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2004 Aviation Dollar
Available Now |
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The Concorde has
been selected to grace the front of Gander and Area Chamber of
Commerce's 2004 Aviation Dollar because of its unique design
and service, being the only design of aircraft to enter the
commercial airline service.
Its beginnings started in 1956 when a Supersonic Transport
Aircraft Committee was formed to study the feasibility of
building a supersonic airliner. In 1961 British Aircraft
Corporation and Sud Aviation of France held discussions on
such an aircraft. In 1962 cooperation from both the British
and French governments was called for, as the building of a
supersonic aircraft would be too costly for either country to
finance alone. In 1964 a management group was put in place by
both governments to oversee the building of the Concorde, both
Countries to share equally in the cost and any profits. The
stage was now set for the building of the world's first
supersonic transporter. In 1965 work began on the production
airframe and other components of the Concorde, with two
prototypes to be built, one for each country. On March 2nd.
1969 the French prototype made its first takeoff run, followed
by the British prototype on April 9th. Both aircraft were on
display at that year's Paris International Air show, which
drew wonderment from the international aviation community and
the public sector.
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In February 1970,
the new improved Olympus 593 engine, which would enable the
Concorde to reach supersonic speeds, was tested and ran for
300 continuous hours, which would be the equivalent of 100
flights across the Atlantic for this aircraft. With the engine
reliability proven, the first pre- production model rolled off
the assembly line in Filton, England, in September 1971. In
December that year the aircraft met American airport noise
limits and the stage was set for supersonic Trans- Atlantic
passenger flights. By 1975 after exhaustive testing and
redesign, the aircraft was ready for some additional testing
and Gander International Airport was chosen as a test
location. This aircraft then became a familiar sight to Gander
residents, drawing crowds to watch it take-off and land. Also,
in that year the fourth production aircraft, number 204, made
two return trips from London to Gander in a single day.
In 1976, after twenty years of design, testing, and production
challenges, the aircraft began commercial flights, carrying
many of the rich and famous to the capitals of the world in
complete luxury, providing gourmet meals and service. It could
cross the Atlantic from Paris to New York in just over three
hours, four hours faster than a 747 aircraft. This aircraft,
billed by some as the sleekest aircraft ever build, is 168
feet long, powered by four Olympus 973 engines, each
developing 38,000 pounds of thrust, enabling the Concorde to
cruise at Mach 2 speed (1,336 mph/2,150 km/h), which is twice
the speed of sound. The cruising altitude is between 50,000
and 60,000 feet. To give you some idea of the power of this
aircraft, it can accelerate from zero to 360 km/h in only 20
seconds, which is its take-off speed. To fly round-trip on
this aircraft from New York to London would cost $9,000.00
U.S.
In the years following during the testing of the Concorde, it
visited Gander International Airport several times for fueling
and other services. Sixteen of the production models were
built before production ceased in 1979. This aircraft went
into service with only two airlines, British Overseas Airways,
and Air France. Apart from one fatal crash in 2000 of this
aircraft proved to be the most reliable aircraft ever put into
service.
The Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to have
this unique and wonderful aircraft grace the front of its 2004
Aviation Dollar. |
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