On 21st January 1976, Concorde flew simultaneous flights from Heathrow to Bahrain by British Airways and from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Rio by Air France, with each aircraft taking off from Heathrow and Paris at precisely the same time 11.40am. The supersonic plane became the icon of the 1970s with an aim to beat the barriers of time and space and to connect a much smaller, faster and globalized world.
Those passengers were the first to see the curvature of the Earth below them and the sky turning from blue to black above. Over the next 27 years, millions more were to experience ‘time travel’, arriving in New York at a local time an hour or so earlier than their departure time in London.
Its supersonic speed meant that on certain early evening transatlantic flights departing from Heathrow or Paris, it was possible to take off just after sunset and catch up with the sun, landing in daylight. This was much publicised by British Airways, who used the slogan “Arrive before you leave.”
Whilst Concorde no longer takes to the air, even fifty years later, Concorde remains a technical marvel and a much-loved icon of civil aviation.
A set of 8 mint first class stamps featuring stunning photography of the aircraft throughout its history including its first and last commercial flights. To celebrate 50 years since its first commercial flight, this set of stamps showcases the sleek, futuristic design of the aircraft with its distinctive delta wing and signature droop nose. In one of the stamps you’ll see photography of four Concordes flying in formation to celebrate 10 years of service.
1st Class British Pre-Production Concorde Rolled Out, 1971
1st Class British Pre-Production Concorde In Flight, 1974
1st Class Concorde’s First British Airways Livery, 1974
1st Class Concorde’s First UK Commercial Flight, 1976
1st Class Concorde Flying Overhead, 1985
1st Class Celebrating 10 Years of Service, 1985
1st Class Concorde’s Last British Airways Livery, 1997
1st Class Final Commercial Flight 2003
