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和谐式客机 Concorde
类型	超音速客机
制造商	法国宇航-英国飞机公司
首飞	1969年3月2日
起役日期	1976年1月21日
退役日期	2003年11月26日
主要用户	英国航空 法国航空
制造数量	20
单位成本	1977年时2,600万英镑

和谐式客机（Concorde）是由法国宇航和英国飞机公司联合研制的超音速客机，它和图波列夫制的图-144是世界上唯一曾投入商业使用的超音速客机。和谐式客机于1969年首飞、1976年投入服务，并于2003年退役。主要用于伦敦希斯路机场（英国航空）和戴高乐国际机场（法国航空）来往纽约肯尼迪国际机场的航班服务。它创下很多记录，包括于1996年2月7日以2小时52分钟59秒的时间创下由纽约至伦敦的最快时间。

虽然和谐式客机的高昂研发费用令英法政府损失甚巨，但它却为英航带来巨额利润。英航和法航首班商业航班于1976年1月21日同时启航，较图-144S晚一个月左右，但它的飞行生涯远较图-144长。随着2000年发生一宗致命事故，及其后的911事件和其他因素影响令和谐式客机于2003年10月27日终止服务，于同年11月26日飞航“退役”航班后结束其27年的商业飞行生涯。即使退役后，和谐式客机仍然是航空历史上的重要象征。

一般特点

英航的和谐式客机，登记编号G-BOAB

和谐式客机的平均巡航速度达2.02马赫（每小时2,140公里或1,330英里），最高巡航高度60,000英尺（18,300米）。其三角翼下装有4具为火神战略轰炸机（Avro Vulcan）研制的劳斯莱斯奥林匹斯（Olympus）发动机。此发动机由劳斯莱斯和SNECMA联合研制，为SNECMA提供进入商用喷气发动机市场的机会。和谐式客机是首种使用模拟电传操纵的民航客机。为了增加着陆时的能见度而设的可变角度机鼻更成为它的标记。

在定期航班服务中，和谐式客机使用一种较有效率的巡航爬升（cruise-climb）方式。随着燃油消耗，飞机变得越来越轻因而能够爬升至更高的高度。这样的方式（通常）较为有效率，因此传统民用客机亦会使用类似这种方式爬升，名为阶段爬升（step climb）。但传统民用客机需要得到航空交通管制员许可才能爬升至更高高度。在越大西洋期间，和谐式客机在50,000英尺后已没有其他民用客机与之共用空层，因此自50,000英尺起和谐式客机能缓慢爬升至60,000英尺。

设计与发展

和谐式客机的最后最后航班，于2003年11月26日由希斯路飞往布里斯托。

50年代末，英国、法国、美国和苏联都计划研发超音速客机。当时英国的布里斯托飞机公司（Bristol Aeroplane Company）和法国的Sud Aviation分别在设计布里斯托223和超级卡拉维尔（Super-Caravelle），两家公司都获得政府巨额资助。英国的设计是一种载客100人并能够进行越大西洋飞行的超音速客机，而法国设计则是一种中程超音速客机。

60年代初，这两种设计已经进入建造原型机的阶段。但由于投资金融庞大，英国政府遂要求英国飞机公司在国际间寻找合作伙伴。与数个国家（包括德国和美国）商讨后，只有法国对合作计划有兴趣。合作计划并非由两家公司制定，而是由英法政府以国际条约的方式商议。计划包括一项由英方提出的条款，如果任何一方取消合作就必须付出赔偿金（英国财政部曾经两次几乎取消合作计划）。合作计划草案于1962年11月28日签定。此时，布里斯托飞机公司和Sud Aviation已经分别与其他公司合并为英国飞机公司和法国宇航。

起初，双方有意建造一种长程（6,000公里）和一种中程（4,400公里）的超音速客机。但与各潜在客户推销两种机型后，发现航空公司对中程的超音速客机兴趣不大，于是取消中程型号。长程型取得超过100架的订单，起始客户包括泛美航空、英国海外航空（BOAC）和法国航空，分别订购6架和谐式客机。其他订购航空公司包括Panair do Brasil、日本航空、汉莎航空、美国航空、联合航空、加拿大航空、Braniff国际航空、伊朗航空、澳洲航空、中国民航、中东航空和环球航空。

和谐式客机起初以法文“Concorde”定名，但英方早期却称它为“Concord”，命名问题一直争辩了数年。直到1967年12月11日命名问题才尘埃落定，首架和谐式客机在图卢兹出厂，同日英国科技部长东尼·宾特（Tony Benn）宣布英方亦会称和谐式客机为“Concorde”。宾特认为“e”可以代表卓越（Excellence）、英格兰（England）、欧洲（Europe）和挚诚协定（Entente Cordiale）。在其回忆录中，宾特忆述他当时收到一封由一位苏格兰人的信，信中写道：“你说“e”是代表英格兰，但和谐式客机有些部分是苏格兰制造的！”。宾特在回信中表示：““e”也可以代表“Ecosse”（法语中苏格兰的名称），但也可以代表挥霍（extravagance）和不断增加（escalation）！”

两架原型机于1965年2月开始建造：001号机由法国宇航在图卢兹建造，而002号机则由英国飞机公司在布里斯托的菲尔顿（Filton）建造。001号机于1969年3月2日首飞，并于10月1日进行首次超音速飞行。1971年9月4日飞往南美洲进行巡回展示。002号机亦于1972年6月2日飞往中东、远东地区和澳洲共12个国家作巡回展示，总飞行距离达72,500公里。1973年首次飞抵美国，并降落于达拉斯沃斯堡国际机场（Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport），标志着该机场正式开幕。

