Concorde Aircraft Histories - Pre-production Aircraft

Pre-production Aircraft

Both pre-production aircraft were used to further develop the design of the aircraft. Changes to design include different wing plan form, more fuel, different engine standard, different air intake systems etc.

• Concorde G-AXDN (101) first flew on 17 December 1971 from Filton and was retired to Duxford, England), where it landed on 20 August 1977, having made 269 flights (632 hours), of which 168 flights were supersonic.

• Concorde F-WTSA (102) first flew on 10 January 1973 from Toulouse. It was the fourth aircraft and the first to have the dimensions and the shape of the future production aircraft. It was the first to fly to the United States (on 20 September 1973 to Dallas, Texas). For several years the aircraft was painted in British Airways colours on one side and Air France colours on the other. It made 314 flights (656 hours), of which 189 supersonic and was then retired to Orly Airport in Paris on 20 May 1976, where it is on display to the public.