The Concorde was quite possibly the aviation world’s most impressive creation, gracing our skies for a limited time before meeting its untimely demise almost two decades ago.
The aeroplane’s most notable feature – a speed of Mach 2 that could cut trans-Atlantic journeys in half – was also its kryptonite. Meaning it severely limited its operations worldwide and therefore its financial longevity as an aviation programme.
Powered by four after-burning jet engines (yes – the same tech used by fighter jets and B-1 Bombers) the Concorde’s cruising speed of 2,170 km/h meant that the aircraft left an incredibly loud sonic boom in its wake. Slicing through the speed of sound tends to do that.
Such a sound was rarely, if ever, heard by anyone given international regulations restricting the Concorde from flying at such a speed over land. Even at 60,000 feet up, the sound you’re about to hear in the video below is absolutely deafening. And bear in mind this was recorded on a 1990s Nokia potato.
The takeoff, which is also incredibly loud, preambles the sonic boom in the video and lends a strong case to the complaints from residents who lived within proximity of airports from which the Concorde would fly.
Watch the video below (around the 53-second mark for the money shot), and then get yourself up to speed with five awesome facts about the Concorde you probably never knew.
