MEET THE CONCORDE - A commercial supersonic passenger plane(video)
The rise and fall of the plane that could could cross the Atlantic in 3.5 hours
From January 21st 1976 to October 24th, Concorde, the fastest ever built commercial passenger plane was the absolute ruler of the king. His cruise speed was Mach 2.02 (≈1,340 mph, 2,158 km/h, 1,164 knots) at cruise altitude.
Today it takes 7 hours to fly from New York to London. On the Concorde it took 3.5 hours (just in 3 hours if it was record time).
Image: Concord's landing Source: YouTube screenshot
General characteristics
Crew: 3 (2 pilots and 1 flight engineer)
Capacity: 92–120 passengers (128 in high-density layout)[N 9]
Length: 202 ft 4 in (61.66 m)
Wingspan: 84 ft 0 in (25.6 m)
Height: 40 ft 0 in (12.2 m)
Fuselage internal length: 129 ft 0 in (39.32 m)
Fuselage width: maximum of 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) external 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) internal
Fuselage height: maximum of 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) external 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) internal)
Wing area: 3,856 ft2 (358.25 m2)
Empty weight: 173,500 lb (78,700 kg)
Useful load: 245,000 lb (111,130 kg)
Maximum fuel load: 210,940 lb (95,680 kg)
Maximum taxiing weight: 412,000 lb (187,000 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 Mk 610 Afterburning turbojets
Dry thrust: 32,000 lbf (140 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 38,050 lbf (169 kN) each
*Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.04 (≈1,354 mph, 2,179 km/h, 1,176 knots) at cruise altitude
Cruise speed: Mach 2.02 (≈1,340 mph, 2,158 km/h, 1,164 knots) at cruise altitude
Range: 3,900 nmi (4,488.04 mi, 7,222.8 km)
Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)
Rate of climb: 10,000 ft/min[317] (50.80 m/s)
lift-to-drag: Low speed– 3.94, Approach– 4.35, 250 kn, 10,000 ft– 9.27, Mach 0.94– 11.47, Mach 2.04– 7.14
Fuel consumption: 46.85 lb/mi (13.2 kg/km) operating for maximum range
Thrust/weight: 0.373
Maximum nose tip temperature: 260 °F (130 °C)
Runway requirement (with maximum load): 3,600 m (11,800 ft)
*Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft
THE RISE AND FALL
Unfortunately, Concorde had some rough enemies. That were:
- Fuel consumption (range was limited to Transatlantic journeys, without any Transpacific cash cows).
- Loud noise of the Concord's engines.
- Ticket price was $11,700 a seat.
- After terrorist attack in 9/11, people was afraid of flying, because of security reason. That situation made a powerful blow to airline companies. Without flights, Concorde was doomed to failure.
All of his enemies, combined with a couple of Concord's crashes were bad for the plane's future. He is retired at October 24th 2003.
Image: Concorde on the sky Source: YouTube screenshot
WATCH A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THIS GREAT PLANE
