The day Concorde stole the spotlight from Air Force One with a supersonic Mach 2 entrance in the Caribbean

Air Force One and Concorde have both turned heads, but never quite like they did during one unforgettable supersonic showdown in the Carribean.

In December 1989, the quiet island of Saint Martin played host to a scene straight out of an aviation geek’s fantasy.

Two Presidents, George H.W. Bush of the United States and François Mitterrand of France, were due to meet for a diplomatic summit.

But when their planes arrived, it turned into a full-blown airshow during which Concorde stole the show.

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Concorde stole Air Force One’s thunder

It began like any other state visit: security teams, motorcades, and curious locals lining the fences.

Everyone at the time expected Air Force One, Bush’s stately Boeing 707-based VC-137C, to dominate the day.

After all, Air Force One has always been a spectacle, even before the presidential plane was officially designated as such.

However, the 1989 meeting was different.

A white arrow appeared in the sky, and a thunder-like sound rolled over the horizon.

It was the Air France Concorde, and it demanded all the attention.

Capable of cruising at Mach 2, the supersonic jet was built to dazzle.

Its four Olympus engines screamed at 116 decibels, announcing its presence before it even arrived.

For a few glorious minutes, the whole of Saint Martin was captivated by this supersonic masterpiece.

The French president arrived like a rockstar

Maho Beach, the world’s most famous plane-spotting location, turned into a packed amphitheater.

Locals, tourists, and boaters gathered near the runway, waiting for the legendary sonic boom.

When the Air France Concorde, flight AF100F, swooped in carrying Mitterrand himself, it was more of a performance than a landing.

The supersonic jet tilted its nose, glided down with its wings pitched high, and thundered over the beach so close that people ducked instinctively.

In that very moment, almost everyone watching forgot there was even another head of state arriving.

When Bush’s Air Force One finally touched down, the poor Boeing 707 looked almost humble in comparison.

Normally, the Air Force One is the aircraft that defines prestige, but not that day.

On French soil, aboard France’s greatest engineering icon, the French president had made his entrance like a rock star.

The Caribbean sun glinted off the Concorde’s wings, and for once, the world’s most famous airplane was just a supporting act.

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