Will Concorde just be left in a corner to gather dust?
CALLS have been made for the people of Bristol to demand to know what will happen to "their" Concorde when the aircraft is taken off display in just a few weeks.
Questions were also asked at a public meeting about thousands of pounds raised towards a scheme to create a permanent home for the supersonic aircraft, which many fear will now never be built.
The supersonic aircraft has been open to visitors at Filton since 2005 after the Concorde fleet was retired.
Huge crowds turned out two years earlier to say an emotional farewell to Concorde 216 as a passenger airliner while looking forward to eventually seeing her as the centrepiece of a new museum celebrating the aviation heritage of Bristol.
As the last Concorde to be built at Filton, it was seen as the spiritual home of Alpha-Foxtrot.
But despite a site near Cribbs Causeway being earmarked for the museum, there has been no progress on the £12-million project since planning permission was given.
Concorde has remained exposed to the elements in her temporary retirement site next to the runway at Filton but there are now fears she could be mothballed and closed as a visitor attraction after it was revealed she will be moved into a hangar on October 15 for maintenance to be carried out.
Airbus, which loans Concorde from British Airways (BA), was unable to provide a date when the work will be completed and the plane reopened to the public, leading to concerns she would never reappear.
The public meeting in Filton Leisure Centre was organised by the Save Concorde Group, which sent invitations to Airbus, BA and the Concorde Trust – set up to manage the museum development – to attend and answer questions but none of them sent representatives.
Ben Lord, chairman of the Save Concorde Group, said: "This is a desperate situation and we feel terribly disappointed. Will Concorde be mothballed in a corner to gather dust?"
He said people wanted to know what had happened to an estimated £350,000 raised towards the museum scheme when "no brick had been laid".
The Bristol Aero Collection has provided volunteers, some of whom had previously worked on Concorde, to take tours around the aeroplane and Mr Lord said they couldn't understand why the plane had to be taken off display for maintenance to be carried out.
Andy Treweek is Concorde visitor centre manager and one of just two paid employees on the project.
He said people from all over the world visited the plane, adding: "We need to find out what has happened to that £350,000 and what will happen to Concorde."
Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, pledged to do all he could to help. He said: "I'm prepared to ask awkward questions."
North Somerset Council deputy leader, Elfan ap Rees, one of the trustees of the helicopter museum in Weston-super-Mare, urged those involved in the project to lower their sights as the cost of the museum was now too great.
He said Concorde had to be under cover and a hangar could be built for £500,000.
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by Martin Bayliss, Stroud
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 7:51PM
“I hope Airbus do not plan to use the Filton Concorde as a spairs source for the French Concorde they plan to fly again. This would be particularly gauling as the French were responsible for grounding Concorde.
Otherwise putting Concorde under cover while the money to build a purpose built hanger is raised is a good idea provided the aircraft is periodically open to the public.
Also, we must ensure that the Filton aircraft remains on site at Filton so that it does not have to be moved by road to another location, which would involve cutting the airframe up, like the one that is displayed in Scotland. Apparently you can see the joins in the wing where the wings were cut off. Vandalism!
I hope the Crib Causeway proposed site does not require the Filton Concorde to be cut up in order to transport it by road. There is the whole Filton airfield to find a spot for the airframe.
I also agree that a cheaper building to put the aircraft in would be adequate. The main thing is to get it out the weather to preserve it for all time.”
by Martin Bayliss, Stroud
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 7:49PM
“I hope Airbus do not plan to use the Filton Concorde as a spairs source for the French Concorde they plan to fly again. This would be particularly gauling as the French were responsible for grounding Concorde in the first place.
Otherwise putting Concorde under cover while the money to build a purpose built hanger is raised is a good idea provided the aircraft is periodically open to the public.
Also, we must ensure that the Filton aircraft remains on site at Filton so that it does not have to be moved by road to another location, which would involve cutting the airframe up, like the one that is displayed in Scotland. Apparently you can see the joins in the wing where the wings were cut off. Vandalism!
I hope the Crib Causeway proposed site does not require the Filton Concorde to be cut up in order to transport it by road. There is the whole Filton airfield to find a spot for the airframe!
I also agree that a cheaper building to put the aircraft in would be adequate. The main thing is to get it out the weather to preserve it for all time.”
by John, Bristol
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 9:44AM
“I may be missing a point her but who actually owns the Concorde at Filton?
If it is still, nominally, British Airways then I suspect that it will never be restored for the public to see as they will want to keep their asset in a viable condition that would not be possible if left in the open air.
Other cities have managed to build accommodation for their Concordes and the French have even considered restoring theirs to flying condition yet Bristol and South Gloucestershire continue to 'um and faff' over a purpose built museum.
Concorde is a one off in aviation history, the only 'sucessful' supersonic airliner that entered commercial service yet, in the area it was conceived and built it is being treated as a football by interested groups.
Go for Lottery funding and build the museum before it is too late and Concorde becomes a memory or by-line in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.”
by Chris May, Weston super Mare
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 8:53AM
“I was a trustee of the Bristol Aero Collection when the "Concorde Trust" was being set up but I resigned because directors who are now on both Charities, wouldn't tell the rest of us what was what was going on. It's this mania for secrecy which has bedevilled the whole sorry Concorde-at-Filton tale - though I have to say the Charity Commissioners investigated at that time and found nothinmg to criticise.”
by Anon, Posted from my iPhone
Monday, September 06 2010, 4:54PM
“Very good point, Sue.
The Hedgehog”