The damaged Concorde at Manchester Airport, which reportedly “might never be fixed”, can be repaired, given the efforts of an engineering team that were days away from finishing the repair project last Summer.

Last week, the Manchester Evening News reported that the aircraft’s cracked windshield, which SCG can reveal was caused by malicious damage from a former employee at the Runway Viewing Park FIVE years ago, might never be repaired after Manchester Airport and British Airways jointly said it was unable to fix the issue. Back in 2009, British Airways confirmed to SCG that they were working to find a solution to repair this but as of a year ago, this still hadn’t been taken care of. A small team of former Concorde engineers coupled with SCG representatives approached the museum to enquire if they would like their voluntary assistance in helping repair this eyesore. Over several visits last summer, the aircraft was sensationally repowered. And, contrary to the claim in last week’s article that the plane’s hydraulics no longer work, there was a plan for partial reactivation of the hydraulic systems so the damaged windshield could be replaced.

Ben Lord, SCG’s Chairman said, “The latest news story about Alpha Charlie (G-BOAC) is so grossly inaccurate that it has left the entire team at SCG seething. We have documented evidence from the work undertaken last year that the plane’s hydraulics and systems are still operational, and that the repair was one visit away from being fully carried out before the work was suspended by the airport. Suggesting that further damage could be caused if any further repair work is carried out to correct this is simply ludicrous”.

SCG’s engineering team, headed by Ricky Bastin, who boasts almost four decades’ experience with Concorde, had conducted full health and safety risk assessments before last year’s project commenced. It was deemed far safer, simpler, more cost-effective and quicker to power up the hydraulic systems and use the aircraft’s native power to move the nose and visor and thus gain access to the windshield, than to undertake manual methods of moving the nose and visor – which cost tens of thousands both in manpower and lost revenue as the museum would have to close for several weeks, and would actually pose the risk of damaging the aircraft.

Since the repair work was abruptly suspended on 31^st August last year, SCG has battled with airport chiefs and BA representatives to get the work restarted so that this airframe can continue to be the best preserved airframe of the fleet.  We have asked repeatedly for our team to meet with officials at Manchester in order to come to a suitable solution but it seems that our offer of free assistance to help further enhance their exhibit is not of interest.

“Suggesting that the two parties are still searching for a solution is no longer an acceptable reason for the length of time that is passing by.  There is an offer of free assistance on the desks of Manchester Airport’s management to get this project concluded with the very same engineers who worked on the airframe last year, which is clearly the only workable solution.”

The team working on the repair last year had fully informed management representatives of the airport of every detail that this project would incur. The press piece states that this is a minor cosmetic issue and that the crack is relatively small in size. I think anyone can tell from pictures we have taken that this is a serious issue which needs urgently resolving and it begs the question as to what is really preventing this from being fully resolved – after all, Concorde is a national icon and she should be displayed as British Airways vowed at the time of her retirement “in a manner befitting her iconic status”.

SCG was invited by the joint working party within British Airways and Airbus UK to present their ideas at the end of last year.  Locally known in Filton as Concorde 216, the former temporary exhibition closed its doors to the public in October 2010.  Many thought this would be a short-term situation but a dark cloud descended over Concorde once again when a £9m Heritage Lottery Fund application, failed by The Concorde Trust.

Ben Lord, SCG’s Chairman said, “Since the controversial announcement that this temporary exhibition was to close, we have always maintained and believed that a lower-cost proposal was required here, and could be achieved quickly to the fundamental benefit of finally getting this Concorde undercover.  This airframe has been exposed to the elements for an unacceptable level of time.  As soon as the news broke that the alternative £9m scheme had failed to secure funding, we immediately announced our low-cost plans and gave an outline proposal to BA that we believe is the only feasible solution to the future of Alpha-Foxtrot.”

An additional blow was then dealt to this situation when the announcement came shortly afterwards, that Filton Airfield was to close at the end of 2012 and that a solution to Concorde’s permanent home was to be needed before that deadline arrived.

