The Duxford Aviation Society

Aerospatiale/British Aerospace Concorde 101 G-AXDN This aircraft is a pre production version of Concorde and has the distinction of having flown the fastest of any Concorde during the flight trials in which it was involved. Delta November first flew on 17th December 1971 at Filton aerodrome near Bristol. It was the third of the six aircraft used in the extensive six and a half year testing programs that preceded Concorde's entry into airline service. In April 1974, in the course of a test programme, conducted at Tangier 101 reached Mach 2.23 (1450 mph), and in November of the same year it flew from Fairford to Bangor, Maine, in 2 hrs 56 minutes a record time for a commercial aircraft flying across the Atlantic in a Westerly direction. On its retirement 101 was gifted to the Society by the Department of Transport it what must have been a truly unique gesture. It is the only Concorde donated to a volunteer group and serves to emphasise the importance of the Society's collection. The offer of the aircraft was first made to the Society in 1975 and it was eventually flown to Duxford on August 20th 1977. 101 stood outside Hanger 1 at Duxford, a clear landmark for those travelling on the M11, for many years. She has now been moved inside the hanger and there she will remain. The aircraft is open to the public at all times and provides an insight into the technical innovation that supersonic passenger flight was.