The iconic shape of the Concorde could once again grace the skies, but this time as the world's most exclusive charter jet.
The Concorde Club – a group of well-connected and apparently well-funded champions of the supersonic jetliner – plans to invest some £160 million (A$347 million) into getting a Concorde flying by 2019, on the 50th anniversary of the first Concorde flight.
In addition to eye-catching fly-pasts at air shows the Concorde would be available for private charter flights out of London, such as shuttling F1 enthusiasts to Grand Prix races, reports The Telegraph.
The first step: purchasing a decommissioned Air France Concorde from the Musée Delta, near Orly Airport in Paris, and relocating it to London to serve as "the main draw in a £16-a-head London tourist attraction that would include a restaurant offering dishes that were originally served on Concorde flights."
It's not the first time the Concorde Club has entertained such a scheme, having previously sought to buy an ex-BA Concorde and display it on a jetty atop the Thames.
However, the Concorde Club's "phase two" plans are substantially more ambitious: to buy 'Concorde 001', currently a prize exhibit at The Museum of Air and Space near Le Bourget, France, and restore it to airworthy condition.
Painted with a new neutral livery, and perhaps fitted with more modern and less cramped seats, the jet would be flying from 2019.
Photo tour: Inside the British Airways' Concorde
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Dec 2014
Total posts 284
OH MY!!! Would have to fly on this, would be such a great experience! Wonder how much the charter would cost?
Maybe AusBT could charter it and get some readers to help out with the funding! I know I would :)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 444
Such a shame that Virgin was denied taking and operating Concorde...
21 Feb 2015
Total posts 68
I missed out in the good old days and almost pulled the trigger on an award via the Insideflyer/Qantas route.... it's one of the biggest regrets of my life. Not letting it go this time..... better start digging under the couch!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
I've heard that one of the reasons BA had to end Corcorde services was because Airbus destroyed the spare part moulds after AF stopped flying the jet following the CGD incident. Apparenty BA were still making a profit on Concorde despite AF''s losses. If this rumor is true, I wonder how these guys would get around the absence of any spare part availability?
Sound like a great idea though. Corcorde and flying into Kai Tak in Hong Kong are 2 aviation dreams that never materialised for me. Maybe one will now!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 785
This +1. Parts, airworthiness, maintenance, standards - will range between expensive and unobtanium.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Apr 2014
Total posts 44
Airbus have been working in the 3D printing arena to rebuild tools for rarer models it's not worth warehousing them for. Perhaps they can develop the parts this way
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
There's only so much you can do with 3D printing, at least at present. For instance, you might get (with some polishing) a piece with the right shape, but that doesn't mean it has the right mechanical properties.
BA Gold
01 Apr 2012
Total posts 192
Alex_upgrade - kind of right. BA and AF had always shared the cost and expertise of maitenence of the Concorde frames, spare sparts etc etc. This was a major factor in BA shutting its Concorde services down (as was 9/11 of course).
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1518
I really hope that they succeed! Best of luck to those well-funded enthusiasts!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Jun 2014
Total posts 37
will. never. happen.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1518
Money can do quite a bit. Quite a bit of money can do a lot. A lot of money can do everything. Lets hope for the best.
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
Do they actually have this 160 million pounds?
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 973
I'd be putting 160 million pounds into Space Ship 2 if it was me
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
I'd just buy a slightly used two-seater F-14 and hire a pilot to chauffer me around in it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jun 2013
Total posts 366
I hope this succeeds as this was and still is the best looking place in the sky.not to say the fastest passenger jet
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jun 2013
Total posts 366
Oops plane not place
Qantas
13 Jun 2015
Total posts 141
It's back to the future with the Concorde!
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 973
It will never happen, look forward not backwards
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Sep 2015
Total posts 1
A good name for the restaurant/club could be "Concorde Upon Thames"
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