In 1962, the governments of Britain and France signed the Anglo-French Agreement, pooling their money and resources to develop a supersonic commercial jet . The name "Concorde" was chosen because it means unity or harmony in both English and French.
The first test flight was conducted in 1969, and the Concorde flew commercially for the first time in 1976.
Modern aviation startups are working to revive supersonic passenger air travel with new technology, but they also face challenges around economic viability and safety.
Since Concorde jets are no longer operational, the planes have become museum pieces, providing visitors with a taste of the luxurious flight experiences they once provided.
In May, I toured a Concorde jet at the Intrepid Museum in New York City, a sea, air, and space museum housed on a 900-foot-long aircraft carrier. Take a look inside.
A total of 20 Concorde planes were built, and 14 flew commercially through British Airways and Air France, with most routes flying between New York City and London and New York City and Paris. The Concorde's supersonic speed caused loud sonic booms upon breaking the sound barrier, which limited its routes to those above water.
Concordes were ultimately discontinued due to high operating costs and safety concerns. British Airways spent around £1 billion a year on its fleet of Concorde jets, which proved unsustainable, according to the Intrepid Museum.
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