Whilst efforts to return one of the British Airways Concorde’s to the skies goes on undiminished, the sight of a French Concorde back in the skies will no doubt strengthen the resolve of the British people, to allow us to return one of the BA planes to flight and thus satisfy the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the British public.

ENDS

For more information regarding this PR and the Save Concorde Group, please contact:
Ben Lord
Vice Chairman
Tel: 01284 747163 / 07791 394143
E-Mail: ben.lord@save-concorde.co.uk | Web: www.save-concorde.co.uk

The French team have made great strides and have some excellent advantages over us in the UK – not least due to ownership issues with the airframes but also because there is a huge will in France to see Concorde fly again. This will permeates from the ordinary man in the street to former aircraft engineers and flight crews to much higher political and possibly military levels. Given this support within France, it is probable one of the French Concordes, most likely F-BTSD, could be the first of the original airframes to once again become an aircraft and not a technological relic – perhaps be able to ignite one of her incredible Olympus engines, perform a ground taxi, and who knows, one day to fly. SCG is using all their resources to assist Olympus 593 and the French team at this point.

In an ironic twist, this aircraft might even feature in the London Olympics of 2012.

 Whilst efforts to return one of the former BA fleet to the skies go on undiminished, the sight of a French Concorde back in the skies will no doubt strengthen the resolve of the UK public to allow BA to allow us to return one of their aircraft to flight and thus satisfy the wishes of the huge majority of the British public.

The Save Concorde Group has recently invested in shares in the national airline, in order to take this campaign to the very highest level – both to the shareholders and to the directors.

Ben Lord, Vice Chairman, said: “Our recent investment in British Airways shares should demonstrate just how seriously we are prepared to take this fight for flight. There are still so many questions that remain unanswered, and attending this event gives us an opportunity to remind the BA shareholders what they have lost with the premature demise of Concorde.”
“Concorde was a unique asset in BA’s history, and was perhaps its single greatest profit-earning tool. Instantly recognized across the world, it enhanced the prestige of the airline and the nation. We accept that the commercial situation in the run-up to 2003 was making it difficult to operate the aeroplanes profitably, but there are also other reasons why the profits were slipping; for example, we understand from a Concorde insider that the cessation of charter services in June 2000 by the Director of Engineering at that time will have caused serious detriment to Concorde’s income.”

“For some time, BA has stated that a feasibility study was conducted in 2003 to consider keeping Concorde in the air, and that the proposition was found not to be viable. The Save Concorde Group has repeatedly asked for this study to be revealed to clarify the airline’s position on Concorde. However, following a recent meeting between our organisation and a former member of BA management, we can reveal that a feasibility study was never conducted, and it has been suggested to us that one needs to be carried out urgently.”

“While BA clearly has bigger issues to contend with at the moment, they simply cannot walk away from an issue that generates such strong feeling in the British public. Our organisation considers that BA has a duty to represent the country as its national carrier, and that they are currently failing to do so. Despite an e-mail received from a BA board member just last night reassuring us that the best interests of Concorde remain close to BA’s heart, the recent revelations made to us suggest that this is not the case. The airline has to be held accountable for this, and start engaging seriously with this group and the British people to look into what really is best for Concorde – that being to put the aircraft back where she belongs.”

“Despite the fact it’s been almost 6 years since Concorde was retired, our job is not complete. We will continue to reiterate the fact that we shall not desist in our fight for flight until we have conducted the necessary surveys to ascertain the true cost of returning Concorde to the air. If the figures show conclusively that our goal is unattainable, we will stop; otherwise, we fully intend to carry on.”

BA vowed never to use this flight number again when the plane was retired, stating that it was exclusively used on all Concorde operations.

However, nearly 6 years on from the retirement, BA have just announced their new all-business class service from London City Airport to New York’s JFK using the very same flight number – BA001.

