New Yorkers were able to see possibly the last of the Concorde supersonic plane's journeys, but not soaring through the sky, but navigating along a river. This Thursday, the eyes of residents and tourists of the Big Apple were focused on what was the fastest commercial ship in the world, being transported aboard a ship along the Hudson River with the Statue of Liberty in the background and the city on the horizon. from New York.
The iconic aircraft, recognized for its unmistakable needle shape and supersonic speed, has "returned home" to New York's Intrepid Museum - a museum of American military and maritime history - after completing a seven-month restoration at the Naval Shipyard of Brooklyn, which included the "removal of the paint coating, sanding and repainting, using the same original colors - from the British Airways company -" that made the Concorde a true aviation legend, as explained in the museum's statement.
After this "crucial phase" of its renovation, the iconic aircraft was transported across the Hudson River on a cargo ship, and then hoisted by a crane about 90 meters high to its location at Pier 86 in Manhattan upon its arrival. to the museum in 2003, when he stopped flying, on which the World War II aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid, is moored, and which gives its name to the museum. The colorful logistical operation could be followed live through the museum's social platforms.
Since the creation of the prototype in 1962, a total of 20 units were built, but only 16 flew. Operated by Air France and British Airways, it still holds the record for the fastest transatlantic trip made by a passenger aircraft: with a flight time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds from Heathrow airport (London) to JFK airport (New York), in 1996. This model, provided by British Airways, is the one on display at the Intrepid. Currently, commercial airplanes fly up to approximately 860 kilometers per hour, but the Concorde could reach up to 2,179; almost doubling the speed of sound.
The fleet began to gradually retire after the fatal accident in July 2000. A Concorde, operated by Air France, crashed shortly after takeoff at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport, killing all 109 people on board and others. five from a hotel destroyed as a result of the accident.
The last service took place on 26 November 2003. British Airways Concorde G-BOAF landed at Bristol Filton as a final stopover before being transferred to the British Aviation Museum.
Barcelona had the privilege of being one of the European cities where Concorde was on three occasions. The first was on a trip announced as "historic" that landed from London to return and from there to the United States, on February 24, 1979. The second, on the occasion of the inauguration of regular flights between Barcelona and London, on October 25, 1987. And the third and last time was on September 19, 1998, he landed and returned to London. Previously, the supersonic model had already landed in Madrid, in 1977, on the runways of Torrejón and Gran Canaria, although on these last two occasions they were to carry out various tests in its experimental stage.
According to the Intrepid Museum website, public tours of the Concorde will resume on April 4, offering visitors the opportunity to experience up close with a symbol of an era that is still remembered today with admiration and a certain nostalgia.