这些巡回展示为和谐式客机带来超过70架订单，但一连串因素导致大量订单被取消。包括1973年石油危机（和谐式客机的耗油量比其他亚音速客机高）、部分订购和谐式客机的航空公司出现财政问题、图-144于一次公开场合坠毁和像音爆、起飞噪音、污染等环境问题。只剩下法国航空和英国航空购买，双方政府都分享部分从营运和谐式客机取得的盈利。以英航为例，和谐式客机是由国家借贷购入，英国政府收回80%和谐式客机取得的盈利，直到1984年才停止。

美国于1971年取消超音速客机的研究计划。提出了洛歇L-2000和波音2707两个设计；洛歇L-2000外型像和谐式客机的加大版，但败给载客300人、可变翼（swing-wing）设计和飞得更快的波音2707。法国和英国的业界观察员认为，美国人以噪音污染为由反对和谐式客机于其领空飞行某程度上是因为美国政府未能就肯尼迪总统于1963演说中 的承诺，制造出能与和谐式客机竞争的机种而于幕后策划或鼓励。其他国家，如马来西亚亦因嘈音问题禁止和谐式客机以超音速飞越其领空。[18]

踏入1974年后，英航和法航开始运作和谐式客机进行一些展示和试航工作。和谐式客机试飞过程设下很多至今仍然保持的记录；原型机、预产机（Pre-production）和首架量产机共试飞了5,335小时，当中2,000小时是超音速飞行。超过同等大小的亚音速飞机试飞时间4倍之多。1977年时，和谐式客机单价为2,300万英镑。研发成本超资6倍。

技术特点

很多在和谐式客机中首次使用的技术，都常见于21世纪初的民用客机。

高速和优化飞行：

• 双三角翼
• 劳斯莱斯/SNECMA制附有后燃器的奥林匹斯（Olympus）发动机和可变进气坡道
• 超音速巡航能力
• 电传操纵发动机，是今天全权数位电子控制系统（Full Authority Digital Electronic Control）发动机的先驱
• 可下垂式机鼻，以增加着陆时驾驶舱的能见度

减重和提升性能：

• 2.04马赫的巡航速度带来最佳的燃油消耗（最低的超音速阻力，虽然涡轮喷气发动机于高速时性能较佳）
• 主要由铝合金和以相对传统的方式建造
• 全权自动驾驶（autopilot）和自动油门（autothrottle），容许飞行员于爬升至着陆期间完全不介入飞行操纵
• 全电子类比电传操纵飞行控制系统
• 多功能的飞行操纵界面（control surfaces）
• 部件更轻但压力达28Mpa的高压液压系统
• 全电子控制类比电传制动（brake-by-wire）系统
• 俯仰配平（Pitch trim）以在机身转移燃料的方式来控制重心（centre-of-gravity）
• 部件以一整块合金制造成形，以减少零件数量

研制和谐式客机的经验后来成为了空中客车的重要基础。以SNECMA为例，研制和谐式客机使用的奥林匹斯发动机为SNECMA打开了民用发动机研制的大门，及后与通用动力组成CFM国际并生产成功的CFM56系涡扇发动机。

虽然和谐式客机于70年代推出时是一项科技结晶，但30年后它那满布传统仪表和开关的驾驶舱已经变得过时。在没有竞争者的情况下，和谐式客机无急切需要去提升航电（avionics）和乘客的舒适水平。这个情况与同年代推出的客机（如波音747）相反。

英国飞机公司（后来成为英国宇航）和法国宇航（后来成为欧洲航空防务及航天集团）是和谐式客机型别检定证（type certificate ）的共同持有人，空中客车集团成立后负责把型别检定证转到空中客车名下。

设计时需克服的主要问题

G-AXDN, Duxford, close up of engines.

在研制和谐式客机期间有很多问题需要克服。

压力中心的转移

当任何飞机飞越临界马赫数（critical mach）时，压力中心会向后转移，在重心不变的情况下会为飞机带来一股下压力。即使工程师以特殊的方式设计和谐式客机的机翼，压力中心仍然后移2米。虽然可以利用配平控制（trim controls）来抵销，但在如此高速的情况下会大幅增加飞机的阻力。因此，和谐式客机会靠转移机身的燃料来改变重心，成为一种有效的辅助配平控制。

发动机

为了令和谐式客机经济上可行，它需要飞行一段颇长的距离，这需要一种高效的发动机。最适宜超音速飞行的发动机，需要有较小的横切面和低旁通比（low bypass ratio）以减低阻力及产生达超音速的排气速度。涡轮喷气发动机是符合这些要求的最佳选择，而性能较佳和较宁静的高旁通比涡轮扇叶发动机则不适用。被选定的发动机为劳斯莱斯/SNECMA制的双轴（twin spool）奥林匹斯593发动机。原为火神战略轰炸机研制，其后再为和谐式客机发展出593型。

