QE2 and Concorde

[caledonia]

I noted from the T.V. recently that it is 40 years since the British Concorde first flew - this is obviosly around the time that the QE2 entered service and later on the dream package of a flight on Concorde and a return on the QE2 was offered. How many of us today if given the chance would now undertake that wonderful opportunity? - i wondered if any members of this fantastic forum that is deverloping have actually undertaken this trip and if so what were their memories of it.

[Rob Lightbody]

What an amazing partnership they were.  Great Britain indeed.

Here's some cool links

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCP/is_5_24/ai_98592901/

http://www.roblightbody.com/liners/qe-2/qe2_concorde.htm

[hollihedge]

Sadly never managed to do this, would have absolutely loved to though.  Have visited the Concorde at Filton in Bristol and this is well worth a visit.

[Andy F]

Likewise and Concorde shall remain my 1 unfilled ambition in life, travel-wise sadly.  However, having achieved the other 2, I can't really complain.  I'm not sure tbh whether I could ever have justified spending the amount of money on such a short, if unequalled experience but shall never need to make that decision now sadly 

As Rob says, the partnership between QE2 and Concorde really did represent the best of British engineering and unlikely to be matched, let alone surpassed.  We should just be grateful they happened in our lifetime.

In addition to the Concorde/QE2 package, I recall a similar one being marketed during the 80s, whereby you could sail to Cherbourg on QE2 and return by Sealink cross channel ferry!  Not quite the same romanticism admittedly.

 

[Glengavin]

My wife and I have been very fortunate to do both; not a packaged Trans-Atlantic, fly one way cruise the other; but separate trips.  We did a JFK to Heathrow Concorde in 1997 and that was unforgettable .  A thrilling experience; from the take-off which pinned us back in our seats, to the superb service (there were only 35 pax on board which made it even better), to the perfectly smooth flight way above the weather, right through to landing.  Certainly amongst the most memorable 3hrs 15mins of my life.

Concorde was a different kind of thrill to that of being on board the greatest ship in the world.  Both fantastic. I'm sure everyone on this website knows what a thrill it was to walk on board QE2 for the first time, or to see that "Welcome Home" sign when you'd been ashore somewhere.

Wonderful experiences which, alas, we can't repeat.  We still have the memories though.
 

[Andy F]

Oh how you can go off some people lol

Seriously though, I'm delighted for you Glengavin and anyone else who managed to achieve this.  What an amazing experience it must have been, not that I'm envious you understand (much)!

[Scott Ebersold]

Yes.  I did have a trip that I like to call "The Vacation about Transportation" - Concorde JFK to Paris-CDG, Eurostar Paris to London, QE2 Southampton to NYC. 

Concorde was a lovely experience.  So glad I did it.  You can actually see the slight curve of the earth.  And it was so nice to have breakfast in NY, lunch mid-atlantic and dinner in Paris.  Very glam and very little jet-lag.

The one thing I regret is that no one told me that it was customary to steel the cutlery!  I would have totally done so.

[Glengavin]

Yes, the lack of jet lag was surprising. Believe it was due to Concorde being pressurised to something like 5,500 or 6,000 ft at cruising altitude whereas the figure for 747s is something like double.  Figures could well be wrong but that was the general reason.

As a youngster I grew up thinking that bread and butter pudding was considered poor man's fare but that was our dessert (after maine lobster).  It was great and I've thought differently of bread and butter pudding ever since! Indeed I've also enjoyed it on QE2.

It was a custom too to have one of the flight deck crew come down into the lounge and welcome you prior to departure.  BA certainly knew how to do things properly.  Back in '97 and pre 9/11 they also used to invite passengers up to the flight deck and that was another thrill.

[Kev]

Who cannot fail to be impressed by these 3 British Icons (ok there's some French etc in there aswell!) in 1985 

Seconds to spare!!



Sorry having trouble pasting a shot of QE2, Concorde and Red Arrows together....

[Andy F]

Is this the one you mean Kev?
http://www.designmuseum.org/media/item/5219/-1/147_12Lg.jpg

[Kev]

That's it thanks Andy-what a photo !

[mickey g]

My Concorde experiences were both different and memorable.

As an air traffic controller in London Control I controlled both the British Airways and Air France Concordes day in and day out.

I also got involved in writing some air traffic control procedures for Concorde working closely with BA, as a result of which I had a trip of a lifetime on GBOAF, nearly all on the flight deck jump seat.

We flew from London Heathrow to Washington Dulles International and then on to Miami. The next day I did the same in reverse.

The take off from Washington to Miami was unforgettable, we were lightly loaded and there were no noise restrictions, so with reheat on we climbed like a jet fighter, I've never seen instrument dials turn so quickly!

As if this wasn't enough an aviation conference was being held at Miami Beach, we did a low level flypast to impress the natives. Totally unforgettable.

Even the return trip had it's moments. It was the day after the hurricane hit the south of the UK and, even though it was approaching 2200 we had to hold before our approach into Heathrow due mainly to so many navigational aids being unservicable. It was a really clear night and the sight of the nav lights of so many aircraft holding in the four holds plus spectacular views of the south of England and all of London was also unforgettable.

I really appreciate how lucky I was, sadly both Concorde and the QE2 are but memories, operationally wise.

[Andy F]

I really appreciate how lucky I was, sadly both Concorde and the QE2 are but memories, operationally wise.