“Every other plan that has been looked at requires years to be fulfilled and given that the plane arrived back in Filton over 8 years ago, time is not on our side.  We believe that the only way this aircraft will be secured and not out in the open for another winter is if our plan is executed.  It is also incredibly important that the unique role which Filton and the wider Bristol community plays in the Concorde story is told to as many people as possible.  The pool of knowledge that exists in the area is simply first-class.  We have a team of Concorde enthusiasts, engineers, and former tour-guides who are all standing by ready to play their part in seeing Concorde at Filton reopen its doors offering the world-class exclusive tours it previously gave the public” Ben explained.

“Over the last few months since we were invited to participate in this opportunity, we have been carefully looking at every aspect of our proposal, which has included discussions with key organisations and potential partners such as BAe Systems, De Boers Structures, and have also received support from other Concorde museums around the UK, as well as local organisations in Filton, such as the Save Filton Airfield Group.  All of these organisations are brought together with one fundamental aim – to see Concorde preserved in this unique location in the quickest and best possible way.”

SCG expects to hear from Airbus and British Airways regarding this proposal, as well as other Concorde heritage projects it’s working on within the next few weeks.

Being held at the Holiday Inn London Heathrow from 1pm, it’s your opportunity to come along and see what we’ve been up to over the last few months, engage with other like-minded individuals who want to actively participate in preserving and fighting for our national heritage.

There is also an exclusive opportunity to listen to an incredible story given by our good friend, and legendary former BA Concorde engineer, Ricky Bastin.  After 37 years of service to British Airways, which included 34 years with Concorde, Ricky has recently retired and has embarked on a quest to educate the public on what Concorde was really like, from when she entered service in 1976, right the way up to the boardroom events leading to 24th October 2003.  Appropriate entitled “The Assassination of Concorde”, Ricky provides an incredible insight into what went on in late 2002/03, that lead to the events of 10th April 2003, and the following 6 months.  It’s an emotively fact-insipiring lecture which you are guaranteed to go away from with more questions than what you had when you arrived!!

If you are interested to attend this event, please register with us on our Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/events/229338080468998/

For almost 8 years, the world has perceived that Concorde has been nothing more than a museum relic since h er premature retirement.  For years since, critics have claimed that any kind of  restoration work keeing it beyond a museum piece was not feasible and impossible to carry out, especially on a British Concorde.  However, it would appear that all of this has been overturned and proven wrong – thanks to the efforts of engineers at our sister organisation, Concorde Tech.

Initially looking to conduct various repair and maintanence work with qualified former Concorde engineers, Concorde Tech, have now demonstrated to the world that it is the only team that has returned a British Concorde back to life – an event that took place on 14th March 2011.

Since the work began back in March, SCG extended it’s full support to the project, led in an engineering capacity by the legendary Concorde engineer, Ricky Bastin (loyal friend and supporter of SCG).  Whilst SCG has persistently campaigned for efforts like this towards any Concorde, efforts which it knew would some day be possible, despite ongoing critics claiming otherwise, we congratulate our friends at Concorde Tech for having achieved possibilities that most Concorde fans could only dream of hopefully seeing at some stage in the future!

Ben Lord, SCG’s Chairman said, “The work which these skilled engineers from Concorde Tech have carried out is simply inspirational.  They have proven and demonstrated everything which we have been stating for the last few years and we are thrilled with what they have achieved.”

Concorde Tech have sensationally revealed that their efforts were part of a bigger plan to have the nose and visor of Concorde powered up and lowering in salute for the opening ceremony of next year’s London Olympics.

“Whilst it was inevitable that Concorde wouldn’t be flying over the Olympic Stadium next year, an option became apparent that could see this iconic aircraft being beamed across video screens around the world saluting the Olympics with the famous nose being lowered.  What a great way to have her involved in the Olympics somehow!” explained, Ben.

However, with all this fantastic work being undertaken by these volunteer engineers at the request of the museum at Manchester Airport, the work was abruptly halted in the last few weeks, with grounds of Health and Safety being cited.

