Supersonic passenger service · 1976–2003
Concorde brought sustained supersonic flight to scheduled passenger service. Developed jointly in Britain and France, it entered service with British Airways and Air France in 1976. Its slender fuselage, sweeping delta wing, and movable nose gave it an unmistakable appearance.
Flying at roughly Mach 2 shortened journeys, but speed came with demanding operating requirements and a limited commercial market. Concorde therefore followed a different path from large subsonic airliners built to carry many more passengers. Its retirement in 2003 closed a distinctive chapter in airline history and left an enduring example of the tradeoffs between performance, cost, and capacity.
What to look for
- A slender fuselage and curved delta wing
- A nose that could lower for improved cockpit visibility
- Four jet engines paired beneath the wings