Indeed they are Mickey but great memories all the same.  Great story and thanks for sharing, not that I'm envious you understand...

[Kev]

Great to here from the operational side Mickey. I always thought it was clever of Cunard/BA to turn a competitor for the Transatlantic business into an ally.Didn't they have a previous tie up together in pre 73 BOAC days as I'm sure the VC10 had Cunard on the front near the cockpit and there is still an example at Duxford? Those QE2/ Concorde trips were way out of my league but how I regret not spending £399 for that short trip around Biscay or the North Sea in the 90s or I seem to remember Egypt for lunch for £899? Like QE2 I was enthralled by Concorde as a small boy in the 60s and followed her career as a spectator. I did work on of some of the buildings at Heathrow in her later years and everyone on the roof would stop work and watch her. 

[Andy F]

They did indeed Kev, operating VC10s on transatlantic, Caribbean & South American routes from 1962 to '66 I believe.

Like you, I wish I'd managed one of the short flights around Biscay if nothing else.  Couldn't afford it then sadly and regret it now but you can't do everything.  Agree the mere sight of this graceful aircraft certainly stopped people in their tracks and whenever I was in London, I would just stand there in awe, watching as one would pass overhead on final approach to LHR and who can forget the sonic boom?  Living in the South West, I would hear it each evening as it headed out over the coast at the start of another transatlantic flight.

[mrkpnh (Malcolm K)]

I did work on of some of the buildings at Heathrow in her later years and everyone on the roof would stop work and watch her. 

I used to work at one of the hotels at Heathrow. If I was outside at the time Concord was coming in you couldn't miss it the noise was so great. I loved seeing her go past the end of my road as she was landing

[mickey g]

I thought you might like this artists impression of a BOAC/Cunard Boeing 707 copied from a splendid book "Dream Voyages" printed in 1989. I remember these aircraft well from my air traffic control days, also not forgetting that previously British Eagle had a tie up with Cunard

[RMS Queen Elizabeth 2]

I remember Angela Rippon saying she was on a voyage on QE2 a few years ago and herself and many other people aboard saw Concorde above passing QE2 she said it was a wonderful event seeing the Queen of the Skies and the Queen of the Seas together.

Its in my Brochure of QE2 called The Final Voyage. Its a great read. I'm ordering 5 more QE2 books. I already have Chris's book which is an amazing read i always carry them around with me.

[Cunardqueen]

Showing QE2 and Concorde April 29th 1987

[Kindlychap]

My first QE2 trip was to NYC, and then I flew home on BA002 to Heathrow. This was within a month of the final service. It was a truly staggering trip, and whilst the fare for Concorde (I didn't book a package - they'd run out - I just booked the single flight with BA) was as much as a QG cabin across the North Atlantic.

It was a once only experience, but wow! - what an experience.

Matthew

[Cunardqueen]

err the picture is here showing QE2 and Concorde April 29th 1987

[Twynkle]

'QE2 (and Concorde) Off Torbay 28/8/1988. P2'
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W4ysRgsMZo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W4ysRgsMZo</a>.
Thanks to GWRFlagandWhistle

[Beardy Rich]

Here's another of QE2 & Concorde with the Red Arrows. Signed by Bob Arnott, Concorde flight crew and the pilots of the Red Arrows.

[Cunardqueen]

[highlander0108]

Myles,  where was that photo taken?  Were you onboard for that occasion?  I saw Concorde land and taxi right in front of the plane I was on once in Hartford, CT when for some reason, she was diverted from NYC.  I think the air traffic system had gone down in the NYC area.   

We were parked on the runway, in line for take-off and the captain came on the intercom and told us we were in for a special treat.  I was shocked how small the plane actually was, but it was very beautiful to see land.

[Cunardqueen]

Ken l obtained this photo onboard in October 1988, and given the fact the Concorde seems to have just taken off, it would rather limit the location. Or might it have been a fly past?
 Bermuda?

[Peter Mugridge]

It looks like it's been Photoshopped to me?

Something looks odd about the sailing boat in the foreground and one or two other things.

[Cunardqueen]

It looks to be all genuine, remember it was before October 1988.

[Peter Mugridge]

Ah... right... pre-Photoshop days...  Although it's certainly post refit, going by the funnel.

My first thought when I saw the piucture was Cowes but could QE2 really get that close in to Cowes Roads?  Looks like too many buildings on the hills as well?

[Cunardqueen]

In saying that Peter, QE2 had a low level flypast on the 29th April  1987. The Princess of Wales sailed on QE2 as the ship took a party of school children down to the Isle of Wight in the morning before starting her Maiden Voyage of the New QE2 that same night. So maybe she did get into the harbour at Cowes. Cant think they would have sailed around the island, then again would Concorde have hung around so long as to allow QE2 to sail back up to her berth?
It does make sense, there cant have been too many fly pasts with Concorde.

[Peter Mugridge]

That makes sense - certainly a prestigious enough occasion... Flagship's archives might help us out here again...??

[Rob Lightbody]

Just providing a cross-link to a discussion about an excellent video on YouTube showing a QE2 <> Concorde crossing...

http://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1088.0.html

...but please don't discuss it on this topic.

[bswan]

QE2 and the Concorde were a true partnership that continued for many years and i shall miss it very much. Two pieces of british engineering.