Concorde's ramp system

The inlet design for Concorde's engines was especially critical.所有常规喷气发动机都只能在大概0.5马赫的速度引入气流；因此速度达2马赫的和谐式客机必须减慢进入发动机的气流速度。In particular, 和谐式客机必须控制减慢气流速度时所形成的震波（shockwaves）以避免损坏发动机。发动机舱分别有一组坡道（Ramp）和一道溢流门（Spill door）负责这个工作，坡道和溢流门可以在飞行途中移位以减慢气流速度。坡道位于发动机舱顶部可以向下移动，而溢流门则位于发动机舱下方可以向上下开合控制气流流入或流出。起飞时发动机进气需求高，坡道会完全平放于发动机舱顶部，溢流门会向上打开以增加进气量。当飞机速度到达0.7马赫时，溢流门会关闭；1.3马赫时，坡道会开始工作将气流引导出发动机舱并用于机舱加压之用。2.0马赫时，坡道会覆盖其可触及范围的一半，协助压缩空气和增加气流温度以减轻发动机压缩段（compressor）的工作压力。

Concorde engine twin intake displayed in a museum from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (Museo del Concorde)

发动机失效会为传统亚音速客机带来重大问题；不单单是失去一边推力而且还会产生很大的阻力，导致飞机向失效发动机的一方倾斜和偏航。如果这个情况于超音速飞行时出现，几乎可以肯定会对机身造成灾难性的损害。发动机失效后进气道实际上已经毫无作用，所以和谐式客机会将发动机舱溢流门向下打开并将坡道完全展开，将气流下压引导流过发动机，产生升力和将发动机流线形化以减低失效发动机产生的阻力。在测试中，和谐式客机可以在2马赫飞行途中关闭同一方的2具发动机，而不会产生任何操纵问题。

和谐式客机除了起飞和跨音速（transonic）时使用后燃器外，其余时段均会关闭。它的发动机在无后燃器的协助下亦能勉强到达2马赫，但发现由于要用更长时间飞越高阻力的跨音速段，因而需要燃烧更多燃料。

由于涡轮喷气发动机于低速是效率不佳，和谐式客机在滑行至跑道期间就需要燃烧2公吨燃料。 为了减低燃料销耗，在降落后只会使用最外部的2具发动机滑行。由于经过长途飞行后，飞机重量已经大大减低，因此2具发动机已经足够推动和谐式客机。如果和谐式客机在降落后滑行中途耗准燃料的话，飞行员会被解雇。

热力问题

除了发动机外，全超音速飞机最热的部分就是机鼻。工程师们因为对（硬铝）铝较为熟识，而且其价格低廉、建构容易而获选定为和谐式客机的主要建造物料。铝能在飞机寿命中持续抵御达127℃的高温，因此和谐式客机的极速被限制于2.02马赫。

和谐式客机于飞行期间会经历两个加热冷却的周期，第一次冷却于爬升时，之后超音速飞行时加热，最后于下降时再度冷却。这些因素都必须于冶金塑模时一并考虑。和谐式客机超音速飞行期间，被压缩的空气会产生高热，机身会因此而延长达300毫米。最明显的证明就是飞航工程师的仪表板与客舱隔板间的距离会在飞行途中增加。

为了保持机舱凉快，和谐式客机所载的燃油会吸收空气调节和液压系统产生的热力。超音速飞行时，驾驶舱的窗户会因为太热而不能触摸。

和谐式客机于涂装上亦有所限制；表面只能涂上白色以避免超音速飞行时产生的高热影响到铝制结构 。但于1996年时法国航空为了协助百事可乐宣传，曾把一架登记编号F-BTSD的和谐式客机涂上全蓝色（除了机翼）涂装。这个涂装的和谐式客机只能以2马赫飞行大概20分钟，在1.7马赫下则未有限制。F-BTSD未有执行任何需要长期以2马赫飞行的定期航班。

结构问题

和谐式客机高速飞行时，转向会为飞机结构带来巨大压力，导致结构扭曲变形。解决办法是于高速转向时，只运作内边连接在机翼最强部分的升降舵补助翼（elevon），外部的升降舵补助翼则维持不动。

和谐式客机的客舱窗户非常细小。研究发现若使用大窗户的和谐式客机于超高空飞行时，窗户一但破裂的话，机员和乘客会在下降至安全高度前就失去知觉。即使戴上氧气罩亦不会有任何帮助。因此窗户需要设计得非常细小，以在紧急下降时压缩机仍能保持机舱的气压。

刹车装置

由于起飞速度高达每小时250哩（400公里），和谐式客机对刹车装置的要求较高。是首批使用防锁刹车系统的刹车装置，可以防止机轮于锁车时锁死，尤其于湿滑地面上能令减速能力有所提升和更易操纵。

碳基（carbon-based）刹车装置能把重188公吨、时速达190哩（305公里）的和谐式客机于1,600米内煞停。完全停止后，刹车装置的温度会达300℃至500℃，需要数小时才能冷却。

辐射量增加

搭乘和谐式客机的乘客，会因为超高巡航高度而比普通长途客机承受2倍通量的外部电离辐射（ionising radiation）。但由于飞行时间相对减少，在同等飞行距离下当量剂量（equivalent dose）较普通客机为少。. 一些不寻常的太阳活动亦会导致入射辐射的增加，因此驾驶舱装有一具辐射计和量度辐射减低率的仪器。一旦辐射量过高，和谐式客机会下降47,000英尺以下。量度辐射减低率的仪器读数会决定是否需要下降到更低高度，减少飞机暴露于危险辐射水平的时间。

