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 past luxurious flight experience on the actual Concorde, highlighting its unparalleled speed, elegant design, and the unique sensation of flying at the edge of space.
The article primarily details a comprehensive simulation flight at the Brooklands Museum with a legendary pilot, showcasing Concorde's complex analog cockpit and its unique operational procedures for takeoff, supersonic acceleration, and cruise.
Concorde is presented as an exceptional engineering marvel, characterized as a "100-seat fighter jet" due to its visceral power, precise handling, innovative fuel management for center of gravity, and the distinctive ability to supercruise without reheat.

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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.