Concorde may fly again - BBC

Concorde fans hope to get jet airborne by 2019

• 36 minutes ago
• From the section UK

Image copyright BA

Enough funds have been raised to buy a Concorde with the aim of getting it flying again by 2019, a group of British enthusiasts says.

Club Concorde, made up of former captains, charterers and aviation fans, says it has £120m in reserve for the "return to flight" plan.
The group also plans to put another of the supersonic aircraft on permanent display in central London.
Concorde, which can travel at twice the speed of sound, last flew in 2003.
Negotiations are now under way to purchase a Concorde currently on display at Le Bourget airport in Paris.

After restoration the plane would be used for airshows, special events and private charter.
Club Concorde president Paul James said: "We have been overwhelmed by the amount of enthusiasm and people wanting to invest. The support shows how much people still admire Concorde and want to see it flying again."

Image copyright Club Concorde

Image caption A Concorde aircraft could be put on display on the River Thames

Mr James said he hoped flights would start by 2019 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Concorde's first flight.
The plan started after the group raised £40m to display a jet on London's South Bank close to the London Eye.
"It is a global icon," Mr James said. "All the authorities have been very keen on our idea to bring Concorde to the river as a tourist attraction and London Eye have agreed we could share their landing stage."
The group needs to secure planning permission but Mr James said they were aiming to have the attraction up and running by 2017 before looking to open a similar display in Paris.