[Anonymous]

[BusinessTraveller]

A number of media outlets have reported today that BA has backed a scheme for Concorde aircraft Alpha Bravo or G-BOAB (currently located outside at BA’s Heathrow engineering base) to be relocated on a viewing platform on The Thames close to the London Eye.

Having spoken to BA, it seems that the images used in this piece are some 18 months old, and were drawn up by architect’s RHWL following a commission by the Concorde Club, looking at possible ideas for what to do with the aircraft.

BA says that it is “looking at a number of options [for the future of the aircraft], but we haven’t made any decisions as yet”. So what do you think should happen to the aircraft? Should it go on display in a museum, or be permanently on view at an airport? Have you been to see any of the other Concorde aircraft on display?

[BusinessTraveller]

By the way, here are the locations of all of BA’s Concorde aircraft:

Concorde Alpha Alpha

She had her wings clipped and was placed on a barge on the Thames before sailing to the National Museum of Scotland near Edinburgh. She has been fully restored and has become one of Scotland’s most visited attractions.

Concorde Alpha Bravo

Customers at London Heathrow may have spotted this Concorde parked next to one of the runways as a reminder of the aircraft’s status at the airport. It was regrettably moved from this place in May 2007 due to building work at the airport and is currently being cared for at our engineering base on the eastern side of Heathrow. Fans can spot her from the perimeter fence.

Concorde Alpha Charlie

Known as the unofficial flagship of the fleet as she carried the registration BOAC – the forerunner airline to today’s British Airways. She is now the main attraction at the Manchester Aviation Park and guests can take guided tours of the aircraft.

Concorde Alpha Delta

Now residing in the Big Apple as part of the Air, Sea and Space Museum housed on the USS Intrepid on the Hudson River in New York.

Concorde Alpha Echo

This aircraft is enjoying life in the Caribbean and is currently housed in a purpose built dispay at Barbados’ main airport.

Concorde Alpha Foxtrot

The last Concorde to ever fly on 26 November 2003 is now on display at Filton in Bristol where the fleet was built and tested. She is now housed by the Bristol Aero Collection and Airbus at the site in Filton.

Concorde Alpha Golf

The youngest member of the British Airways’ Concorde fleet can now be seen at the Museum of Flight, near Seattle in the USA.

Concorde Delta Golf (G-BBDG)

The so called “eighth” British Airways Concorde was never in commercial service and was housed at Filton near Bristol from the early 80s where she was used for spare parts and testing. She is now at Brooklands Museum in Surrey where she as been fully restored in a 1970s livery for the public to visit.

[NTarrant]

It should remain at Heathrow and located with the BA museum so that visitors can see both.

[travelworld]

Wasn’t there a plan at some stage way back to display it at the front of T5?

[MartynSinclair]

what a shame that the premier advertising spot at Heathrow, the gateway entrance to Heathrow, where an icon of Britain should stand, has an Emirates A380 on display instead!

[esselle]

I fully sympathise with the comment about the gateway entrance to LHR, but the airport is in foreign ownership, and I was told by someone in the know that the rent paid to the advertising contractor who has the rights to the site then occupied by Concorde was in the order of 700k GBP per annum.

[Bunnahabhain]

And that entrance to LHR is now only one of 3, with most (except for 757 fans!) BA passengers now at T5. Not sure if there would be enough space there to take the actual aircraft anyway, the 380 is a 1:3 model.

I also thought it was set to rest at the entrance to T5.

Could it not be parked somewhere on the airfield away from building work then? Apparently its previous spot near the T1 aprons even became an ATC navigation point for taxying aircraft! It was floodlit at night and always drew admiring attention from passengers in the window seats.

If you get the right room and floor at Jury’s Inn and she is parked at the right place of the base, you can get an unusual free upgrade to the hotel room! And if 09R is in use for take off you can nip over to the legendary Green Man and drink to what Concorde departing at sunset for JFK was like even for those only watching.

I’ve been to the Edinburgh and New York museums (both excellent, at Edinburgh you even get a boarding pass – BT could do a tried & tested!), and the Manchester one but when it was still outside and closed – the new visitor centre is on my wishlist!

[dutchyankee]

The best thing to do would of course be to bring this beauty of the skies back into service, but that will not happen, of course. I really like the idea previously mentioned about T5, making her the focal point at T5 entrance if possible.

