What Happened to the Missing Concorde? The Story of F-BVFD

In-Depth Analysis

The Concorde story is synonymous with transatlantic speed and luxury, connecting cities like Paris, London, and New York. However, Air France also operated routes to South America, including Rio de Janeiro via Dakar.

It was during a landing in Dakar on November 28, 1977, that F-BVFD suffered significant damage. The landing was harder than regulations allowed (14 m/s vs. 10 m/s limit), causing the tail-wheel to crush and the rear fuselage to scrape the runway.

Although cleared to fly afterwards, later inspections revealed substantial structural issues stemming from this incident. Compounded by economic factors – Air France ceased less profitable Latin American Concorde services in 1982 due to changing geo-political climates (like Venezuela's decline) and lower demand compared to New York routes – F-BVFD was grounded in May 1982.

Unlike its counterpart F-BTSC (also grounded temporarily in 1982 but later restored), F-BVFD was deemed too costly to repair fully, especially with a reduced need for operational Concordes. Over the next 12 years at Charles de Gaulle airport, it was gradually cannibalized – its parts used to maintain the remaining Air France and British Airways fleets. Exposed to the elements, the remaining shell corroded and was broken up for scrap in 1994. The nosecone was sold separately to a US collector in March 1995.

Though gone, remnants exist: its exhaust cowlings are displayed at the Farnborough Air Sciences Museum in the UK, and a section of its fuselage is reportedly part of an outdoor exhibit at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, home to the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace and two other Concordes (F-WTSS and F-BTSD).

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FAQ

Takeaways

• The Concorde program, while iconic, involved a small, exclusive fleet where each aircraft's history is significant.
• Operational incidents and economic viability heavily influenced the lifespan and fate of individual Concordes like F-BVFD.
• Even advanced aircraft can be cannibalized for parts to maintain the operational status of the remaining fleet, highlighting the practicalities of aviation maintenance.
• Preservation efforts ensure that most of the Concorde fleet remains accessible to the public, celebrating this feat of engineering.

Discussion

The story of F-BVFD adds another layer to the Concorde legend. It's a reminder of the complex factors behind operating such groundbreaking technology.

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