可下垂式机鼻

可下垂式机鼻是和谐式客机的外观特征之一，既保持着飞机的流线外型减低阻力，又可以于滑行、起飞和着陆时增加驾驶舱的能见度。三角翼飞机起飞和着陆时，攻角较亚音速飞机大。尖锐的机鼻会影响飞行员的视野，因此和谐式客机的机鼻设计成可以外变角度以迎合各种操作需要。机鼻下垂时，透明整流罩会收到机鼻内。当机鼻回复水平时，透明整流罩会升回驾驶舱挡风玻璃前方，令机鼻回复流线外型[19]。而早期和谐式客机原型机的整流罩只有两扇小窗[20]。

起飞时，驾驶舱内的控制器能控制透明整流罩收到机鼻内和把机鼻角度下调5度。起飞后，透明整流罩和机鼻都会回复原位。降落前，透明整流罩会再次收到机鼻内，而机鼻会下调至12.5度以取得最佳能见度。降落时，机鼻会迅速回复到5度以避免可能导致的损害。[21]在非常罕有的情况下，和谐式客机能把机鼻下调至12.5度起飞。[22]也可以只降下透明整流罩，而机鼻维持水平，但只在清洁挡风玻璃和短时间亚音速飞行时使用。[23]

定期航班

Concorde G-BOAF. The final flight of Concorde landing at Filton Airfield, near Bristol, on 26 November 2003

和谐式客机的定期航班于1976年1月21日开始营运，分别由伦敦至巴林（英航）和巴黎至里约热内卢（法航，停经达卡）。当时美国国会禁止和谐式客机在美国着陆，主要因国民抗议超音速造成的音爆。令两家航空公司觊观的越大西洋航线未能成事。但美国运输部长威廉·高文（William Coleman）向和谐式客机发出特别许可，营运前往华盛顿杜勒斯国际机场的航班服务，英航和法航同时于1976年5月24日开始营运前往华盛顿的服务。

美国的禁令于1977年2月撤销后，纽约市当局又颁布禁令禁止和谐式客机来访。1977年10月17日，美国最高法院拒绝推翻联邦地方法院禁止纽约州和新泽西州港务局（[[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey）继续禁令的判决。巴黎和伦敦来往纽约肯尼迪国际机场的定期航班服务于1977年11月22日开始营运。英航的航班编号为BA001至BA004。

传统喷射客机由纽约飞往巴黎需时7小时，而和谐式客机只需3小时30分钟。至2003年，法航和英航仍然每天营运前往纽约的服务。和谐式客机亦会于季假期时飞航往巴巴多斯的服务，也偶然提供包机服务前往芬兰罗瓦涅米。1986年11月1日，一架提供包机服务的和谐式客机以31小时51分钟完成环球飞行。

1977年及1979至1980年间，英航和新加坡航空共享来往巴林至新加坡的和谐式客机服务。一架登记编号G-BOAD的和谐式客机左边机身被涂上新航涂装，而右边机身则保留英航涂装。巴林至新加坡的服务只营运了3班航班便因为马来西亚当局禁止和谐式客机飞越其领空而暂停。经长时间与马来西亚政府商讨后，巴林至新加坡航线于1979年1月24日恢复，但因载客量不佳而于1980年11月1日停止服务。。1978年9月至1982年11月间，法航曾开办每周两班途经华盛顿前往墨西哥城的服务，期间发生的全球经济危机导致墨西哥城的服务最终被取消。1984年至1991年间，英航开办每周三班以亚音速由华盛顿飞往迈阿密的服务

1978年到1980年间，Braniff国际航空租借了10架和谐式客机，，英航和法航各提供5架。用于来往达拉斯与华盛顿之间的亚音速航班服务，由Braniff国际航空的机员负责飞航，到达华盛顿后由法航和英航的机员接手飞航余下前往巴黎及伦敦的超音速航程。但来往达拉斯与华盛顿的亚音速航班服务并未能带来盈利，载客率长期低于50%，因此Braniff国际航空于1980年5月终止该航班服务。

乘客体验

Concorde interior.

和谐式客机为乘客带来的体验与传统亚音速客机有很多不同之处。英航与法航的和谐式客机客舱布局均为单一客舱级别，载客100人；单走道，每行4个坐位。近走道的坐位空间只有仅仅6英尺（1.8米）高，真皮坐椅的空间与大型客机的经济客舱坐位相若。而由于顶部空间不足，手提行李亦有严格限制。

90年代时，波音747的长途航班中，头等和商务客舱常见的电影娱乐、可调角度的坐椅和步行区域在和谐式客机上均一一欠奉。但和谐式客机相对较短的飞行时间弥补了欠缺上述设备的缺陷。和谐式客机客舱内装有等离子显示屏，显示飞行高度、飞行速度和空气温度。客舱服务亦维持着非常高的水平，膳食均由玮致活（Wedgwood）生产的陶器和银餐具侍奉。

驾驶员宣布穿越音障时，只会经过一阵轻微震动后，体验较想像中平凡。

和谐式客机的巡航高度较传统客机高出一倍，窗外会呈现出地球的弧度，乱流亦很少出现。超音速巡航期间，虽然机外温度达-60°，但机身前部出现的空气压缩会令机身外部加热至120°，窗户亦会变得温暖，前舱室温亦较后舱为高。

三角翼亦令它能够达到较传统客机更高的攻角，翼面会产生大量低压涡流，以维持升力。在潮湿的日子，和谐式客机甚至会消失于低压产生的雾气中。但这些情况只会于低速时出现，意味着在起飞初段和着陆期间，和谐式客机会经历一些乱流和振动。

