Concorde - Part One - PAL

Join the flightdeck crew on a scheduled British Airways Concorde round trip from London Heathrow to New York's JFK airport. A unique and fascinating documentary made using 9 cameras on the world's fastest ever airliner.

• 166 minute - Disk One of Two ( Disk Two details Here )
• British Airways
• London Heathrow > New York JFK
• Filmed using a total of 9 cameras

This prestigious documentary programme on the world's fastest civil airliner, Concorde is presented by Captain David Rowland and Senior Flight Engineer Roger Bricknell who take you on a full guided tour of this incredible aircraft.

DISK ONE
You join Concorde G-BOAF and David outside the BA maintenance hangar at London Heathrow Airport for a fascinating overview of the history on Concorde. You will also hear about the differences between Concorde and other modern aircraft. Such differences as Concorde not having an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit).

Roger starts up the GPU (Ground Power Unit) and David and Roger discuss and demonstrate the various configurations of the Nose and Visor system.

Roger then takes you on a very detailed external walk around. Roger shows you virtually every aspect of the exterior: -

Nose and Gear assembly
Aerials
Static Ports
Powered Flying Control Unit (with a cover removed so you can see the workings!)
Tyres
Braking System
Refuelling Controls

Roger even opens the access doors of the engines to give you a detailed explanation of the inner working of the Fuel Control Units, Oil Filters, Pressurisation, Integrated Drive Generators – this really is a unique, detailed presentation!

Before our flight to New York’s JFK, David gives you a tour of the flightdeck and cabin, he also adds even more detailed information on Concorde.

Prior to departure we join the flightdeck crew including First Officer Les Brodie, as they carry out their flightdeck setup, checks and briefings. You will be shown how the INS (Inertial Navigation System) is programmed and guided through every step of the departure process.

It’s time to go flying! Today we join Concorde G-BOAD. ‘Alpha Delta’ was the airframe that achieved the fastest Atlantic crossing by any Concorde and occurred on February 7, 1996 taking only 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds!

Follow the start-up, taxi and take-off from LHR 27L whilst David keep’s you informed of every step including afterburners, acceleration point and full power climb to 60,000ft.

You will also witness the point that we reach Mach II – twice the speed of sound.

During our Atlantic crossing David and Roger guide you around the Forward Instrument Panel, Overhead Panel, INS Navigation and many more systems.

We then reach our deceleration point and commence all the checks and briefings for our approach and arrival into JFK airport’s runway 31R.

During both your flights David and Roger guide you through the systems that enable this aircraft to fly at twice the speed of sound.

This programme was filmed using a total of 9 cameras to give you the best views of all phases of flight.

Crystal clear audio utilises the aircraft's audio system so you can hear both the crew and ATC!

This is without doubt the most detailed look at Concorde that has ever been produced and is the only way you will ever see how this magnificent aircraft was flown.

82 Chapter Points

Running time 2 Hours and 46 Minutes (166 Minutes)

About Captain David Rowland
Captain David Rowland is married with two sons and lives in North Oxfordshire. After basic training he joined BA (BOAC) in 1969 and became a Co-Pilot/Navigator on VC10s. In 1976 he joined the Concorde fleet. In 1993 he became Commercial Manager Concorde, responsible to Regional General Manager, Americas for the Concorde business in British Airways, and later combined the operational and commercial management role as General Manager Concorde.

In total David has over 10,000 flying hours, most of which are supersonic. In 1995 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and is a Member of the Royal Institute of Navigation. He is a long term member of the Duxford Aviation Society, and in his spare time, enjoys going to the theatre, walking, reading, listening to music, playing golf and tennis (neither very well!).

Over 1.5 Million Supersonic Passengers
Concorde was the only supersonic passenger airliner in the world and British Airways was one of only two airlines operating this flagship of the worlds civil aviation fleet. A Over 1.5 million passengers have flown supersonically on board British Airways seven strong Concorde fleet since they entered commercial service on January 21st 1976. Cruising at 1,350mph, twice the speed of sound, a typical transatlantic crossing took less than three and a half hours.

Concorde flew above all the weather and her passenger cabin was pressurised to a more comfortable level than on subsonic aircraft, reducing flight fatigue still further. Since entering service, British Airways Concordes have operated some 40,000 flights. Concorde's fastest yet transatlantic crossing was on February 7th 1996, when she completed the New York to London flight in 2 hours 52 minutes and 59 seconds, over 40 minutes faster than schedule.

The small number of dedicated flight crews that flew this superb aircraft were drawn from the best and most experienced that British Airways had to offer and have more supersonic flight time than any of the pilots of the world's Air Forces!