'Concorde' to fly over UK for first time in 20 years

The model of the famous flight will take to the skies

The model of the famous flight will take to the skies

PA
George Bunn

By George Bunn


Published: 22/11/2023

- 12:08

It is mark the 20th anniversary of the last flight of the supersonic airliner

Residents of West Country may awake to think they've gone back in time as a "concorde" is set to take to the skies later this week.

An 11ft model of the airliner is set to soar across the skies on November 25.


The event is happening to mark the 20th anniversary of the last flight of the supersonic airliner.

The 'Concorde' model was built 10 years ago by Bruce McKay and Bob Blackmore, two late members of the Woodspring Wings Model Aircraft Club.

Concorde

The airliner has captured imagination since it first took flight

PA

The radio-controlled model weighs in at 25lbs.

It is built of a mixture of balsa, plywood, foam and composites and is powered by a Wren jet turbine engine.

The model will be flown by Andy Johnson, its current owner, of Liverpool, and take-off is scheduled for 2pm.

It will be joined by other aircraft models flown by members of the Woodspring Wings club at the 21 aircraft club's site on the outskirts of Yatton.

Concorde

The flight took its last fight in 2003

PA

Woodspring Wings hold an annual model aircraft show that attracts thousands of enthusiasts from all over the South West and further afield.

Next year’s event will be held on the weekend of July 6 and 7.

Concorde set the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a civil aircraft when it flew from New York to London in just two hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds on February 7 1996.

The aircraft took its first flight in March 1969 and was developed between the French and British aerospace companies.

Concorde had a take-off speed of 220 knots (250 mph) and a cruising speed of 1,350 mph.

Only 14 different Concorde aircraft ever flew commercially.

On 25 July 2000, a devastating crash of a Concorde passenger jet on a flight from Paris to New York happened shortly after takeoff, killing all 109 people on board and four on the ground.

Concorde's last commercial flight took place on 24 October 2003.

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