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6:31 pm London Time (LT). Push back from the gate, one minute late.
6:37 pm LT. Start taxi. Safety demonstration starts. The captain announces we will be taking off on Runway 27R. He explains the noise abatement procedures ("to make us more neighborly"). At 1 minute 16 seconds after brake release, engine power will be cut 90% and the angle of attack will be reduced. He explains this is perfectly normal and there is nothing to worry about. Then at 8000 feet, we go back to full power where we will reach 26000 feet for our subsonic cruise. After we clear land, we go to full power with reheat. The captain also mentioned there were about three airplanes ahead of us before we reach the runway for takeoff. As we moved through the queue, we taxied past a BMI A320 and an AerLingus 737; I couldn't help but wonder what those passengers were thinking about as they looked at our plane. I looked back at them, grinned, and thought, "yes, I am in this Concorde!" We took position on the runway. We held for while...the anticipation is killing me! |
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6:53 pm LT. Start take-off roll on Runway 27R. The engines sounded exactly like what I have heard watching Concorde take off at JFK...like a fighter jet...pure power! And loud too! I sat up in my seat for a better look outside to see us speeding down the runway. Although I knew we were going fast, it wasn't really that noticeable unless I was looking at the things closer to the runway. We rotate and condensation appeared over the wing. Cool! The power was very quickly cut back and we pitched down significantly. The slow rate of climb was also very noticeable. I estimated we were only climbing 1000 to 1200 foot per minute. Every once in a while, I would look down at the ground, and thought "yup, the ground is still there...low!". The displays on the bulkhead came on around this time as well. During our low power climb, the whole airplane was shuddering and rattling. It reminded me of a train on very bad tracks. The cabin air also reeked of jet fuel. Don't know what the reason for that was, but it dissipated after a few minutes. As I later found out, the kerosene smell in the cabin is particular to this specific aircraft. Just one of many different "quarks" each aircraft has!
6:57 pm LT, 7000 feet, 350 mph |
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7:00 pm LT, 10000 feet Shortly thereafter, cabin service started. The menu was passed out and the cabin staff went into overdrive. They ran around to start our dinner service. One flight attendant brought everyone champagne while another brought mineral water. Canapés were served. Unfortunately, when the flight attendant handed me my plate, one of my pieces decided to take a flying leap and rolled onto the floor. I got a replacement plate some time later.
7:06 pm LT, 25500 feet, 630 mph, Mach 0.95, outside temp -35°C We reach our subsonic cruise altitude. The captain came on and explained the afterburners will be coming on again as we go through the transonic region. The estimated time of arrival at JFK is 5:25 pm, New York time. I thought this was the coolest part of the entire flight. The first pair of afterburners went on, I got a feeling of being pushed from behind. Then the next pair came on, got another kick from behind, and there was feeling of acceleration. Within seconds, we are through the sound barrier and over Mach 1! The ride was very smooth and there was no sonic boom to be heard in the cabin (but I already knew that). In fact, we went to Mach 1 so quickly, I had missed the exact moment, because I was looking at wrong side of the display (the side that was showing temperature and mph). When I saw flashes going off from the cameras, I looked over to the other display and realized we were through the sound barrier. |
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7:12 pm LT, 26000 feet, 650 mph, M 1.0, temp -40°C A flight attendant passed out the tablecloths for the tray table. We had to place the tablecloths on the tray ourselves. Cold appetizer (Lobster and tabbouleh salad) was served.
7:21 pm LT, 39000 feet, 980 mph, M 1.5, temp -46°C
7:25 pm LT, 42000 feet, M 1.69 I think the afterburners went off at this point, because I felt a bump. Another flight attendant takes my order for the entrée. I chose the lamb. |
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7:50 pm LT, 48000 feet, 1280 mph, M 2.0, temp -54°C Almost an hour after takeoff, we finally reached Mach 2. Everyone took a quick break from their meal to grab their cameras for photos of the speed displays. My entrée arrives (New season lamb cutlets with thyme and herb pancake wrapped in brioche, served with ginger and redcurrant compote). One thing I noticed was the constant loudness of the aircraft. I have never seen anyone else mention this before. During cruise, there was a constant roar with the addition of a constant resonating hum. If I pushed my head hard against the headrest, I could make my head resonate with the airplane and cause everything I see to be blurry! You definitely cannot carry on a conversion at a normal voice level with the person seated next to you. The flight attendants had to turn their head so you could speak into their ear. If anyone has ever been in the back of the MD-80, then you get the idea (though Concorde was not as loud as the MD-80). |
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8:02 pm LT, 50000 feet, 1310 mph, M 2.0, temp -55°C We were still climbing. We get our choice of cheese or dessert. I went with dessert (vanilla and white chocolate créme brulée, cassis compote and brandy snap) with hot tea. Overall, the meal was pretty good. Though it was not better or worse than other premium class meals I have had. After the meal service, people started to move about the cabin. Some posed for photos in front of the speed displays while others queued up for the lavatory. There was one lavatory in the front of the plane, and two in the center. As I found out, there was none in the back! As the duty free cart moved up the aisle, the flight attendants temporarily parked the cart at the bulkhead one row ahead of me. People thought that's where they were setting up shop and started lining up! The first gentleman bought pretty much one or two of everything, including the coveted 1976 Concorde limited edition scotch whisky. In the mean time, a small crowd had gathered at the bulkhead, from people buying souvenirs to people wanting to use the lavatory to people taking photos of the speed displays. After two or three others made their purchase, the flight attendants took the cart back up the aisle so they could properly start the in-flight shopping from the front back. |
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9:15 pm LT, 54000 feet, 1280 mph, M 2.0, temp -54°C Note that we were slowly climbing the next hour. Our speed and the outside temperature remained steady. By now, the crowd at the bulkhead had thinned out considerably, so I got my own photo in front of the speed display. People are now finally settling into the flight. Many were reading, some were chatting. Fewer flashes were going off. The inside temperature got quite cool as well. Many wrapped themselves up with the blanket. I was all for enjoying the flight to the fullest by hearing Concorde in its true form. But the constant loud roar and hum in the cabin was giving me a headache (the champagne probably had something to do with it as well), so I had to use my headset. It worked really, really well! I am not sure if the headset was noise canceling, as there was no switch to turn on or off, nor there was a microphone to pickup the noise to cancel. The big earmuffs alone probably just worked well. Even though there was something like ten channels of music on the switch, there was programming on just five channels. The shopping cart finally comes to me. I wanted the silver cufflinks (in the shape of Concorde) and the Concorde model set. The cufflinks were available, but the models (at 10 pounds, the least expensive item in the catalog) were sold out. From the picture, the quality and the accuracy didn't look too great. However, since the box had the BA Concorde logo on it, I decided to buy it anyways and have it shipped to me by post. |
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