和谐式客机速度飞快，飞行速度加地球自转速度所产生的离心力在东行时能令机上人员的体重暂时降低百份之一，西行时则增加百份之零点三。 与地心距离增加亦令机上人员体重再减少百份之零的六。

和谐式客机的巡航速度比明暗界线（solar terminator）的极速更快。它能追上和超越地球的自转。在西行航线上，以当地时间计算，抵达时间往往比起飞时间早。一些由巴黎或伦敦的班机能在日落后起飞，并于中途追上太阳，在驾驶舱中能看到太阳从西边升起的景像。英航亦以这个情形来宣传，推出口号“起飞前经已到达”（Arrive before you leave）。

巴黎意外

主条目：法国航空4590号班机

On 25 July 2000, Air France Flight 4590, registration F-BTSCdisaster, crashed in Gonesse, France, killing all 100 passengers and nine crew on board the flight, and four people on the ground. It was the first fatal incident involving the type.

The crash was caused by a titanium strip, part of a thrust reverser, that fell from a Continental Airlines DC-10 that had taken off about four minutes earlier. This metal fragment punctured Concorde's tyres, which then disintegrated. A piece of rubber hit the fuel tank and broke an electrical cable. The impact caused a shockwave that fractured the fuel tank some distance from the point of impact. This caused a major fuel leak from the tank, which then ignited. The crew shut down engine number 2 in response to a fire warning but were unable to retract the landing gear, hampering the aircraft's climb. With engine number 1 surging and producing little power, the aircraft was unable to gain height or speed, entering a rapid pitch-up then a violent descent, rolling left. The impact occurred with the stricken aircraft tail-low, crashing into the Hotelissimo Hotel in Gonesse.

Prior to the accident, Concorde had been the safest operational passenger airliner in the world in terms of passenger deaths-per-kilometres travelled. While an aircraft's safety cannot be accurately measured from a single incident, the crash of the Air France Concorde nonetheless proved to be the beginning of the end for the type.

The accident subsequently led to a programme of modifications, including more secure electrical controls, Kevlar lining to the fuel tanks and specially-developed burst-resistant tyres.

重投服务

The first test-flight after the modifications departed from London Heathrow on 17 July 2001, piloted by BA Chief Concorde Pilot Mike Bannister. During the three hour twenty minute flight over the mid-Atlantic towards Iceland, Bannister attained Mach 2 and 60,000 ft before returning to RAF Brize Norton. The test flight, intended to resemble the London-New York route, was declared a success and was watched on live TV, and by crowds on the ground at both locations.

File:Concorde Flight Deck.jpg

Chief Pilot Mike Bannister (left) and other pilots on flight deck of BA002, 30 August 2002

Normal commercial operations resumed on 7 November 2001 by BA and AF (aircraft G-BOAE and F-BTSD), with service to New York JFK, where passengers were welcomed by the mayor, Rudy Giuliani.

The first BA passenger flight took place on 11 September 2001, and was in the air during the attacks on the World Trade Center. This was not a revenue flight, as all the passengers were BA employees.

退役

On 10 April 2003, British Airways and Air France simultaneously announced that they would retire Concorde later that year. They cited low passenger numbers following the 25 July 2000 crash, the slump in air travel following 9/11 and rising maintenance costs.

That same day, Sir Richard Branson offered to buy British Airways' Concordes at their "original price of ￡1" for service with his Virgin Atlantic Airways. Branson claimed this to be the same token price that British Airways had paid the British Government, but BA denied this and refused the offer. However, although the cost of buying the aircraft was ￡26 million each, the money for buying the aircraft was loaned by the government - this loan was written off when British Airways was privatised in 1987.

After posting large losses on their Concorde flights in the early 1980s, British Airways paid a flat sum of ￡16.5 million in 1984 to the UK government to buy their Concordes outright. After doing a market survey and discovering that their target customers thought that Concorde was more expensive than it actually was, BA progressively raised prices to match these perceptions. It is reported that BA then ran Concorde at a profit, unlike their French counterparts. Although BA refused to open the accounts, it has been reported to be up to ￡50 million per year in the most profitable year and a total revenue of ￡1.75 billion on costs of ￡1 billion.

Branson wrote in The Economist (23 October 2003) that his final offer was "over ￡5 million" and that he had intended to operate the fleet "for many years to come." Any hope of Concorde remaining in service was further thwarted by Airbus' unwillingness to provide maintenance support for the ageing airframes.

It has been suggested that Concorde was not cancelled for the reasons usually given, and that the airlines discovered during the grounding that Concorde's first class passengers were loyal to the airlines and carrying them on subsonic aircraft gave greater revenue and that this was the real reason for the withdrawal from service.

The small hope remaining for Concorde today rests with a dedicated group of French volunteer engineers keeping one of the youngest Concordes in near airworthy condition. This group of engineers, working on the Air France aircraft retired to the Le Bourget Air and Space Museum in Paris, hope that one day Concorde will be able to show her majesty by taking to the skies. Concordes based in Britain, however, have had their fluids drained and systems have been disconnected, making it even harder for her to regain airworthiness certification. It appears that the French hopes present a much better chance of seeing her fly in the future.

