Product Description

When commercial services began in 1976, Concorde quickly established herself as one of the wonders of the modern technical world. This lavishly illustrated sixth edition traces Concorde's development from inception to withdrawal. It investigates how the Anglo-French Alliance tackled the project, Concorde's entry into service and the aircraft's eventual commercial success. Other SST (supersonic transport) projects are considered, as is the future of SST aviation. With reference to the official report, the tragic event at Gonesse in July 2000 is analysed in-depth and outstanding questions concerning the accident are considered together with why Concorde was withdrawn from service. The last chapter describes Concorde's 'Grand Finale'.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24395 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 168 pages

Review
Concorde is one of the wonders of the modern technical world - the first commercially successful airliner capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound). This book, now in its fifth Edition, describes the history of supersonic flight, the development and operation of Concorde. It includes the story of the tragedy at Paris, the accident investigation and Concorde's restoration. There is also a look into the future of high-speed flight.

About the Author
Christopher Orlebar joined British Airways, then BOAC, in 1969, he became a Concorde pilot and instructor in 1976 flying the aircraft for 10 years. He retired from BA in 2000. A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he is a frequent contributor to TV aviation documentaries, a lecturer and writer.

Customer Reviews

The Concorde Story - well written and worth the price!
For anyone interested in the history, construction, and flying of Concorde, Christopher Orlebar's experience as a Concorde pilot provides the reader with a unique perspective that satisfies the reader's technical curiosity while presenting a entertaining and detailed description of what it actually takes to fly this incredible aircraft. Having previously read rather dull "textbook style" books on Concorde in the past, this book vastly exceeded my expectations. The author's attention to detail almost gave me the impression I was actually in the cockpit observing the flight crew's procedures. The judicious use of graphs, charts and photographs further enhance the reading without overwhelming the reader. Capt. Orlebar also discusses sonic booms, the politics behind the plane's development, and the future of supersonic flight, thus enhancing the appreciation of what make this plane unique. This book is well written in language understandable to pilots and nonpilots alike. If you want to learn more about Concorde, then this is the book to get!

A Concorde fan must have.
An excellent account of this great aircraft from conception to retirement. The author's experience as a Concorde pilot shows in the writing as great insights and comments that only a pilot would know. There is good techinical depth on how the fuel system is used to trim the aircraft, the wings, engines and a step by step description of transatlantic flight explaining the extra work required for flying the Concorde. The politics in the early days regarding the development and its acceptence at airports around the world (especially the USA) are also well explained and make you wonder how the whole project ever got finished!