Vintage footage shows Concorde departing from Heathrow with fiery afterburners
- The only commercial aircraft capable of breaking the sound barrier
- The Concorde could fly at Mach 2.04
- The aircraft was retired more than 20 years ago
Published on Mar 18, 2024 at 3:57 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on Mar 20, 2024 at 8:03 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Concorde was the only commercial aircraft capable of supersonic flight.
It is arguably one of the most famous commercial aircraft in the world, that has since been retired.
With a max speed of Mach 2.04, the aircraft could fly over twice the speed of sound.
READ MORE! Close-up runway view of Concorde landing is the most incredible footage
Despite being the fastest commercial plane, the Concorde retired more than 20 years ago, on October 24, 2003.
The supersonic aircraft flew its last flight from New York JFK bound for London Heathrow with 100 passengers onboard.
The aircraft is still remembered fondly through old photos and videos taken during its service.
One lucky photographer was even able to take a photo of the aircraft flying at Mach 1.5.
Fortunately, someone was also able to capture footage of the Concorde, when the aircraft was still in service and departing Heathrow airport.
The aforementioned clip showcases the aircraft leaving the airport while engaging its fiery afterburners.
Thankfully, videos like this are still here to remind us of the iconic Concorde supersonic airliner.
The video showcases the aircraft’s power, speed, and distinctive engine roar that make it a marvel in the aviation industry.
However, it was limited to transatlantic flights, due to the sonic boom it created when breaking past the sound barrier.
In the US, supersonic flights are not allowed due to the disturbance caused by the sonic boom.
When the Concorde was taking off, it was normal for car alarms to go off in an entire neighborhood.
So, we might not see another supersonic commercial aircraft anytime soon.
However, NASA is developing a quiet supersonic aircraft for commercial flights.
Even Airbus is planning on releasing its own supersonic aircraft capable of speed up to Mach 4.5.
Aircraft like these will significantly cut down the travel time between long flights.
Hopefully, they follow the great legacy left behind by their predecessor, the iconic Concorde.
Nalin Rawat
Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.
