The British Airways Concorde supersonic jet has officially landed at the Intrepid Museum Sea and Space Museum this morning.
The Intrepid Museum in New York City has housed the iconic airliner since 2003, when it first arrived at Pier 86.
However, Concorde took a brief break from the spotlight at the museum, which will be renovated at the Brooklyn Navy Yard starting in August 2023.
Yesterday, the newly restored jet was taken from Brooklyn to Jersey City to dock for overnight storage.
The unique aircraft was then craned onto a 500-ton crane barge, taken across the Hudson River and placed back on Pier 86 early Thursday morning.
The aircraft received a fresh coat of paint and other repairs from year-round exposure to the elements during the months-long restoration project.
The British Airways Concorde supersonic jet returned to the Intrepid Sea and Space Museum after docking in Jersey City yesterday
The unique aircraft was craned onto a 500-ton crane barge, taken across the Hudson River and placed back on Pier 86 early Thursday morning
Concorde had been taking a brief break from the spotlight at the museum under renovation at the Brooklyn Navy Yard since August 2023
Pictures taken this morning show Concorde being taken to the museum on a barge, passing the Statue of Liberty on the way.
To celebrate its return, the Intrepid Museum posted a photo of the jet at X with the caption: ‘Welcome home, Concorde!’
Pictures taken this morning show Concorde being taken across the iconic New York River on a barge, passing the Statue of Liberty on its way.
Upon arrival, the jet was photographed with cables and a 300-foot crane carefully placing it back into place on the pier.
Spectators eagerly watching the historic moment were also photographed.
Leslie Scott, Concorde’s record-setting pilot told CBS today: ‘The start was always very exciting. The acceleration was a constant acceleration… So it was almost like a push in the back when you took off.
‘The take-off speeds were much higher than a normal aircraft. We would get airborne at about 250 miles an hour and accelerate up to 280 initially.’
The entire trip across the Hudson took nearly three hours. Part of Pier 86 has also been given a makeover to match Concorde’s shiny new look.
Upon arrival, the jet was photographed with cables and a 300ft crane carefully placing it back into place on the pier
The aircraft received a fresh coat of paint and other repairs from year-round exposure to the elements during the months-long restoration project
Spectators eagerly watching the historic moment were also photographed
The Concorde photographed being taken over the Hudson River today
Concorde has been a permanent exhibit at the museum since its arrival, allowing visitors to take in the power of the aircraft and learn about its history.
It is the only British Airways Concorde on display in the North East and is the only supersonic commercial jet ever to fly.
»The Concorde is a product of Anglo-French cooperation. When Concorde entered Air France and British Airways’ transatlantic service in 1976, it was the only operational supersonic passenger transport in the world,’ explains the Intrepid Museum website.
“With a crew of nine, Concorde could fly at 1,350 mph (2,150 km/h) at an altitude of 60,000 ft (18,181 m), high enough for its 100 passengers to see the curvature of the earth.”
It has set numerous records – including the ‘Westbound Around the World’ and ‘Eastbound Around the World’ world air speed records.
The aircraft was developed by British and French researchers from 1962 and had its first flight in 1969.
Commercial flights began in 1976. Its developers thought they would receive orders for 350 Concordes, but soaring fuel costs meant only 20 of the planes were completed.
British Airways and Air France were its primary operators.
The entire journey across the iconic New York River took nearly three hours
It is the only British Airways Concorde on display in the North East and is the only supersonic commercial jet ever to fly
Part of Pier 86 has also been given a makeover to match Concorde’s shiny new look
On Wednesday March 13, Concorde was loaded onto a barge to be carried up the Hudson River from Brooklyn to Weeks Marine in Jersey City, New Jersey
The fastest transatlantic scheduled flight was from New York JFK to London Heathrow on February 7, 1996 by British Airways G-BOAD in 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds from takeoff to landing aided by a 175 mph.
Flights between New York and London were the most popular and iconic route for the airliner.
It was banned from going supersonic over many countries due to its sonic boom and was loved by Hollywood stars who could hop between the US and Europe far faster than on a conventional airliner.
Concorde was decommissioned in 2003 due to high operating costs. Since then, several attempts to develop a supersonic airliner have not borne fruit.
Tours of Concorde will resume on April 4, 2024, and visitors will be able to go inside Concorde while learning about its history.