On May 24, 1976, Air France and British Airways launched simultaneous supersonic Concorde services to Washington Dulles International Airport, marking the beginning of regular commercial supersonic service to the United States after years of regulatory battles.
The Concorde was an engineering marvel — a 100-passenger supersonic transport that cruised at Mach 2.04, more than twice the speed of sound. At cruise altitude of 60,000 feet, passengers could see the curvature of the Earth and, on westbound flights, literally chase the setting sun.
London to New York in under 3.5 hours. Paris to Washington in the same. Passengers would take off in the morning and land before they departed (local time). The Concorde made the Atlantic feel like a short hop.
Only 20 were built, and they flew for Air France and British Airways from 1976 until 2003, when the aircraft was retired following the 2000 Air France crash and rising operating costs. But for 27 years, the Concorde was the symbol of supersonic travel — a fusion of speed, luxury, and futurism.
Concorde didn't just cross oceans — it redefined what an airliner could be. At Cleared4Tees, we celebrate aviation that broke every mold.
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