The Concorde

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Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Mar 14, 2016 3:24 PM
I like to read about a lot of random shit on Wikipedia when I get bored, and the other day I ended up researching the Concorde. Did you or anyone you know ever fly on it? I have an ex whose dad flew from London to New York on it, and he said it was pretty amazing. It bums me out that they retired them, though I would have never spent $6000+ on a plane ticket anyway.
Mar 14, 2016 3:24pm
Q

QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Mar 14, 2016 3:59 PM
I had an aging relative that flew on it on a trip around the world while she was in her 80's --- that was cool.


I also had a close associate in business who was flying on a Concorde from the states to Europe; one of the engines blew out over the pond and I think they descended well over ten thousand feet in a matter of seconds until the pilots regained control, then it happened again and they immediately diverted to Ireland and ultimately landed safely. Most aboard did not think they were going to make it. Needless to say, he never flew it again.
Mar 14, 2016 3:59pm
Big_Mirg_ZHS's avatar

Big_Mirg_ZHS

Recovering Pothead

2,079 posts
Mar 15, 2016 5:50 PM
My future BIL works for British Airways, he was on the last Transatlantic flight of the Concorde. Pretty sweet. Has his ticket boarding pass and all that framed. The Airline had specials printed up.
Mar 15, 2016 5:50pm
BRF's avatar

BRF

Senior Member

8,748 posts
Mar 15, 2016 9:52 PM
Take a Laker......

/Gardens35
Mar 15, 2016 9:52pm
4cards's avatar

4cards

Ohio Chatter Legend

2,551 posts
Mar 16, 2016 7:45 AM
...My sister in law worked in the fashion industry for years and her company would fly her on the Concord to Europe rather than on commercial flights because they felt her time was more valuable making deals there rather than sitting in a plane for longer periods of time. She said the Concord was an incredible way to travel.
Mar 16, 2016 7:45am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Mar 28, 2016 12:35 PM
Very. The whole time I was reading about it, I was thinking there has to be a way to make it better and cheaper 40 years later.
Mar 28, 2016 12:35pm
Old Rider's avatar

Old Rider

Senior Member

2,470 posts
Mar 28, 2016 3:29 PM
I hate flying..I don't trust any of those fuckers up in that cabin in charge of that plane!
Mar 28, 2016 3:29pm
Q

QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Mar 29, 2016 1:55 PM
I have the utmost trust in the pilots; it is maintenance where 99% of the issues arise.
Mar 29, 2016 1:55pm
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

Senior Member

13,650 posts
Mar 29, 2016 6:15 PM
QuakerOats;1789427 wrote:I have the utmost trust in the pilots; it is maintenance where 99% of the issues arise.
I checked planecrashinfo.com out of curiosity.

57 fatal accidents in the 2000s were attributed to pilot error (including 5 mechanical-related) vs only 22 for mechanical failure and 6 for "other human error".
Mar 29, 2016 6:15pm
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Mar 29, 2016 7:09 PM
Mulva;1789461 wrote:I checked planecrashinfo.com out of curiosity.

57 fatal accidents in the 2000s were attributed to pilot error (including 5 mechanical-related) vs only 22 for mechanical failure and 6 for "other human error".
/Quaker'd
Mar 29, 2016 7:09pm
Q

QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Mar 30, 2016 10:43 AM
Mulva;1789461 wrote:I checked planecrashinfo.com out of curiosity.

57 fatal accidents in the 2000s were attributed to pilot error (including 5 mechanical-related) vs only 22 for mechanical failure and 6 for "other human error".
The pilot error category totals 193 out of 1,015 (19%). Pilot error related to weather and mechanical is bs. In fact, I know several pilots who would easily dispute the 193 number for various classification reasons, which is why I made the post. Personal knowledge straight from the pilot ranks indicates far less than 10% is actual pilot error. Talk to pilots, they will tell you what really goes on.

As for overall safety which Old Rider was concerned with, these stats were listed on that same site:

Odds of being involved in a fatal accident
Odds of being on an airline flight which results in at least one fatality Odds of being killed on a single airline flight
78 major world airlines
1 in 3.4 million
78 major world airlines
1 in 4.7 million
Top 39 airlines with the best accident rates
1 in 10.0 million
Top 39 airlines with the best accident rates
1 in 19.8 million
Bottom 39 with the worst accident rates
1 in 1.5 million
Bottom 39 with the worst accident rates
1 in 2.0 million
Source: OAG Aviation & PlaneCrashInfo.com accident database, 20 years of data (1993 - 2012)
Mar 30, 2016 10:43am
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

Senior Member

13,650 posts
Mar 30, 2016 11:03 AM
I would think other pilots are somewhat more inclined to biases than the FAA.

The safety statistics kind of prove the maintenance point. Modern aircraft are built and maintained about as well as humanly possible. They generally don't just fall apart in midair.
Mar 30, 2016 11:03am
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Mar 30, 2016 11:21 AM
Mulva;1789533 wrote:I would think other pilots are somewhat more inclined to biases than the FAA.

The safety statistics kind of prove the maintenance point. Modern aircraft are built and maintained about as well as humanly possible. They generally don't just fall apart in midair.
What? You're not 100% on board with the "Ask a pilot and they'll tell you that pilots are not usually the problem when a plane crashes!" line of reasoning?
Mar 30, 2016 11:21am
Q

QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Mar 30, 2016 2:01 PM
Mulva;1789533 wrote:I would think other pilots are somewhat more inclined to biases than the FAA.

The safety statistics kind of prove the maintenance point. Modern aircraft are built and maintained about as well as humanly possible. They generally don't just fall apart in midair.

You would be speaking of commercial airliners it seems. Obviously they have very rigorous maintenance schedules at very frequent intervals, and thus they are a mere fraction of the accidents that occur annually. Include general aviation in the mix and you are talking about a lot of private aircraft that does not get the same level of attention etc...


PS -- generally speaking I would side with the practitioners not the bureaucrats, and similarly would agree for instance, that doctors and nurses know more about health care than an obamacare bureaucrat.
Mar 30, 2016 2:01pm