Where were you on January 21st 1976? The day when Emma Bunton, of Spice Girls fame, was born and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was number one in the music charts? The date marks a hugely significant event in aviation history – Concorde made her very first commercial flight, a trip from London Heathrow to Bahrain. She wasn’t just any old Concorde either – she was our very own G-BOAA (‘Alpha Alpha’), the first passenger-carrying Concorde, who now rests at the National Museum of Flight here in East Fortune.
During her working lifetime, ‘Alpha Alpha’ flew to many worldwide destinations including Paris, Miami, Calcutta, Auckland and Singapore, travelling at more than twice the speed of sound and completing 6,842 supersonic cycles. She also became a record-breaker in 1988 when she flew the fastest ever crossing of the Atlantic by flying from New York to London Heathrow in 2 hours 55 minutes and 15 seconds.
Enjoyed by the world’s rich and famous, a return ticket to New York would have cost over £6,000 when the last of the Concorde fleet retired in 2003. On the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd January 2011, however, you too can experience a taste of the ‘jet set’ lifestyle for only the everyday price of museum entry (£9 for adults, £7 concessions and kids under 12 go free)!
Join us at the National Museum of Flight for a fun-filled weekend as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of Concorde’s inaugural flight to Bahrain. Enjoy the feel of the Concorde departure lounge as you have a sip of a ‘cocktail’ or something sparkling, reminisce about 1970s culture and learn about and marvel at Concorde’s amazing achievements. Get creative with craft activities for all the family and, of course, experience what it was like to have been one of Concorde’s first passengers by stepping aboard ‘Alpha Alpha’ with your very own commemorative boarding pass, courtesy of the National Museum of Flight.
We will have a toast at 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday and, finally there’ll be the chance to win entry into Concorde’s cockpit. Looking forward to seeing you there!
