Flying Concorde: A Pilot’s Perspective From the Edge of Space

Supersonic airliner was a truly remarkable engineering achievement and a testament to human ingenuity.

Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

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The sim at Brooklands is the only bona fide Concorde simulator in operation. It was used until 2003. [Credit: Jeff Berlin]

Key Takeaways:

The author recounts a luxurious and exclusive flight experience on Air France's Concorde in May 2000, highlighting its status as an aviation marvel beyond just a flight.
Concorde was an engineering marvel, designed for Mach 2.02 supercruise with unique delta wings, efficient engines, and complex fuel transfer for center of gravity control.
The article details the author's hands-on experience in the only operational Concorde simulator at Brooklands Museum, guided by legendary pilot Captain Mike Bannister, showcasing its complex 1970s analog cockpit and precise handling requirements for supersonic flight.

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I’m seated in “Le Club,” Air France’s Concorde Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (LFPG). It’s May 2000, and across from me, outside a panoramic window, Concorde waits in silhouette—poised, sleek, unreal.

Check-in was a breeze. The lounge, all blond wood, buttery leather, Badoit and bubbly, exudes curated calm. From my corner, I watch her—a stunning, slender swan with a droop nose, ready to jet us to John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) in New York.