1967 Concorde Advertisement

This double-page advertisement for Concorde, with an emphasis on the 35,000 lb. Olympus 593 powerplant jointly developed by Bristol Siddeley and Snecma, was placed in Aviation Week & Space Technology in May 1967. The anticipated first flight in the spring of 1968 was delayed until March 2, 1969. Instead, the Tupolev Tu-144 became the first supersonic airliner to fly in December 1968.

Following rollout in December 1967, Aviation Week & Space Technology quoted Winston Bray, director of planning for British Overseas Airways Corp., as saying it is conceivable that by 1980, the supersonic transports - Concorde and Boeing 2707 - will be carrying up to 50% of long haul traffic, a figure arrived at in a BOAC projection based on a surcharge graduated by distance. He also thought a fixed-fee charge could be made for boarding a supersonic transport, regardless of distance.

"One thing is clear," Bray said, "those operators who do not have the supersonic transport will be under pressure to re-plan their operations in such a way as to remain competitive in the higher price markets, if they can."

See also: Concorde, End of an Era

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