The End of an Era

The Concorde left JFK on its last regular passenger flight today. No tickets were sold for this flight; all 100 passengers were guests of British Airways. Celebrity's, and the likes thereof. The people that helped make the Concorde famous. The people that kept the Concorde flying for 27 years.

The Concorde, a joint project of the British and French governments, began commercial service in January 1976. The technological marvel flew 11 miles above the Earth at speeds up to 1,350 mph, crossing the Atlantic in just 3 1/2 hours. With the five-hour time difference, passengers arrived in New York earlier than they had left London.

Only 16 Concorde's were ever built. British Airways said it would make an announcement next week about the fate of its seven Concorde's. Most are expected to go to museums.