法国航空

Air France made its final commercial Concorde landing in the United States in New York City from Paris on 30 May 2003. Firetrucks sprayed the traditional arcs of water above F-BTSD on the tarmac of John F. Kennedy airport. She returned to Paris on a misty May morning. The final passenger flight for the airline's SSTs was a charter around the Bay of Biscay. During the following week, on 2 June and 3 June 2003, F-BTSD flew a final round-trip from Paris to New York and back for airline staff and long-time employees in the airline's Concorde operations.[24] Air France's final Concorde flight took place on 27 June 2003 when F-BVFC retired to Toulouse.[25]

An auction of Concorde parts and memorabilia for Air France was held at Christie's in Paris on 15 November 2003. Thirteen hundred people attended, with several lots exceeding their predicted values by an order of magnitude.

Two French Concordes at Le Bourget and Toulouse have been run occasionally, and it is possible that they could be prepared for future flights for special occasions.

英国航空

Parade flight at Queen's Golden Jubilee

BA's last Concorde departure from Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados was on 30 August 2003. BA conducted a mini North American farewell tour in October 2003. G-BOAG visited Toronto Pearson International Airport on 1 October 2003, G-BOAD visited Boston's Logan International Airport on 8 October 2003, and G-BOAG visited Washington Dulles International Airport on 14 October 2003.[26] G-BOAD's flight to Boston set a record for the fastest transatlantic flight from east to west, making the trip from London Heathrow in 3 hours, 5 minutes, 34 seconds.[27]

In a final week of farewell flights around the United Kingdom, a Concorde visited Birmingham on 20 October, Belfast on 21 October, Manchester on 22 October, Cardiff on 23 October, and Edinburgh on 24 October. Each day the aircraft made a return flight out and back into Heathrow to the cities concerned, often overflying those cities at low altitude. Over 650 competition winners and 350 special guests were carried.

On 22 October, Heathrow ATC arranged for the inbound flight BA9021C, a special from Edinburgh, and BA002 from New York to land simultaneously on the left and right runways respectively.

On the evening of 23 October 2003, the Queen consented to the illumination of Windsor Castle as Concorde's last west-bound commercial flight departed London and flew overhead. This is an honour normally reserved for major state events and visiting dignitaries.

British Airways retired its aircraft the next day, 24 October. G-BOAG left New York to a fanfare similar to her Air France predecessor's, while two more made round trips, G-BOAF over the Bay of Biscay, carrying VIP guests including many former Concorde pilots, and G-BOAE to Edinburgh. The three aircraft then circled over London, having received special permission to fly at low altitude, before landing in sequence at Heathrow. The two round-trip Concordes landed at 4:01 and 4:03 p.m. BST, followed at 4:05 by the one from New York. All three aircraft then spent 45 minutes taxiing around the airport before finally disembarking the last supersonic fare-paying passengers. The pilot of the New York to London flight was Mike Bannister. All of BA's Concordes have been grounded, have lost their airworthiness certificates and have been drained of hydraulic fluid. Ex-chief Concorde pilot and manager of the fleet Jock Lowe, estimated it would cost ￡10-15 million to make G-BOAF (at Filton) airworthy again. BA maintains ownership of the Concordes, and has stated that they will not fly again.

On 1 December 2003, Bonhams held an auction of British Airways' Concorde artifacts at Kensington Olympia, in London. Items sold included a Machmeter, nose cone, pilot and passenger seats, cutlery, ashtrays and blankets used onboard. Proceeds of about ￡? million resulted, with the first half-million going to Get Kids Going!, a charity which gives disabled children and young people the opportunity to participate in sport.

飞机资料

和谐式客机共建造20架，其中6架作开发测试之用。 包括：

• 2架原型机
• 2架预产机
• 16架量产机
  • 首两架量产机未有投入商业使用
  • 其余14架投入商业使用，至2003年4月剩下12架在役

生产编号	登记编号	首次飞行	最后飞行	飞行时数	地点
001	F-WTSS	1969年3月2日	1973年10月19日	812	法国布尔歇（Le Bourget）航空航天博物馆（Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace）
002	G-BSST	1969年4月9日	1976年3月4日	836	英国尤维尔顿（Yeovilton）海军航空兵博物馆（Fleet Air Arm Museum）
101	G-AXDN	1971年12月17日	1977年8月20日	632	英国达克斯福德（Duxford）帝国战争博物馆（Imperial War Museum）
102	F-WTSA	1973年1月10日	1976年5月20日	656	法国巴黎奥里机场（Orly Airport）
201	F-WTSB	1973年12月6日	1985年4月19日	909	法国图卢兹空中客车制造厂
202	G-BBDG	1974年12月13日	1981年12月24日	1282	英国索立（Surrey）维桥（Weybridge）布鲁克兰博物馆（Brooklands Museum）
203	F-BTSC	1975年1月31日	2000年7月25日	11989	于法国巴黎外围坠毁
204	G-BOAC	1975年2月27日	2003年10月31日	22260	英国曼彻斯特机场观景公园
205	F-BVFA	1976年10月27日	2003年6月12日	17824	美国维吉尼亚州夏提利（Chantilly）国立航空太空博物馆（国立航空太空博物馆）史蒂文·尤德华-海济中心（Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center）
206	G-BOAA	1975年11月5日	2000年8月12日	22768	苏格兰东洛锡安（East Lothian）飞行博物馆（Museum of Flight）
207	F-BVFB	1976年3月6日	2003年6月24日	14771	德国辛斯海姆汽车与技术博物馆（Sinsheim Auto & Technik
208	G-BOAB	1976年5月18日	2000年8月15日	22296	英国伦敦[[希斯路机场
209	F-BVFC	1976年7月9日	2000年6月27日	14332	法国图卢兹空中客车制造厂
210	G-BOAD	1976年8月25日	2003年11月10日	23397	美国纽约无畏号海空博物馆（Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum）
211	F-BVFD	1977年2月10日	1982年5月27日	5814	于1982年5月27日重着陆后除役，1994年拆解成备用零件
212	G-BOAE	1977年3月17日	2003年11月17日	23376	巴巴多斯
213	F-BTSD	1978年6月26日	2003年6月14日	12974	法国布尔歇（Le Bourget）航空航天博物馆（Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace）
214	G-BOAG	1978年4月21日	2003年11月5日	16239	美国西雅图飞行博物馆（Museum of Flight）
215	F-BVFF	1978年11月26日	2000年6月11日	12421	法国巴黎夏尔·戴高乐国际机场
216	G-BOAF	1979年4月20日	2003年11月26日	18257	英国布里斯托弗里顿机场（Filton Aerodrome）

