Chance to buy a bit of Concorde

The nose cone and engines are up for grabs

Concorde fans with as little as 20 euros to spend may be able to snap up a piece of history in Paris in November.

Air France is auctioning Concorde parts and memorabilia to mark the end of the supersonic airliner's 27 years of service.

Big spenders - with large spaces available - may fancy the giant engines which powered the fleet to its supersonic speeds.

Estimated prices for the Olympus 593 engines, built by Rolls Royce and Snecma, are not being made public.

We hope this landmark sale will contribute to the memories of this human and technological adventure as well as raising funds for good causes Jean-Cyril Spinetta Air France chief executive officer

Concorde's distinctive nose cone is expected to be another highlight at the 15 November, Christie's spokeswoman Capucine Milliot told BBC News Online.

The 3.5-metre cone has a guide price of 10,000-15,000 euros.

Those with a smaller budget might prefer wing parts with an price estimate standing at 1,500-2,000 euros.

The machmeter, which measured Concorde's supersonic speeds, is another piece of history waiting to be snapped up.

A total of 200 lots will be on sale, including photographs and scale models of the plane.

There will be no reserve prices - meaning in theory that lots can be picked up one euro. The lowest estimate price is 20 euros.

But interest is expected to be huge.

Concorde items offered for sale on internet site Ebay have seen a big increase in traffic since the announcement that the Concorde fleets in both France and the UK were being disbanded.

"This unique plane has an unparalleled place in the history of international aviation and has captured the public's imagination for nearly three decades," said Air France chief executive officer Jean-Cyril Spinetta.

He said the sale would give everyone a unique opportunity to buy a piece of Concorde history.

We are proud to welcome in our saleroom admirers of the great white bird which made us all dream Francois Curiel Christie's Europe chairman

"We hope this landmark sale will contribute to the memories of this human and technological adventure as well as raising funds for good causes," Mr Spinetta said.

Francois Curiel, chairman of Christie's Europe, paid his own tribute to Concorde.

"It is a testimony to French and European technology, and we are proud to welcome in our saleroom admirers of the great white bird which made us all dream," he said.

The lots will be divided into four subject areas: the supersonic adventure, technical elements, souvenirs, and finally a special series of photographic prints.

Proceeds will go to the Air France Foundation, which supports children's causes.

An Air France Concorde crashed on take-off from Paris in July 2000, killing 113 people.

Extensive safety modifications were carried out, but it was later announced that the Concorde era was coming to an end.