Celebrating Concorde and saying goodbye to an old friend!

It's almost impossible to comprehend that she no longer flies the skies at supersonic speed between New York, London and Paris. That she's now just a footnote to aviation history, but it is indeed true. Air France ceased their commercial Concorde flights on May 31st and British Airways followed suit on October 24, 2003. She was with us a mere twenty-seven years. Such a short time given the low number of segments she flew. They say she had plenty of life left in her, but the fragility of the airline industry following September 11 and economics of the times finally caught up with her forcing her retirement.

Ever since we heard the first rumors, followed quickly by the official announcements, she would be retired Anne and I took every opportunity to visit JFK and photograph her. It's surprising how many times we made it over to JFK and even to Heathrow to see her, but there were many more times we missed her. Unfortunately there is no going back and recapturing those lost opportunities. We are left with only our memories and our photos to sustain us.

This page, however, is not to mourn her loss but to praise her existence and achievements. Anne and I would like to share with you the photos we took during her final months of operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport and a few from London's Heathrow. The majority of the photos are of excellent quality even though the small images may not appear so because of their size and reduced quality for the web. Those pictures which were accepted by Airliners.Net can view in a large size by clicking on the image when a pop-up alert appears.

Note! Prints from photos that have an AB number beneath them can be ordered in sizes 4" x 6", 8.5" x 11" and 13" x 19". The 13" x 19" size can be matted framed if desired.

Enjoy ...

British Airways G-BOAC March 23, 2003

British Airways G-BOAC March 23, 2003

Our first sighting of Concorde in years was on March 23rd. She made an approach to 22L while we were at Bayswater. Much to distant for a good picture, but we took them anyhow to remind us of her "bird of prey" looks. She was truly unique and beautiful.

AB-C-001 British Airways G-BOAC March 23, 2003
Even the boaters stopped to admire her long slender shape.

AB-C-002 Air France F-BTSD April 6, 2003

With the arrival of April things picked up quite a bit. The announcement was made: Air France would stop service on May 31, just two short months away. We had to do all we could to capture her as many times as we could before that date arrived. Unfortunately capturing Air France's single departure and arrival daily would prove difficult. The scheduled departure time was 8:00 a.m. Allowing for taxi to the active that meant her wheels up time was about 8:20 to 8:25 a.m., just about the same time the Air France arrival from Paris was due. Because of the close times it was virtually impossible to get both in a single day because JFK always (with few exceptions) has different departure and arrival runways. So, we had to choose which we wanted and that, most often, was dictated by the runways in use and the available light.

AB-C-003 Air France F-BTSD April 6, 2003

AB-C-004 Air France F-BTSD April 6, 2003

Air France F-BTSD April 6, 2003

AB-C-005 British Airways G-BOAG April 14, 2003

AB-C-006 Air France F-BVFA April 20, 2003

AB-C-007 British Airways Concorde departing 31L
soars over a British Airways 747, G-BNLS, with the Wanula Dreaming world tail April 20, 2003

AB-C-007 British Airways Concorde departing 31L soars
over an Avianca 767, N535AW, April 20, 2003

AB-C-008 British Airways G-BOAD April 20, 2003
about to touchdown on 13L at JFK

AB-C-009 British Airways G-BOAE April 27, 2003
On approach to 27L at Heathrow Concorde passes
almost directly over these homes on Myrtle Av.

AB-C-010 British Airways G-BOAE April 27, 2003

AB-C-011 British Airways G-BOAE April 27, 2003

AB-C-012 British Airways G-BOAG April 27, 2003
with afterburners glowing on takeoff roll from
Heathrow

British Airways G-BOAG April 27, 2003

British Airways G-BOAG April 27, 2003

Afterburner shots, like the ones above, were always an objective, but almost impossible to get at New York's JFK without ramp access. The shots above were taken from a window at the end of the hall in the Renaissance Hotel across from runway 27R at Heathrow. A combination of the low late-afternoon light and a light drizzle renders the shots almost useless, but they are part of our memories of this wonderful aircraft.

AB-C-013 British Airways G-BOAD April 29, 2003
inbound to 27L at Heathrow

British Airways G-BOAE April 29, 2003
departing Heathrow on 27R

British Airways G-BOAE April 29, 2003
inbound to 27L at Heathrow

AB-C-014 British Airways G-BOAE April 29, 2003

Continue to the next page to see the photos from May and Air France's last Concorde flight ...

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