文化及政治上的冲击

和谐式客机使用的先进科技和其精雕细啄的外型，一直令她成为航空界的重要象征。很多英国人和法国人都认为它是国家的骄傲；法国人认为它是法国的飞机，英国人则认为它是英国飞机。

环境冲击

人们对和谐式客机飞越时所造成严重噪音的反应代表着社会上的重大转变。最初在和谐式客机航班试飞时，这种民用航空工业的产品都得到已发展的民主政府和其选民的广泛支持。大众（主要是美国东部沿岸的居民）对和谐式客机噪音的反响代表着政治上的转折点，自此之后很多企业的科学家和技术人员都开始认真对待环境和社会冲击的问题。

卡劳·云迪（Carol Vendi）是和谐式客机的其中一位主要反对者，他因为这次事件而取得一些政治基础并因此而进身美国国会。Concorde led directly to a general noise reduction in aircraft flying out of JFK; it was found that Concorde was actually quieter than some aircraft (partly due to the pilots temporarily throttling back their engines to reduce noise during overflight of residential areas). This caused the other airlines to have to follow suit.

和谐式客机飞行时排出氮氧化物，, which, despite complicated chemical interactions with other ozone-depleting chemicals, are understood to produce a net degradation to the ozone layer at the stratospheric altitudes she cruised. It has been pointed out that other, lower-flying, airliners actually produce ozone during their flights in the troposphere, but vertical transit of gases between the two is highly restricted. There have been accusations that the anti-SST lobby overstated the case for ozone degradation to suit their political ends. The tiny fleet size meant the absolute destruction was not significant.

From this perspective, Concorde's technical leap forward can be viewed as boosting the public's (and the media's) understanding of conflicts between technology and the environment. In France, the use of acoustic fencing alongside TGV tracks might not have been achieved without the 1970s furore over aircraft noise. In Britain, the CPRE have issued tranquillity maps since 1990 and public agencies are starting to do likewise.

Concorde travelled, per passenger, 17 miles for each gallon of fuel (mpg) (or 20 l/100km). This efficiency is comparable to a Gulfstream G550 business jet (~16 mpg or 18 l/100km per passenger), but much lower than a Boeing 747-400 (~91 mpg or 3.1 l/100km per passenger)

大众认知

和谐式客机通常被认为是有钱人的专利，, but special circular (non-landing) or one-way (with return by coach or ship) charter flights were arranged to bring a trip within the means of moderately well-off enthusiasts.

Her enigma was such that an overflight would frequently temporarily halt day-to-day business, and she was usually referred to by the British as simply "Concorde" and the French as "le Concorde" (rather than "un Concorde"), as if there were only one.

As a symbol of national pride, a plane from the BA fleet made occasional flypasts at selected Royal events, major airshows and other special occasions, sometimes in formation with the Red Arrows. On the final day of commercial service, public interest was so great that grandstands were erected at London's Heathrow Airport to afford a view of the final arrivals. Crowds filled the boundary road around the airport and there was extensive media coverage.

Thirty-seven years after her first test flight, Concorde was announced the winner of the Great British Design Quest, organised by the BBC and the Design Museum. A total of 212,000 votes were cast with Concorde beating design icons such as the Mini, mini skirt, Jaguar E-type, Tube map and the Supermarine Spitfire.

与其他超音速客机的比较

The only other supersonic airliner in direct competition with Concorde was the Soviet TU-144, and ultimately was a failure. Although the TU-144 entered service earlier, it was retired in 1978. The still-born project, the Boeing 2707, was America's entry into the supersonic sweepstakes.

As a result of a rushed development program, the TU-144 was cruder and much less refined than Concorde, with cabin noise notably higher. The early version of the TU-144D had significantly lower range than Concorde, largely due to its underpowered engines. It required reheat to maintain Mach 2.0 and cruised at Mach 1.6. The vehicle had poor control at low speeds because of a simpler, dedicated supersonic wing design. In addition, the Tu-144 required parachutes to land while Concorde had sophisticated antilock brakes. It also had two crashes, one at the 1973 Paris Air Show, which made further sales impossible, and another during a cargo flight. Later versions had retractable canards for better low speed control, and military engines from Tu-160 that gave them nearly the range of Concorde. It had 126 seats. With a top speed of Mach 2.35 (made possible due to titanium and steel leading edges), while theoretically a more competitive aircraft, this version was not exportable due to the military engines.

