Round-the-World Flights

Concorde G.BOAF Supersonic Round-the-World Air Tour (89-01)

Page 7k (rev: 1000)

Concorde G.BOAF	Flown Cover	Damaged Rudder	Title #4	Title #5

Concorde

	The world's first supersonic transport (SST) to enter commercial passenger service 
was the (British Aircraft Corporation/French Aeropatiale) Concorde.  Twenty Concordes 
were built between 1966 and 1980 including two prototypes and two pre-production models 
built to further refine and test the aircraft design. Fourteen Concordes were equally 
purchased by British Airways and Air France. 
	Concorde was an idea of the 50s, a reality in the 70's and with dignity was consigned 
to history in 2003.  Passenger revenues had decreased as maintenance costs increased and 
this formula had only one inevitable ending, a prudent business decision to take the 
Corcorde from the skies.  The retirement of the Concorde was the end of a fantastic era 
in world aviation.  
	The Concorde was an aircraft that was a triumph of innovation and now has an 
unparalleled place in history.  The Concorde was the world's only supersonic scheduled 
passenger airliner.  It was the epitome of elegance in flight and the envy of the world.  
It had carried over two million passengers but won billions of hearts.  The skies have 
lost a great spectacle and we are left with   nearly three decades where it captured our 
imagination. 

British Airways 
#204 G.BOAC (Retired from service to Manchester Airport, Manchester)
#206 G.BOAA (Retired from service to East Fortune Airfield, Scotland.)
#208 G.BOAB (Retired from service to Heathrow Airport, London)
#210 G.BOAD (Retired from service to Intrepid Museum, New York)
#212 G.BOAE (Retired from service to Granley Adams Airport, Barbados)
#214 G.BOAG (Retired from service to Museum of Flight, Seattle)
#216 G.BOAF (Retired from service to Filton Airport, Bristol)
Air France 
#203 F.BTSC (Crashed on July 25, 2000) 
#205 F.BVFA (Retired from service to the National Air & Space Museum, Washington DC)
#207 F.BVFB (Retired from service to Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum, Germany)
#209 F.BVFC (Retired from service to the Airbus Factory at Toulouse, France.)
#211 F.BVFD (Withdrawn from service, stored & used for spare parts)
#213 F.BTSD (Retired from service to Le Bourget Air and Space Museum, Paris)
#215 F.BVFF (Withdrawn from service and stored at Charles DeGaulle Airport, Paris)

The 1st Air France Concorde flew on March 2, 1969 piloted by Andre Turcat and Jaques Guignard. Similarly, the 1st British Airways Concorde flew on April 9, 1969 piloted by Brian Trubshaw and John Cochrane.

	What perfect application for a plane that can fly in excess of twice the speed of sound, 
than to be used on round-the-world tours. This tour was hosted by William F. Buckley Jr. making twelve stops 
as it proceeded westward round-the-world. 
	After arriving at Christchurch the Concorde was put on display from April 9/12. Visitors inspecting the 
aircraft were presented with a large self-adhesive vignette. The Concorde left Christchurch on April 12, 
1989 for Sydney and thence to London. Covers were flown to Sydney, including British Airways envelopes with 
the vignette affixed, and postmarked CHRISTCHURCH on April 12, 1989. They were backstamped at Sydney 
International Airport on the same date. Special covers were also produced by British Airways and were flown 
to London where they received an arrival cachet dated April 23, 1989.  After the Concorde left Christchurch 
a section of rudder was lost.  There was a "thud" and resultant vibration as the aircraft was climbing 
through 43,000 feet and accelerating to Mach 2.  Repairs were carried out in Sydney so that the 
round-the-world charter could continue to London.

Leg #1   Departed London - NY                    04/01/89 
Leg #2      New York, NY - Acapulco              04/01/89
Leg #3      Acapulco, Mexico - Oakland           04/03/89
Leg #4      Oakland, CA - Honolulu               04/03/89
Leg #5      Honolulu, HI - Papeete               04/05/89
Leg #6      Papeete - Christchurch               04/08/89
Leg #7      Christchurch, New Zealand - Sydney   04/12/89
Leg #8      Sydney, Australia - Perth            04/15/89
Leg #9      Perth, Australia - Colombo           04/15/89
Leg #10     Colombo, Sri Lanka - Mombasa         04/17/89
Leg #11     Mombasa, Kenya - Cape Town           04/20/89
Leg #12     Cape Town, South Africa - Monrovia   04/23/89
Leg #13     Monrovia, Liberia - London           04/23/89   
         Arrived London                 

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