“It is really surprising that such intense work that’s being conducted by these volunteer engineers, which was done in compliance with all HSE regulations, has been suspended on these grounds.  This is of course, very disappointing and we very much back the calls of Concorde Tech to see that this work be reinstated without delay.  There is no reason at all why this cannot continue and to suspend this as has been done, would be an act of vandalism against this aircraft, no different to what took place towards the end of 2003.” concluded, Ben.

So, with proven results that the impossible really can happen, we very much hope that this will not be the end of the work that has been undertaken at Manchester and look forward to working further with our friends and colleagues at Concorde Tech to progress this exciting project over the coming weeks and months!

Following the news earlier this week of the Concorde Trust’s failure to secure Heritage Lottery funding for their planned museum for Concorde Alpha-Foxtrot in Filton, the Save Concorde Group (SCG) yesterday met with British Airways and presented alternative proposals that would secure the long-term future of this aircraft.

For several months now, SCG members have been highly concerned for the long-term future of this aircraft. Their fears were allayed following the invitation from Airbus UK to view the work they had been carrying out on Alpha-Foxtrot in preparation for when she eventually goes undercover on display.  This opportunity demonstrated to SCG that Airbus are very committed to Concorde and have invested a significant amount of labour and money into this deep maintenance programme.  However, SCG have also raised serious questions about what they perceive as the overly ambitious plans of the Concorde Trust to raise £9m for a new home.

Ben Lord, Chairman of Save Concorde Group (SCG), said “For several months now, we have become increasingly concerned at the lack of clarity from the Concorde Trust.  Eventually, following the controversial closure of the temporary museum, it was revealed that the Trust was seeking to develop a £9m Heritage Centre. Especially given the fact that it was the only plan being pursued, we consider that it was overly costly, and it would take an unreasonable amount of time for Concorde to be re-opened to the public, in view of the time that has already passed since this aeroplane was delivered to Filton.”

When SCG discovered that the Concorde Trust did not have a contingency plan if this funding application failed, we felt that it was necessary to pursue an alternative plan, as we suspected that the Concorde Trust proposal did not have a realistic chance of going ahead.

Ben Lord continues, “In the current climate, £9m is a lot of money to raise. In our opinion, the Concorde Trust have had long enough to start delivering something towards the future of this aircraft – and so far, it hasn’t.  Therefore, we have been researching an alternative for several months now and have submitted proposals to British Airways and other major partners, for a new £1.5m home for Concorde at Filton, that could be made ready within a maximum of 12 months.  Airbus have already pledged almost £850,000 towards the cause, and with a further £300,000 raised from the tours at the temporary Concorde at Filton centre, it wouldn’t take too much more corporate sponsorship to achieve the required amount. This new home would boast conferencing and educational benefits, whilst still maintaining the world-class exclusive tours that the dozens of volunteers had previously given in the temporary exhibition.  It is vital that we should not only preserve Concorde, but educate our future generations about what Concorde symbolises not just in Bristol but to the world, and the volunteers from Concorde at Filton are a vital link in achieving this.”

Please see the following link for some more information:

http://www.jackbristol.com/news/bristols-news/groups-to-work-together-to-save-bristol-concorde-6208/

CONCORDE FOR HEATHROW

The Save Concorde Group (SCG) have today submitted proposals to British Airways to place Concorde G-BOAB, “Alpha-Bravo”, on display in a permanent position at London Heathrow Airport.
Following an invitation by the board of British Airways, SCG were invited to Heathrow today to present an exciting proposal that would see this aircraft finally on permanent display within Heathrow.

Ben Lord, Chairman of Save Concorde Group (SCG), said “Over the last few years, this aircraft has been moved from pillar to post, so as not to interfere with the daily operations of one of the world’s busiest airports.  At the same time, in recent years, speculation has been made in the media and on the internet that this aircraft is to become part of a new attraction on the River Thames in Central London; however, following our own research we have found this plan to be purely speculative.  Therefore, we were delighted to accept an invitation to officially present our proposals for this aircraft to be put on permanent display at London Heathrow.”

