Rare image shows what Concorde’s cockpit controls looked like at Mach 2

  • Check out this rare image of Concorde’s cockpit controls showing it flying at Mach 2
  • It’s an image that can never be repeated
  • The cockpit in question is that of Air France F-BVFA CDG-JFK on a flight in 1998

Published on Jul 04, 2024 at 8:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Last updated on Jul 05, 2024 at 7:29 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

Check out this rare and never-to-be-captured-again image of the cockpit controls of a Concorde showing it flying at Mach 2.

The cockpit in question is that of Air France F-BVFA CDG-JFK on a flight back in 1998.

And it’s pretty impressive.

READ MORE! Video shows what a rocket launch looks like from cockpit of a plane

The Concorde cockpit image

The image was posted to the r/aviation subreddit by jedieric six years ago.

The Reddit thread is dedicated to ‘anything related to aircraft, airplanes, aviation and flying’.

And it has an impressive 1.6 million members.

“Oh man, that’s so cool!” one Redditor commented on the cockpit controls image.

“That thing was an absolute monster of an airplane,” said a second.

A third added: “Never got to fly on it, and wish I’d taken one of those Egypt or Bay of Biscay tourist flights. What a magnificent machine.”

Pictures of Concorde’s cockpit have previously left everyone in awe.

The unique cockpit is unlike anything else out there.

In addition to the ‘usual’ dashboard, it had hundreds of gauges and switches on the right-hand side wall.

Footage has also been released of Concorde’s cockpit and cabin – and it seems extremely calm for a plane flying at Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph or 2,180 km/h).

Flying at Mach 2

Concorde had a maximum speed of Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph or 2,180 km/h) at cruise altitude, over twice the speed of sound.

Hailed as the world’s greatest airliner, it was renowned for its unique blend of technological innovation and outstanding design.

But several factors, from ticket prices to a catastrophic crash in 2000, led to the plane’s demise.

The cost of a ticket was astronomically high, costing about $12,000 in today’s money for a round trip across the Atlantic.

The last Concorde flight landed over 20 years ago.

The future of supersonic aviation

Fortunately, after two decades, several companies have entered the supersonic race.

In fact, NASA just unveiled a revolutionary ‘quiet’ jet set for commercial supersonic flights.

The typically loud supersonic boom is reduced.

Rather than the typical jarring sound, the sound of NASA X-59 is reduced to a ‘neighbor’s car door down the street being closed’.

That means the US Federal Aviation Administration is more likely to approve it for flights over populated areas.


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Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.