The Concorde is one of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history. Renowned for its advanced technology and ability to travel faster than the speed of sound, the supersonic aircraft symbolized the height of luxury and innovation of the 20th century. To preserve and celebrate the legacy of the legendary aircraft, the Concorde 01 has been recognized as a “Historical Monument” by the Ministry of Culture in France. The announcement was made by the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs belonging to the country’s Occitanie region, claiming that the Concorde represents “a part of French history .”
Last year, the Air and Space Academy, founded by André Tucat, the first Concorde pilot, submitted a proposal for protecting this legendary aircraft to the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs. Giving the aircraft the status of a historical monument will ensure its exceptional protection and recognition.
It is the first Concorde to be listed as a Historic Monument in France. In an official press release, the prefecture of the Occitanie region boasted: “It embodies a technical challenge and innovation that has never been equaled since. It also constitutes a true artistic creation, a universally known masterpiece of technology and aesthetics.”
The Concorde 01 is one of the first two production aircraft involved in the test program. Not to be mistaken with one of the two original prototypes built to test and demonstrate the Concorde supersonic airliner concept, the jet attained supersonic speed on December 6, 1973. The aircraft made its last flight on April 19, 1985, and has been preserved at the Aeroscopia Aeronautical Museum in Blagnac, France, since 2014. It is owned by Tucat’s Air and Space Academy.
The Concorde SST project
The Concorde project was a groundbreaking collaboration between France and the United Kingdom, undertaken by Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) in the 1960s to develop the world’s first supersonic passenger jet (SST). Conceived during the height of the Cold War and Space Race, the project symbolized technological ambition and international cooperation. Concorde’s development was driven by the goal of reducing intercontinental travel times significantly, enabling speeds over Mach 2, twice the speed of sound.
The project required innovative engineering, including developing an ogival delta wing, advanced heat-resistant materials, and fuel-efficient afterburning engines, pushing the boundaries of aerodynamics and aviation technology. Despite facing political hurdles, environmental concerns, and high production costs, Concorde entered service in 1976 with British Airways and Air France, becoming a symbol of luxury travel. A total of 20 Concordes were built between 1966 and 1979. These include both prototypes, pre-production models, and production aircraft. While its commercial lifespan ended in 2003 due to economic and operational challenges, the Concorde project remains a landmark achievement in aerospace history, showcasing the potential of supersonic flight.
