A SPECTACULAR flypast by an RAF Eurofighter marked the official opening of the new £1m Concorde hangar at Manchester Airport.
The military jet flew low over the runway and tilted its wings towards its supersonic counterpart, before banking away behind the new hangar.
About 20 former Concorde pilots and engineers were joined by dignitaries, guests and air cadets at the opening ceremony today.
The hangar and visitor centre at the airport's Aviation Viewing Park will protect Concorde, safeguarding her future generations.
Concorde G-BOAC, which made her maiden flight in 1975, went on display in the open air after arriving at Manchester in October 2003 on her final flight from Heathrow.
She had spent almost three decades transporting VIPs and royalty across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound.
And she also earned a place in the record books when she flew at 1,488mph, the fastest commercial airliner of all time.
Captain Mark Jealous, from Sandbach, Cheshire, piloted Corcorde more than a thousand times over a 10-year period.
The 49-year-old British Airways pilot said: "We used to fly on the very edge of space.
"When we looked out of the window we could actually see the curvature of the earth and the very blackness of space.
"We'd take off at night and then see the sun rise in the west as we accelerated towards New York, as we were flying twice the rotational speed of the earth.
"Once we'd landed the sun would set on us for a second time that day. It is really only airplanes like Concorde and the space shuttle that you're able to experience that.
"She was so far ahead of her time, it was unbelievable, bearing in mind she was really designed before computers with engineers working on drawing boards. Yet, even at Mach 2, the champagne wouldn't be spilt.
"It is a mix of emotions today. I'm sad she is not flying, although understand why.
"But I don't think there could be a better home for her than here in Manchester at this superb facility."
The new 2,574sq m aviation centre includes a corporate hospitality suite, an education centre for schools and a glass-walled restaurant alongside Concorde, with views of the airfield, although some internal work has still to be completed.
It is a carbon neutral facility, incorporating emerging technologies such as biomass heating fuelled by willow grown on the airport site, rainwater harvesting and solar panels.
Willie Walsh, BA chief executive, opened the facility. He said: "Everyone who flew on Concorde felt very special. "Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity and it is something I regret.
"The fascinating thing is that it is 1950s technology, but she has never been surpassed.
"Manchester made a commitment to British Airways that they would showcase this Concorde and they have delivered on that commitment. It's a fantastic facility."
The RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, from 11 Squadron at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, flew in at midday.
Guests at the opening included Tim Orchard, who jointly holds the Concorde world record time from New York to London in two hours, 52 minutes in February 1996.
Andrew Cornish, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: "I flew on her and it was a fantastic experience.
"We've changed hardly anything on the inside, just taken out the seatbelts and a few arm rests. It has the same leathery smell as when in service."
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 20 and replies | View All
Guten Tag, Deutschland,, Manchester (25/02/2009 at 15:03)
dave pickup (25/02/2009 at 17:19)
Clive hindmarch (25/02/2009 at 22:13)
thaitanium (25/02/2009 at 23:37)
thank you the powers that be and if you have any more crumbs from your table googy not the cancer one either
Cking, Sale (26/02/2009 at 14:32)
Disgusting!!!! and they didn't invite him to the opening!!!
Ren Frew, Paisley, Scotland (26/02/2009 at 15:22)
stalyvegasblue (26/02/2009 at 15:54)
L Casey, Manchester (26/02/2009 at 17:03)
However, the way that the bloke who helped look after it (and brought the Trident to the Viewing Park) has been treated is nothing short of a disgrace.
Those responsible should take a good, long look in the mirror.
If they can bear to, that is.
threedeltamax, United Kingdom (26/02/2009 at 18:38)
It is just unfortunate that a dedicated enthusiast to her continued care - along with other fine aircraft - has had his position carelessly disposed. Utter Disgrace!
P Nichols, Bradford (26/02/2009 at 18:39)
Geordie Flyer (27/02/2009 at 09:10)
Project oxcart, London (27/02/2009 at 14:21)
Let alone Sorting out the Tridentwith his freinds in the TPS Trident Preservation Society and now beeing told We no longer need you as Concorde is inside a Hangar.
