Concorde 50th anniversary: Surrey pilot recalls flying the supersonic jet.

Mike Bannister, who became the youngest Concorde pilot in 1977 and captained its final commercial flight in 2003, spoke at Brooklands Museum as Concorde marks 50 years since its first passenger service in 1976.

Mike Bannister, a pilot from Staines, marked Concorde's 50th anniversary by speaking at Brooklands Museum and recalling his time flying the aircraft. Concorde first carried passengers from London Heathrow on 21 January 1976 and later established a regular route to New York. Bannister became the youngest person to fly Concorde in 1977 and he captained its final commercial flight from New York to London in October 2003. He described the aircraft as still fascinating and expressed interest in a future generation of supersonic travel. Key details: - Concorde first flew passengers from London Heathrow on 21 January 1976. - The Heathrow–JFK service began in November 1977, and Concorde also operated from Gatwick from 1985. - British Airways reported Concorde made nearly 50,000 flights and carried more than 2.5 million passengers while in service. - The aircraft cruised at over twice the speed of sound, about 1,354 mph (2,179 km/h). - Mike Bannister became the youngest Concorde pilot in 1977 at age 28 and captained Concorde's last commercial flight on 24 October 2003. Summary: The 50th anniversary draws attention to Concorde's technical achievements and its role in international travel. Bannister's remarks underscore continued interest in supersonic flight and the presence of preserved Concorde aircraft at museums. Undetermined at this time.