[ImissConcorde]

Knowing BAA, owned by any nationality, the figure of 700K is a bit conservative. I believe the tunnel entrance has a price tag in the millions! Many years ago in a revamp of the Gate 5 Shuttle Lounge BA wanted to lay carpet with the BA logo included. BAA said that this constituted advertising and wanted to charge accordingly!!
The ONLY place for Concorde is the roundabout approaching T5 but I’m sure BA will not be willing to pay the rent in the current climate.

[VintageKrug]

It is clear that Concorde does not have a sustainable future in storage at LHR.

BAA does not want to store the aircraft on “prime” real estate where the available land is finite and as aircraft grow in size even the relatively small footprint of Concorde will become an issue.

At LHR airframe is exposed to vibration and pollution from corrosive jet fumes, and is only accessible by security-cleared maintenance personnel. BA simply cannot afford to have further resources being deployed from the Heathrow base to even perform basic maintenance (washing and internal ventilation) and this cannot continue indefinitely.

It is not accessible to the public and therefore cannot “earn its keep” and is extremely unlikely ever to fly again, in whatever capacity.

The proposal to site a Concorde near the Thames would be a great publicity coup for BA, free advertising in a Prime London location for life; it would also be a fitting celebration of National pride; highly accessible for tourists and with plenty of easy access for maintenance where needed.

My concerns would be:

1. What would this do to the more difficult to reach Concorde airframes; would anyone bother trekking to Filton or Weybridge if they can see a Concorde in central London?

2. Is the location by the Thames to close to the pollution of Central London and the icy waters of the Thames?

3. Is there real demand for an aviation attraction in Central London?

4. What happens when the airframe starts to rot or in 50 years time?

5. Is it acceptable to have an effectively state-sponsored (planning permission must be sought..) advert for the National Airline in central London?

6. Would the image of BA be compromised by a Tussaud’s run attraction?

7. Is it not just drawing attention to past glories (which will look increasingly anachronistic as the years pass by) without focusing on future technological opportunities?

8. What happens when the attraction no longer makes money; will she be destroyed then? That would be an argument for keeping her at a museum, but all the UK possible sites are saturated with Concordes right now, and some are even unable to be cared for presently (eg Filton).

9. Is there anywhere else internationally who would appreciate a Concorde, and which would be a better ambassador for BA (not certain they would look after it well, though (viz. Loss of nosecone on the NYC example).

Personally I think placing Concorde on the T5 roundabout would be more appropriate; it doesn’t get around the pollution issues, and I have a nagging concern that it might be a problem for landing and departing aircraft (pilots les familiar with the airfield may think the plane is coming at them if it is positioned in a take off attitude). It would still be a visitor attraction there, access could be developed using a tunnel under the road to the roundabout with pedestrian access as is the case in Sinsheim.

But either way it is safer for her to be out of the perimeter of LHR, where the wreckers ball could rear its ugly head if a decision is not taken on this valuable bird soon.

[dutchyankee]

What an extensive and excellent list of valid points. Sounds like T5 it is then, and Vintage, with your pull, you should be able to make this happen. If not, where do we sign a petition to help!

[seanyjmuclhr]

Either put her on the T5 roundabout outside, or on top of the T5 building, or inside the T5 main terminal building, suspended from the roof.

[bluetravel]

The aircraft should become part of the national collection of aircraft held by the Science Museum and displayed ideally undercover.
The elements are not kind to these old ladies and they deteriorate fast, the one at Filton has been removed from display for essential preservation work and there are some doubts as to whether it will return to public display. The aircraft at Heathrow was alledgedly subject to some unusual modifications after a short period of display to alleviate conditions of excessive moisture. Whilst the aircraft is at LHR BA is obliged to maintain it in suitable condition – not an easy task in these cost restrained days.
Critics of the A380 at the entrance should remember that the A380 is the latest product of the joint venture originally started by the Concorde project – so should not be considered against the “National Pride.” Many major components being manufactured within the UK.
The Scale Model Concorde originally at the entrance site – does I believe now reside at the Brooklans Museum.

[dutchyankee]

Bluetravel, I think you make very valid points that will no doubt have to form the basis of any decision as will those of VintageK. With respect to the A380 now on display, I think the previous comment was more to do with it being a Foreign Flag Carrier’s aircraft at Britains Gateway instead of what will always be an iconic symbol of British (and French) excellence in the livery of the British Flag Carrier.

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