End of an Era

At about half past four this afternoon, a Concorde left Manchester Airport, presumably the last time this will ever happen.

Concorde may have become a political and economic white elephant, but in technical and engineering terms, it remains a masterpiece - more thirty years after its first flight, its performance has yet to be surpassed. Nothing flies as high, as fast and as far with a comparable payload.

From our office in northern Stockport, we got a good view (and a good earful) as it made a climbing turn to the north on its way out. It's one of the very few aircraft I'll call "beautiful".

As a small child, visiting grandparents in Somerset, I was often taken to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, where they have one of the prototypes.

During my teenage years in Newbury, I frequently heard the distinctive rumble, and turned to see the white delta in the distance, climbing steadily out of Heathrow on its way to America.

Even during the last decade, working in Stockport, I've occasionally seen them arrive and depart from Manchester.

It's a shame to see it go.