Bristol Concorde date set

Concorde could fly into Bristol under escort

Concorde will land in Bristol in late November, British Airways has officially confirmed.

At 1300 GMT on 26 November, Concorde 216 will touch down for the last time at Filton Airfield.

Beforehand the jet will take off from Heathrow at 1120 GMT and fly over the Bay of Biscay.

Because of crowd restrictions, it is understood that before Concorde lands it will carry out a fly-past over the city, and may be accompanied by a World War II Spitfire.

All seven of BA's Concordes will be sent to museums in the UK and worldwide.

Going home

Chief Concorde pilot Mike Bannister, who will pilot the final flight, was thrilled the jet was returning home.

"British Airways is delighted that we are returning the last Concorde ever built, Alpha Foxtrot, to her birthplace at Filton later this month," he said.

"We hope that the people of Bristol and the South West will take the opportunity to look up and watch her fly over for the last time."

He added that Bristolians, many of the whom worked on the jet, should feel a sense of achievement in her.

"They should be tremendously proud of all that Concorde has achieved throughout 27 years of wonderful service.

"As Aircraft number 216 she first flew on Friday, 20 April, 1979 and will land for the last time at 1pm on Wednesday, November 26."

Locations

The plane made its final commercial flight in October, ending three decades of supersonic travel.

The airline had hoped it would be able to keep one Concorde flying for airshows and special events.

But after carrying out feasibility studies, it said this would not be possible, as the cost would be "absolutely prohibitive".

The British locations are:

Airbus UK in Filton, South Gloucestershire - where Concorde was built

Manchester Airport

The Museum of Flight, near Edinburgh

Heathrow Airport