The new display area would be publically visible on the southern part of Heathrow, in an area currently unused and away from daily airport operations.  It is logistically and financially feasible, at a very low cost in comparison to speculated alternatives.  Placing this Concorde on display would also contribute a huge amount of marketing kudos for British Airways, similar to the publicity they would have experienced with the Concorde model (G-CONC) which formerly sat on the M4 Spur roundabout on the approach to Heathrow. An exhibit similar to the SCG proposal can also be seen at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport with an Air France Concorde.

Ben Lord continues, “Heathrow was British Airways’ supersonic home for 27 years and it’s paramount that a Concorde remains here in tribute to the role Heathrow played during the Concorde years.  Everything about this proposal makes sense, from the positioning, through to the public attraction that this would offer, and of course, the fact that it is potentially very low in cost as well.  We are very much looking forward to working with British Airways on this proposal.”

They say “trouble comes in threes” – and if the last 12 months are anything to go by, that’s true to form! Firstly, the aircraft was withdrawn from public display towards the end of last year, and then came the news a month ago that the Filton airfield was to close. Now we have today’s news, that the Concorde Trust’s funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund has failed, therefore putting the future of Alpha-Foxtrot firmly in doubt.

Ben Lord, Chairman of Save Concorde Group (SCG), said “While today’s news is incredibly disappointing for Alpha-Foxtrot and is just another blow, we have been saying for some time that there’s been a degree of ambiguity in what the Concorde Trust was setting out to achieve. We did support it as it was the only plan being fully pursued to get Alpha-Foxtrot under cover, but we also voiced our concerns that it was over-ambitious in terms of the cost of the project. Furthermore, while the Concorde Trust were highly optimistic that the funding would be achieved when the plans were presented to us at a recent meeting between SCG, Airbus UK and the Trust, they advised us that they had no contingency plan in place if this funding bid failed.”

While all of this has been going on, SCG has been looking into a much more realistic plan that would see Concorde remain as centre-stage and offering the world-class exclusive tours that the previous “Concorde at Filton” exhibition had been offering.

Ben Lord continues, “It’s quite clear that the future for Alpha-Foxtrot is now in serious doubt. The Concorde Trust has demonstrated over the last 12 months that they are unable to realise their aim of a £9m museum, and have spent an awful lot of the money raised from the public tours on a plan that was simply unsustainable. At the same time, the time it has taken to reach this point is simply unacceptable as well. Had this been successful, the facility would have been ready for opening in late 2014 but clearly, that is now not going to be achievable and the time has come where enough is enough!”

“Our alternative plan is being prepared to be presented to British Airways in the next few days and is at a fraction of the cost and time that it would take to realise the Concorde Trust’s scheme. It’s a variant of the another Concorde museum, and similarly ensures that Concorde remains centre-stage, with the added benefits of conferencing and educational facilities. While it is in its early stages, we believe that this plan is totally achievable and would ensure ongoing prominence of this aircraft’s unique association with Filton and Bristol as a whole.

Ben Lord concludes, “A permanent home for Alpha-Foxtrot needs not just to reflect Concorde’s iconic global status, but also to befit the unique link this particular airframe has with Bristol. We believe we can deliver this and that our plan is now the only viable option for this aircraft.”

You can see Ben Lord live on BBC Points West tonight. Sky Channel 986. Time around 6:45pm (times may vary on digital platforms).

SCG will be giving their reaction to this on BBC Radio Bristol this morning, and will also be providing further reaction shortly on here.

SCG will be responding to this fully, during an live interview with BBC Radio Bristol at 17:05 UK Time today.
For interim information, please refer to http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13452615

Welcome to the brand new SCG website. Over the next few days, this will be updated with all the latest news relating to Concorde. There will also be a brand new RTF (return to flight) section which will contain a comprehensive guide to RTF and the problems our ambitious primary aim throws up.

99% of people who contact SCG are desperate to see Concorde fly again – and let us assure you – RTF remains our main mission aim.

We will shortly be looking to expand our management team with enthusiastic and driven volunteers who can help to work tirelessly to get the most awesome plane ever built back in the sky where she belongs.

Please check back regularly for updates.

Dr Dave Jones, Communications Director, SCG.