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Aerospace Bristol: the new £19m aviation museum where Concorde is the star

- © 2005 Robert Evans
- © 2005 Robert Evans

“There have been more US astronauts than BA Concorde pilots.”

So says a bright red poster at the entrance to Aerospace Bristol (aerospacebristol.org), a £19 million pound museum – opening today – which celebrates the city’s century-long aviation history.

The quote captures something about the uniqueness of this iconic supersonic plane, now the centrepiece of Aerospace Bristol.

The last one ever built – Alpha Foxtrot  – it made its final flight in November 2003 (flying over Clifton Suspension Bridge) – is now housed in a specially constructed hangar at Filton, on the outskirts of Bristol, where the airframe and the engines of Concorde were largely developed and where the UK assembly line was located; all British planes also made their maiden flight from Filton's runway. 

The building lies next door to a former First World War hangar which has been cleverly renovated to house the bulk of the museum’s exhibits.

Concorde: where are they now?
Remaining Concorde locations
Remaining Concorde locations

The aim of Bristol Aerospace is to recall the past and showcase the remarkable role played by the Bristol site in Britain’s aviation history, but also, according to the museum’s  collections manager Linda Coode, “to inspire the next generation” about science and engineering. Numerous exhibits – such as flight simulators and interactive options – show the museum is most definitely not just aimed at “plane spotters”.

The aircraft looks as futuristic as ever - Credit: AEROSPACE BRISTOL/ADAM GASSON
The aircraft looks as futuristic as ever Credit: AEROSPACE BRISTOL/ADAM GASSON

Taking a timeline approach, the museum uses refurbished, restored and replica planes and engines, together with models and intriguing items, such as the keys used to arm a nuclear bomb, to tell Bristol’s aviation story. It travels from the beginnings of the British & Colonial Aircraft Company at Filton in 1910 through First World War bi-planes built here, like the Bristol Scout, between-the-wars commercial and racing planes (the Bristol Racer) and Second World War planes (Bristol Beaufighter and BristolBlenheim) to helicopters, the Airbus (the wings were built here), guided weapons systems and satellite technology.

As well showing the thinking behind the displays, the museum also poses questions, one being about the morality of drones and guided weapons.

Walking inside the plane, it is relatively cramped – but then the flight to New York did only take 3.5 hours - Credit: AEROSPACE BRISTOL/ADAM GASSON
Walking inside the plane, it is relatively cramped – but then the flight to New York did only take 3.5 hours Credit: AEROSPACE BRISTOL/ADAM GASSON

But the highpoint is Concorde. With its pointed nose and sleek frame, it looks as futuristic as ever. Like the Spitfire, it is a plane with an enduring appeal. Walking inside the plane, it is relatively cramped but then the flight to New York did only take 3.5 hours. Projections on to the plane explain Concorde’s history, as those associated with the aircraft recall anecdotes (from pilots and engineers to celebrity passengers), and there is a recreation and explanation of the famous sonic boom.

Informative, questioning and fun, so far Bristol Aerospace appears to be the model of a 21st century museum.

See aerospacebristol.org

What was it really like to fly on Concorde?

“Concorde is a funny old bird,” wrote Nigel Richardson for Telegraph Travel in 1995. “To behold in flight she is a thoroughbred among the dobbins of international passenger transport. For the high-rollers of international business who take Concorde to New York, time is money and supersonic flight delivers them quickly and relatively fresh to Manhattan boardrooms, thanks to Concorde's advantageous cabin pressure compared with subsonic aircraft.

To travel in, however, she is rather like an airborne Tube train - admittedly with a few knobs on - Credit: ©2017 Alexander Walker/Alex Walker
To travel in, however, she is rather like an airborne Tube train - admittedly with a few knobs on Credit: ©2017 Alexander Walker/Alex Walker

“To travel in, however, she is rather like an airborne Tube train - admittedly with a few knobs on. She is cramped; she rattles and roars; apart from take-off (it feels near vertical, like being on a Virtual Reality Apollo mission) there is no particular sensation of the aphrodisiac of speed; there are no films to watch; the ratio of passengers to toilets is 25:1 on a full aircraft, compared to 9:1 First Class on a 747.And for holidaymakers she is an expensive charabanc. The scheduled supersonic return fare to Barbados is £4,530 [£7,375 in 2014], against £699 [£1,138] in economy class on a BA Boeing 747. Though deals through tour operators will secure a week in the Caribbean, with either the outward or return flight on Concorde, for under £2,000 [£3,255], flying supersonic is hardly a cheap thrill. So why do it?

The 18 most important aircraft of all time
The 18 most important aircraft of all time

“One clue lies in the seating arrangements. Concorde anticipated John Major's vision of a classless society by 20-odd years and made all 100 of her seats the same - identical leg room, menu and service, which raises the bizarre spectre of Princess Diana and a refuse operative from Chigwell sharing the same toilet. While the jetset world is closed to most of us, Concorde allows us to buy into it for a day. That makes her either commendably egalitarian, or crashingly vulgar. Take your pick.

“My immediate neighbours are typical of those who do the Barbados run. Across the aisle is The Pop Star and her mum; two rows ahead is The Honeymoon Couple, already practically at it; behind are the Goodlooking Yuppies With Designer Baby.”