How Stupid and Ignorant are these People Alpha Charlie will require more TLC and they have thrown away a vast Source of Information with a list of Contacts in the Concorde World that few people will ever have.
What a Stupid Thing to do Some one needs to Loose there Head for this(Job).
505-510 (27/02/2009 at 17:59)
They have both been looked after ever since their arrival at Manchester by Neil Lomax.
Alas the "powers that be" at Manchester have decided to make him redundant.
Without the care and attention he has given both aircraft they will quickly deteriorate.
What a shame fellow BA pilots who attended the hangar opening were not aware that Neil didn't even get an invite.
What an insult....
"505-510" BA Captain (retired)
C&A Trident Boys , Stockport (27/02/2009 at 18:10)
I have been visiting the viewing park for some time now and have got to know the incredibly dedicated " caretaker " of the exhibits Neil Lomax quite well.
But this week i find out that a seriously misguided judgement has been made to make him redundant !!! What is going on ??
This guy spends so much time and effort on the aircraft there it's unbelievable . They are all immaculate .
And Neil made a lot of sacrifices and expended a lot of effort in saving one of the last Trident 3B's left in the world , an iconic aircraft in many ways .
Myself and my son Alex are always made so welcome when we visit it's fantastic . The viewing park needs Neil and i can't see any reason why he should be treated this way !
The place has just taken a steep downward turn in this action , i'm dismayed !
Time to reconsider this decision i think ! C'mon Manchester airport , time to do what is best for your exhibits .
Regards
(A very sad and disappointed ) Colin and Alex .
RobinG (27/02/2009 at 21:02)
Manchester Airport are obviously VERY committed to keeping the Concorde experience alive, and in developing the facilities further in the future. Why else would they spend well over £1 million pounds in the current economic climate? The team at the AVP is much bigger than one man. While it is always a shame when someone loses their job – I feel genuinely sorry for the 90 airport workers who are going to lose theirs – the simple fact is that you can’t pay someone to do a job that no longer exists.
Get over it. Move on.
Mr J Evans, Eastleigh Hampshire (28/02/2009 at 03:27)
Talk about being stabbed in the back, and to do it on the day before the hangar opened as well, what can i say
Of course, all these comments probably mean nothing to the people in charge of the AVP.
Geordie Flyer (28/02/2009 at 10:11)
Yes, it's a positive story about the Concorde and the AVP whose life will be extended by being under cover, but she'll still require maintenance, as will the other aircraft. I worry more for the Trident and RJX. Interesting to note that although you comment on this thread being "hijacked", the number of people commenting on the article itself is extremely small.
T Fellows (01/03/2009 at 04:33)
However, I must agree with fellow posters about the thoroughly disappointing situation regarding the Trident conservationist. This exhibit, in my opinion, was one of the major features of the AVP and I find it extremely sad that this guy must lose his job, something which he obviously loves. Very sad.
DOUGLASREDUX, London (02/03/2009 at 15:43)
Even decommissioned aircraft as complex as Concorde need knowledgeable people for it's safe upkeep.
RobinG, this 'small band' have also been involved in the superb (and very challenging) rebuild and restoration of the Concorde at Brooklands, they know of what they speak.
G-BOAC is also required by those who still own it, BA, to be kept in a condition that is required by the airline.
Thaitainium, yes those who started Concorde did not have a crystal ball enabling them to see how the world would change between 1962 and the mid 70's. Neither did anyone else.
However, the difficult technical challenges overcome gave UK industry vital experience that has helped keep us at least partly engaged in Airbus, at a high value end at least, (an A380 and other Airbus's with RR engines, with UK wings is some 40% British).
France never had this self loathing about Concorde, they built the hub of Airbus at Toulouse on the back of it, but here in the UK?
No, we just had full time protesters and a technically illiterate governing class.
As glad as this former BA Concorde staffer is to see G-BOAC under cover, the treatment of Mr Lomax has left a very bad taste in the mouth.
maestro (17/03/2009 at 22:50)
I'm currently spending a week on business in the Manchester area and was considering taking some time out to visit the concorde and it's new home.
Sadly this decision has made me reconsider this move and I'll be boycotting any future plans to visit until I hear of some move on the airport's side to reconsider their position.