Ben Lord, Vice Chairman said: “British Airways’ attempt to reintroduce this flight number to boost its declining business class activity is an insult to the legacy of an aircraft that the airline boasted it was proud to operate.”
Ben Lord remarks “This act of disregard for the still unparalleled BA Concorde operation reinforces the statements given to our organisation on 2 occasions by BA’s Chairman and Chief Executive, that they have no interest in Concorde whatsoever. The British public is desperate to see Concorde back but BA is simply uninterested to listen to what its paying customers and the nation demand.”

“The Save Concorde Group is dedicated to returning at least one of the Concordes to flight in a heritage role and are determined that this will happen. BA maintains it is commercially unviable but is yet to back up those claims with any evidence, which begs the question if such evidence even exists.”

“Whilst BA have clearly got bigger issues at the moment, they simply cannot walk away from the very fact they have a duty to the country as it’s national carrier and this includes listening to what the public wants. Perhaps if the airline started to do this, their continuing falling passenger numbers may increase.”

“Despite the fact it’s been over 5 years since Concorde has been retired, our job is not complete and we will not desist in our fight for flight until we’ve conducted the necessary surveys to ascertain the true cost of returning Concorde to the air. If the figures show conclusively that our goal is unattainable, we will stop; otherwise, we fully intend to carry on.”

The Save Concorde Group holds that, even now, there remains no technical reason why one of the aeroplanes cannot return to the skies. This view is based on information received from a number of former Concorde operatives. It has been estimated that the cost of returning Concorde to flight in a heritage capacity could now be in the region of £15-£20 million. However, with the amount of revenue Concorde generated for its operators, coupled with the financial pledges that continue to be offered to the Save Concorde Group, we believe that a return to flight is not only possible but could bring both profit and prestige to the operators and the host country. In addition, the group suggests that if any Concorde were returned to flight, this would boost the profile of all the Concordes worldwide.

Whilst the Americans were developing spacecraft that would take the first man onto the moon just 3 months later, Europe would be marking a major international achievement thanks the collaboration and close-partnership of 2 countries, Britain and France. We were the first nations to collectively bring the world’s only supersonic airliner into reality and that in itself was probably the most successful and important international collaboration ever achieved. One can even start to think about the prospect of without Concorde, would the European manufacture of subsonic aviation exist today ?

Ben Lord, Vice-Chairman of the Save Concorde Group says “For 27 years, anyone of us had the opportunity to be treated no differently to any other in the travel class of Concorde – no matter who you were. As we look back over the last 40+ years of the Concorde history, there are clearly 2 kinds of humans – those that flew Concorde and were glad to and those that didn’t and wish they had – I know, I’m one of them.”

As the world celebrates the events of 40 years ago with many celebrations and tributes taking place around the world, it’s also an appropriate time to reflect on what the world has lost following it’s controversial retirement and the hopeful prospect that Concorde may return to the skies in the future, in a heritage capacity.

Happy 40th Birthday Concorde !

While the French commemorated the maiden flight of their prototype Concorde on 2nd March, 9th April will mark the 40th anniversary to the day that this country watched in awe as our own Concorde took to the skies. 40 years on and the engineering technology that made Concorde the aerial goddess that she was is still unbeaten today. Although the aircraft has been retired from commercial service for over 5 years, nothing has superseded this graceful plane.

Ben Lord, Vice Chairman, said: “Concorde may be coming up for 40 years old but it is still unequalled. Back then, it was the most poignant achievement for this country since the Second World War, and considering that many of the military aircraft from that era remain active in a heritage capacity for future generations to learn from, it’s a national travesty that Concorde sits silent on the ground.”

Ben Lord continues, “Having been campaigning tirelessly for over 5 years to return Concorde to heritage flight, we are still seeking official permission for the aircraft to fly again. Even in these dark times, we believe that a flying Concorde would be a symbol of inspiration to people in Britain and France, and across the globe. The aeroplane still stands as one of humanity’s proudest achievements. While the world reminisces about 1969 and what Concorde has given to aviation, it’s also more critical now than ever to reflect on what we have lost.”