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Farewell to a legend

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by guruofdos 1 view

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I have to confess, I had a tear in my eye today as I watched Concorde G-BOAF land for the last time at Heathrow Airport. I was two years old when it took off for the first time in 1969 and of all aircraft ever in regular service it surely has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of engineering ever to see the light of day. Flying at a ceiling of 63,000 feet, right on the edge of space and at a cruising speed of Mach 2 (some 1300 mph or twice the speed of sound) this plane really was special. It once managed the London-New York run in 2 hours 57 minutes and regularly did that run in less than 3 hours 25 minutes. yes, it was expensive and yes it was horrendously fuel-hungry, but hell, it was SEXY!

The supersonic era is over...in these days of terrorism and financial constraints, another Concorde will not see the light of day again. The Russian Tupolev Tu144 (Concordski) was the only other attempt by any other manufacturer to emulate this technological marvel.

What other marvels of engineering will you miss or do miss?

30 replies

by jackofalltech

I miss the muscle cars of the '60s. While there are some powerful cars being made today, almost all of them look as though designed by and for girls.

Those '60 cars looked mean and ready to jump. My brother had a '69 Mustang Fastback 2+2 and one of his friends had an SS 442 that literally pushed you back INTO the seat when accelerating. They just don't make them like that anymore.

Ralph

by guruofdos

Well Max, you're right! Liberation of Afghanistan gave the Afghani women the right to 'mix it' with the rest of the 'infidels'.

Of course, pre-war it was a very different matter...

http://tinyurl.com/se4j

by maxwell edison

1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport with a 396 engine, Holly 4-Barrel Carburator, Edelbrock headers, 4-speed transmission, 4:11 rear end - all from the factory.

Silver with black interior and black vinyl top, of course - and chrome craiger mag wheels.

by hal 9000

Now one crash in 30 years is miraculous as well and even that one was caused by another aircraft that had something fall off it and shred a tire on Concord.

Yes G.O.D. we will never see its like again even though Boeings is susposed to be working on something similar I very much doubt it will look as graceful as the Concord as that was one hell f a beautiful bird. The only down point with it was it really didn?t look at all happy when on the ground but was always trying to get back into the air where it belonged.

So I?ll with regret lift a glass to the end of an era with the demise of one hell of a beautiful aircraft.

by thechas

Until it was announced that they were going to ground the Concorde, I had hopes of one day flying over to Europe just for the joy of it.

Other things that I miss / will miss:

Record albums.
CD's are convenient, but give me a properly mastered and pressed vinyl record for the BEST music quality.

Flemming Valve (vacuum tube) electronics.
There is just something mystical about the sound of a well designed valve amplifier.

Reel to reel tape recorders.
Again, a good 15 inch tape machine running at 15 IPS can make a truly awesome recording.

Film cameras.
For capturing subtle details you can't beet a good film camera with quality optics.

Rotary dial telephones.
The old Bell phones were virtually indestructible and had a charm about them.

Steam traction engines

Saturn V rockets.
The shuttle may be higher tech, but the good old Saturn V took man to the moon and was just impressive.

SR71.
The Blackbird is still an engineering marvel.

Chas

by maxwell edison

Record albums: Which one(s) would you like? I have close to 7,500 in my collection. (~100 are Beatles - are you surprised?)

Reel-to-Reel: I have one, but have never used it. I think its future will be taking it through ebay. (I do have 3 turntables, however)

Film Camera: My 35mm Minolta is still going strong.

Rotary dial Telephones: I have a few. The oldest one I have is a vintage 1930s - 1940s style sitting on top of my circa 1920s roll top desk.

Steam Traction Engines: Does attending a vintage tractor "tractor pull" count?

Saturn V Rockets: Dang, I just got rid of my last one. I knew I should have kept it.

SR71 Blackbird: When I was in the Air Force, I did track one across a radar screen - for a couple of minutes until it was out of radar range.

by thechas

I have around 1000 LPs in my collection.
I wish some of the newer jazz offerings were available on LP.

I also have a reel to reel, and have no intentions of selling it.
It is getting difficult to find decent quality blank tapes though.

