On This Day

1st test flight of the supersonic Concorde

Concorde is a retired Anglo-French supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). Studies began in 1954 and a UK–France treaty...

Concorde is a retired Anglo-French supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).

Studies began in 1954 and a UK–France treaty followed in 1962, as the programme cost was estimated at £70 million (£1.68 billion in 2023).

Construction of six prototypes began in February 1965, with the first flight from Toulouse on 2 March 1969.

The market forecast was 350 aircraft, with manufacturers receiving up to 100 options from major airlines.

On 9 October 1975, it received its French certificate of airworthiness, and from the UK CAA on 5 December.

Concorde is an aircraft design with a narrow fuselage permitting four-abreast seating for 92 to 128 passengers, an ogival delta wing, and a droop nose for landing visibility.

It is powered...

Historical Significance

Concorde is a retired Anglo-French supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).

Events Before

  1. Cuba Gooding Jr. is born

    Cuba Gooding Jr., American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1968-01-02. Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. is an American actor.

  2. ABC Radio splits into four networks: Info, Entertainment, Contemporary, and FM

    ABC Radio splits into four networks: Info, Entertainment, Contemporary, and FM

  3. Actress Sharon Tate (24) weds actor and director Roman Polanski (34) in Chelsea, London

    Actress Sharon Tate (24) weds actor and director Roman Polanski (34) in Chelsea, London

  4. Battle of Khe Sanh begins at Khe Sanh Combat Base, one of the most publicized and controversial battles of the Vietnam W

    Battle of Khe Sanh begins at Khe Sanh Combat Base, one of the most publicized and controversial battles of the Vietnam War

  5. Aretha Franklin's 14th studio album "Lady Soul" is released (Billboard Album of the Year, 1968)

    Aretha Franklin's 14th studio album "Lady Soul" is released (Billboard Album of the Year, 1968)

Events After

  1. Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League

    Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney (August 31, 1921 – January 10, 1994) was an Irish-American front office executive in Major League Baseball.

  2. Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu flees Biafra into exile, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to surrender to the Nig

    Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu flees Biafra into exile, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to surrender to the Nigerian Army, effectively ending the Nigerian Civil War

  3. Movie rating system modifies "M" rating to "PG"

    Movie rating system modifies "M" rating to "PG"

  4. Biographical film "Patton" directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott premieres in New York (Academy

    Biographical film "Patton" directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott premieres in New York (Academy Awards Best Picture 1971)

  5. South Africa cricket team completes a 4-0 series drubbing of Australia in South Africa in the country's last official in

    South Africa cricket team completes a 4-0 series drubbing of Australia in South Africa in the country's last official international cricket Test for 22 years

More from the 1960s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on March 2, 1969?
Concorde is a retired Anglo-French supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). Studies began in 1954 and a UK–France treaty followed in 1962, as the programme cost was estimated at £70 million (£1.68 billion in 2023). Construction of six prototypes began in February 1965, with the first flight from Toulouse on 2 March 1969.
Why is 1st test flight of the supersonic Concorde significant?
Concorde is a retired Anglo-French supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).

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