TRAVEL: by Eric Mackenzie Lamb
During the spring of 1997, I decided to visit some family members in London. I had read about the Concorde, a Supersonic plane operated by British Airways, and, being a pilot myself, wanted to have an experience of a lifetime.
I contacted British Airways and asked what I needed to do to make a reservation for one of their Concorde flights from New York to London and return. I was given a date and time to be at JFK airport, where I’d be given an update as to any available seat in case a passenger did not show up.
Fortunately, I was told that, yes, there was a seat available. While boarding the plane, I spoke to one of the flight crew members. When I told him that I was also a pilot, he invited me to a seat in the cockpit, just behind the captain and copilot.
We soon took off. Within minutes, we were flying at supersonic speed. We landed at Heathrow airport, London, in just under three hours, an incredible experience which I’ll always remember.
The Concorde on permanent display on the Hudson River in New York City, next to the aircraft carrier Intrepid.
The manufacturing of the Concorde was ended because the costs were too high and the fact that most passengers found the cost unaffordable.
