Bristol pilot recalls flying Concorde was 'beyond my wildest dreams'

John Tye of Bristol said piloting Concorde was 'beyond my wildest dreams' as former crew mark the 50th anniversary of its first commercial flight; British Airways says Concorde flew almost 50,000 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers before retiring in 2003.

John Tye, a pilot from Bristol, said having the opportunity to fly Concorde was "beyond my wildest dreams." He watched the inaugural flight to Bahrain on 21 January 1976 and piloted Concorde 23 years later. Former crew members spoke about their experiences to mark the 50th anniversary of Concorde's first commercial flight. British Airways reports Concorde flew almost 50,000 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers before it was retired in 2003. It cruised at more than twice the speed of sound. Key points: - John Tye watched the inaugural Concorde flight at Heathrow in January 1976 and later piloted the aircraft himself. - Cabin crew members described the experience as unique, saying they saw the curvature of the Earth and felt they were flying at the "edge of space." - British Airways states Concorde completed nearly 50,000 flights and carried over 2.5 million passengers during its commercial service. - The only fatal Concorde accident was Air France Flight 4590 on 25 July 2000; investigators reported that a tyre struck a piece of metal which had fallen from another aircraft. - The last Concorde to fly landed at Filton Airport on 26 November 2003, and the Alpha Foxtrot is kept in a purpose-built hangar at Aerospace Bristol. Summary: Former crew recollections underline Concorde's technical achievement and the personal significance it held for those who worked on it. The 50th anniversary has prompted reflections from pilots and cabin crew about their time on the aircraft. Undetermined at this time.