Designers Study Evolution Of Concorde (1971)

Five years before Concorde was introduced into service, an advanced design team was already working on a second-generation transport that would be defined by 1975 and enter service in 1980-85.

Future possibilities included new supersonic turbofan engines, aerodynamic shapes and structural materials, such as steel and titanium. 

The February 8, 1971 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology carried an extensive special report on Concorde, including future designs, which the magazine's editor called "the strongest challenger to American domination of the international transport market in history."

The cover of that issue featured a photo of Concorde's modified delta wing planform, caught from the rear seat of a Mirage 3B inverted during a roll around the French-built 001 prototype. More photos from the same mission featured inside the magazine.

Read the full report and see the photos in Aviation Week's digital archives.