The Concorde Flies Again
October 22, 2001 6:50 AM Subscribe
The Concorde Flies Again After an overhaul of the supersonic jet's safety features (after the July 25 crash near Paris), British Airways' Concorde undertook it's first trans-Atlantic flight to New York.
British Airways has also set up a Concorde's Return To Service mini-site...
Wow. Now the wealthy can flit about with greater ease. Woooo!
posted by aramaic at 8:28 AM on October 22, 2001
posted by aramaic at 8:28 AM on October 22, 2001
No offense taken, of course. I was thinking the same thing, along the lines of "pride." Perhaps this is a "ra-ra-shish-boom-ba" moment for the airline industry in the wake of a crippling industry tailspin...I don't know.
Of course, some of the safety upgrades - "Aviation experts have designed durable new radial tires that would burst into lighter, more flexible fragments if a blowout occurs. Engineers have also installed fuel tank liners, designed to prevent leaks if the plane's wing is ruptured. The liners are made in part with Kevlar -- a fiber used in bulletproof vests." - seem part common sense, part "pretty cool."
posted by tpl1212 at 8:29 AM on October 22, 2001
Of course, some of the safety upgrades - "Aviation experts have designed durable new radial tires that would burst into lighter, more flexible fragments if a blowout occurs. Engineers have also installed fuel tank liners, designed to prevent leaks if the plane's wing is ruptured. The liners are made in part with Kevlar -- a fiber used in bulletproof vests." - seem part common sense, part "pretty cool."
posted by tpl1212 at 8:29 AM on October 22, 2001
...yeah, I liked the bit about the redesigned tires. I wish I were an engineer; I think I'd really enjoy doing "failure mode" design.
posted by aramaic at 8:30 AM on October 22, 2001
posted by aramaic at 8:30 AM on October 22, 2001
I can quite firmly state, as a Brit, that I've never felt pride in Concorde.
posted by Summer at 8:51 AM on October 22, 2001
posted by Summer at 8:51 AM on October 22, 2001
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Maybe it is some sort of Brit national pride thing?
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 8:21 AM on October 22, 2001