Last updated: March 26, 2026
✈️ Aircraft Specifications
| Designation | Concorde |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale/BAC |
| Country of Origin | International |
| First Flight | 1969 |
| Length | 62.1 m (203.8 ft) |
| Max Speed (Mach) | 2.04 |
| Max Speed (km/h) | 2,179 km/h |
| Service Ceiling | 18,300 m (60,042 ft) |
| Range | 7,250 km (4,502 mi) |
| Engine | 4× Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 turbojets |
| Crew | 3 |
| Status | Retired |
Overview
Concorde remains the most successful supersonic transport in history—the only SST to achieve sustained commercial service. For 27 years (1976-2003), it carried passengers across the Atlantic at Mach 2.04, reducing the New York-London journey to just 3.5 hours. It was aviation’s most beautiful and elegant achievement.
Design & Development
A joint British-French project, Concorde featured an ogival delta wing, droop-nose for visibility during landing, and four Olympus 593 afterburning turbojets with variable intake ramps. Its slender fuselage held only 100 passengers in a 2+2 configuration. At Mach 2, the airframe stretched 15-25 cm due to thermal expansion—a gap between the flight engineer’s panel and bulkhead would appear and was used to store hats.
Operational History
20 Concordes were built. British Airways and Air France operated the type on prestigious transatlantic routes. A ticket cost 2,000+ round trip. The Air France Flight 4590 crash on July 25, 2000 (113 killed), combined with post-9/11 downturn and rising costs, led to retirement in 2003. Surviving Concordes are displayed in museums worldwide.
Limitations & Challenges
Concorde was an engineering marvel that never achieved commercial viability. Only 20 aircraft were built, with just 14 entering service — exclusively with British Airways and Air France. The sonic boom generated by supersonic flight over land led to overland supersonic flight bans in most countries, restricting Concorde to transatlantic routes and severely limiting its market potential.
Operating economics were challenging: Concorde consumed roughly 25,630 liters of fuel per flight hour — about four times more per passenger than a Boeing 747 on the same route. Ticket prices of $8,000-$12,000 round trip (equivalent to over $15,000 today) limited the passenger base to a niche luxury market. The fatal crash of Air France Flight 4590 on July 25, 2000, which killed all 109 passengers and crew plus 4 people on the ground, alongside declining passenger numbers after 9/11 and rising maintenance costs, led to the fleet’s retirement in 2003 [1].
Armament
Concorde was a civilian airliner carrying 100 passengers in luxury. No weapons — just champagne, caviar, and Mach 2 speed. The fastest way to cross the Atlantic in style.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is Concorde?
Concorde cruised at Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph) at 60,000 feet. London to New York took about 3.5 hours.
How much did a Concorde ticket cost?
A round-trip London-New York ticket cost $7,000-$12,000 (2000s dollars), including champagne and caviar service.
How many Concordes were built?
20 Concordes were built (including prototypes). 14 entered commercial service.
Why was Concorde retired?
Concorde retired in 2003 after 27 years due to the 2000 crash, rising maintenance costs, and post-9/11 decline in premium travel demand.
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