The American design was to have been larger, seating 300. It was also intended to reach higher speeds of up to Mach 3.0, which made the construction much more difficult, as high temperatures ruled out the use of duralumin. Running a few years behind Concorde, the extra costs of these features may have helped to kill the project. The discovery that sonic booms were quite capable of reaching the ground also meant that the aircraft was subject to the same environmental concerns that contributed to hindering commercial success of Concorde. The American government had spent over $1 billion on the project.

可能的后继机

In November 2003, European aviation company EADS, one of the members of the Airbus consortium, announced that it was considering working with Japanese companies to develop a larger, faster replacement for Concorde. However, recent news reports suggest only $1m is being invested every year into research, much less than the $1bn needed for the development of a viable supersonic airliner.

In October 2005, JAXA, the Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency, undertook aerodynamic testing of a scale model of an airliner designed to carry 300 passengers at Mach 2. If pursued to commercial deployment, it would be expected to be in service around 2020 - 2025.

Research into supersonic business jets is ongoing.

The British company Reaction Engines Limited, with 50% EU money, are researching LAPCAT, a design for a hydrogen-fuelled plane carrying 300 passengers, capable of flying nonstop from Brussels to Sydney at Mach 5+ in 4.6 hours.

规格

基本信息

• 机组：9人，包括机舱服务员
• 容量：100名乘客

性能

• 推重比：.373

流行文化

Concorde has been featured or mentioned in:

• The Wild Geese (1978) film: Colonel Faulkner (Richard Burton) arrives at London Heathrow on Concorde.
• Hart To Hart (1979-1984) television series: features Concorde landing in the opening title credits.
• The Concorde: Airport '79 film: Concorde starred in this poorly received and outlandish film sequel in the Airport series. The Concorde used for the live-action aerial filming was the Air France Concorde that crashed 21 years later on 25 July, 2000.
• The Concorde Affair (Concorde Affaire in orig.) Italy (1979) film: Director: Ruggero Deodato.
• Moonraker (1979) film: James Bond arrives in Rio de Janeiro on an Air France Concorde. Air France flew Concorde on the Paris-Dakar-Rio route at the time.
• The Long Good Friday (1980) film: Harold Shand (Bob Hoskins) flies into Heathrow on Concorde.
• Superman II (1980) film: Superman overtakes Concorde on his way to Paris.
• Doctor Who television series: Concorde features in the 1982 story "Time-Flight."
• The Transformers (1984-1987) television series: as the Aerialbot leader Silverbolt in the animated TV series. In the toy line, the Micromasters: "Supersonic" and "Skydive" also turn into Concordes.
• Coming to America (1988) film: Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and Semmi (Arsenio Hall) arrive in New York on a British Airways Concorde.
• The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) film: Maria Ruskin (Melanie Griffith) arrives in New York on an Air France Concorde. The film's Second Unit Director, Eric Schwab, went to considerable effort to calculate the exact time and day when a runway at JFK would line up exactly with the setting sun, to serve as a spectacular backdrop.
• Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2004) television series: Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone made regular trips to New York on Concorde.
• Snatch (2000) film: Cousin Avi flew on Concorde from New York City to London to see Doug the Head, then back, after an unexpected turn of events, and again to London in the closing scene of the film.
• Sabrina (1995) film: Linus Larrabee (Harrison Ford) takes an Air France Concorde from New York to Paris in order to meet Sabrina on time, since she had left New York earlier on a conventional Air France flight.
• Only Fools and Horses (1981- 2003) television series: in the 1996 Christmas episode, after attending the auction of the John Harrison pocket watch which made them millionaires, the family is seen aboard Concorde on their way home from America.
• The Parent Trap (1998 version) film: Hallie and her father take Concorde so that they can beat the twins' mother and Annie to London.
• Cats & Dogs (2001) film: Concorde was used to transport secret agent dogs from the UK to the USA.
• National Treasure (2004) film: Concorde is shown on New York Harbor.
• SuperSonic Dream (2005) television documentary: a PBS NOVA documentary about Concorde
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000.
• Public reaction to the Air France Concorde crash was cited by Jeremy Clarkson during a 2004 TV appearance on Parkinson as a primary inspiration for his book I Know You Got Soul.

参考资料

• Beniada, Frederic. Concorde. St Paul, Minnesota: Zenith Press, 2006. ISBN 0-7603-2703-3.
• Calvert, Brian. Flying Concorde, The Full Story. London: Crowood Press, 2002. ISBN 1-84037-352-0.
• Endres, Gunter. Concorde. St Paul, Minnestota: MBI Publishing Company, 2001. ISBN 0-7603-1195-1.
• McIntyre, Ian. Dogfight: The Transatlantic Battle over Airbus. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 1992. ISBN 0-275-94278-3.

外部链接

• "Farewell to Concorde" (BBC)
• Aircraft-Info.net - Concorde
• Concorde on display at Manchester Airport - UK
• Take off and landing video clips from the final flights (BA)
• 2003 Video stream of amateur footage (requires Java) features an unscheduled stop at Gander, Canada due to unusually hot weather en route to New York, August 2003
• THE REAL STORY OF FLIGHT 4590: SPECIAL INVESTIGATION A freak 'single cause' accident was blamed when an Air France Concorde crashed in flames in Paris last year, killing 114 people. But a number of errors which could have been avoided may have played a part in the disaster.

Related content

• G-BBDG
• Supersonic transport
  

类似型号

• Boeing 2707
• Tupolev Tu-144
  

相关列表

• List of Concorde pilots
• List of airliners
• List of topics related to the United Kingdom