Article from BTNews 27 JUNE 2016
Brooklands' Concorde salute
Brooklands Museum’s Concorde, G-BBDG, will droop her nose on 26 July for the first time in almost 35 years.
The ceremony is to hail the 10th anniversary of the aircraft’s official opening to the public at the museum as an exhibition, event venue and virtual flight experience.
Guest performer for the manoeuvre, using Concorde’s own flight controls, will be TV presenter, international model and former Concorde passenger Jodie Kidd, marking the highlight of an all-day celebratory event.
G-BBDG’s nose has not been lowered since her flying days ended on 24 December 1981. The landmark achievement of restoring the functionality of the nose and visor mechanisms was made possible by the efforts of volunteers who have been working for more than a year on the project.
Kidd, who will be on the flight deck on 26 July, flew on the supersonic aircraft regularly to and from the US and was on the final revenue flight from New York to London on 24 October 2003.
The nose-lowering ceremony will be celebrated with a champagne reception with the volunteers who have kept G-BBDG in good condition and who run the Brooklands Concorde Experience tours, plus former Concorde pilots and engineers including chief pilot Mike Bannister.
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Henk Heiden, Netherlands
Members of the general public are invited to attend this day for the large amount of 200 pounds. Although a three course lunch is included, that is a 'bit' too much I think.