The 50th anniversary of Concorde at Aerospace Bristol
Today marks 50 years since the first test flight of a British-made Concorde was completed. It flew from Filton Airport in Bristol to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a journey taking just 22 minutes but one that changed the course of aviation history.
The first British flight took place from Filton, Bristol on April 9th 1969. It was retired in 2003.
Concorde’s 50th anniversary was celebrated today by a cavalcade of Bristol cars and buses visiting two Concordes in one day. This morning over 150 passengers travelled from Aerospace Bristol to the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset on board classic buses and cars.
The two museums, in Bristol and Somerset, give visitors the opportunity to discover more about the world's most famous aircraft, from the people behind its initial forays to the edge of space and record-breaking speeds, to the experience for passengers and even the food served on-board.
Aerospace Bristol tells the story of Bristol’s aviation and engineering heritage – from the first powered flights through to the modern day – including how Bristol diversified into the automobile industry and produced the cars and buses that formed the cavalcade today.
The museum will be celebrating Concorde's 50th throughout the year, with special events taking place around its star attraction Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last Concorde ever to fly.
Upcoming events include:
9th April: Meet the Concorde pilot Captain Colin Morris
13th April: The first public move of Concorde Alpha Foxtrot’s ‘droop nose’
16th April: A talk on the life of a Concorde pilot, with Captain Tim Orchard
20th April: Special tours to mark 40 years since Concorde Alpha Foxtrot’s maiden flight
www.aerospacebristol.org/concorde50