A supersonic Concorde aircraft belonging to British Airways, which previously held the record for the fastest flight from New York to London at a speed of 1,350 miles per hour, recently had its slowest journey while being transported along the Hudson River. This iconic jet, which was once capable of traveling at twice the speed of sound, underwent a leisurely transport to a shipyard in Brooklyn for restoration. After spending 15 years at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, the Concorde is in need of several months of maintenance before it can be showcased again.
The process of lifting the 87-ton supersonic aircraft off the pier and onto a barge was a time-consuming task, taking hours to complete. The subsequent journey to the Brooklyn Navy Yard lasted an additional two hours. It’s worth noting that the same Concorde was able to fly across the Atlantic Ocean to London in just two hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds, a remarkable achievement at a time when customary flights would take eight hours.
Since being retired and turned into a museum piece, the Concorde has undergone some modifications, including the removal of its engines. However, due to its broad 84-foot wingspan, it was too wide to be transported across the Brooklyn Bridge or the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Nevertheless, the slow and steady journey of the Concorde along the Hudson River attracted many fascinated onlookers eager to catch a glimpse of the historic aircraft. People expressed their awe at witnessing this piece of aviation history up close, describing it as fabulous, incredible, and an engineering marvel.
The challenging environment of New York has taken a toll on the Concorde, making it necessary to repaint the aircraft and inspect its interior for corrosion during the restoration process. According to Eric Boehm, the curator of aviation and aircraft restoration at the Intrepid, New York presents one of the harshest environments for displaying an airplane. With saltwater, severe weather, and high winds being constant challenges, the Concorde requires regular attention and care.
To facilitate the restoration, the Concorde was transported to a shipyard where it could be protected from the elements. The journey was estimated to take approximately two hours, a mere 52 minutes shorter than the jet’s record-breaking transatlantic flight. During the Concorde’s early days, there were concerns from residents in New York about the noise it would generate. However, the sonic booms only occurred once the aircraft reached its cruising altitude over the ocean.
The Concorde’s retirement in 2003 marked the end of an era. At its peak, a round-trip ticket on the Concorde cost $12,000, which, adjusted for inflation, is equivalent to approximately $20,150 today. This particular aircraft, registered by British Airways in 1975, completed over 7,000 flights and accumulated more than 23,000 hours of flight time. It even had a stint with Singapore Airlines and participated in various notable events, such as Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee Flypast in 2002.
Following its retirement, the Concorde spent several years at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum while the pier was undergoing reconstruction. Eric Boehm highlights the year 1969 as a milestone for the Concorde project and considers it akin to England’s moon landing, emphasizing the significance of getting the Concorde off the ground. After undergoing a meticulous restoration process lasting approximately three months, the Concorde will return to the museum, once again captivating visitors with its remarkable history.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