My Minoltas still works fine. Digital can be more convenient.
Except when it comes to sharing images with my family members who do not have (or know how to use) a PC.

In my adult life, I never had a rotary phone, so I don't have 1 at the moment.

Yes, it is great to watch the old tractors at the shows.

Do you have the Revel model of the Saturn V with the Apollo modules on top?
I have that and a Cape Kennedy desktop model.

I have had the good fortune to work with 2 people who spent time on SR-71 ground crews.

Seeing your post, I wonder what other interests we share.

Chas

by generalist

My first thought was the Saturn V, one of the most impressive disposable hardware constructs around.

I also heartily agree with rotary phones, film cameras (And chrome films), steam traction engines and the SR-71.

The others are good choices, but not something that impresses me as much. I was one of those people with the cheap stereo system and the scratchy records and 8-tracks.

by jardinier

When I was young, I could choose between cars made in England, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, USA, Australia (the list may not be complete). Each vehicle had a distinctive styling, and unique characteristics.

In the past two decades, the vast majority of cars have (with a very few exceptions) been indistinguiable between brands. In fact you have to look closely at the brand attached to the vehicle to see what it actually is.

As the tendency towards a rounder and less distinctive style progressed, I used to speculate that the vehicle style designers must have eaten a can of baked beans, sat naked in a transparent tub of water, and as the fart bubbles rose to the surface, they were carefully photographed and used as the basis for styling.

My first attempt at a career was as a cadet radio engineer, and so of cause I miss vacuum tubes and hand-soldered electronic devices. Some of the old hands at AWA used to make tools out of bits and pieces, and I still use one of these which happens to exactly fit the hexagonal screws by which computer cables are secured.

And of COURSE I still use my Minolta 101 which I believe was the best selling camera ever produced.

And as for the high-end technical devices, I sorely miss catapults made from a y-fork and strips of car inner tube, and billy carts.

I miss listening through headphones to my crystal set, with its long aerial strung between two tall trees.

Well I am starting to get weepy with nostalgia, so I had better end this posting before I break into a fit of sobbing.

by road-dog

Especially the 'Cudas.

How much horsepower? more than I need... less than I want.

I miss the days when cars were individual.... not driven to sameness by aerodynamics and the headlong rush to wider market acceptance. Style and feel were heavy design factors.

From the days when a blue collar schmoe could afford to drive something HOT, not just yuppies and teenagers with no living expenses. And a reasonably inclined guy could work on them without 25 grand worth of diagnostic equipment.

The V-8 was the power plant that came with it, not as an extra couple grand "performance package".

I remember seeing what they turned the Dodge Challenger into before they finally killed it. A wedge shaped econo-box that was indistinguishable from the Japanese imports. In fact, it may have been an import also.

Corporations own the name, but the consumers own the image. Better to discontinue a line than to run it through the mud and then kill it.

by hal 9000

And they brought out a car with a Mazda body, Mitsubishi engine, Nisan Gear Box and running gear with a Ford Badge on it.

I honestly thought that some drug crased accounant had just thrown a whole pile of parts in the air and the pieces that landed close together where made into a car to put it as nicely as I possibly can that bloody thing was an Abortion of a car. What is worse is that they all seem to be going that way now with no indivual looks anymore.

I have a preference for the older Mercedes because they are well designed and look the part instead of the newer ones where you have to look at the badge just to see who claims to make it.

I for one wouldn't be surpried if they all came out of the same factory with different badges on for different days of the week.

While I'm all for efficent aero packages that doesn't mean that they all have to look the same and use the same presses to make the different cars. But then I suspose it was through sale volumes that made the car an everyday item so I suspose it is only a natural progression to make every car the same with only the badges being different as it would save money but I'm dammed if I can take it. Even something as different as a Porsche 911 now looks like everything else it only has brighter paintwork.

by oz_media

The still do but that's Ford.
I worked for FORD twice.
As a truck sales rep, if you're gonna have a demo it may as well be a good one, and as a Mechanic.

I still feel that although (as with ALL manufacturers) they've had growing pains but never as desperate as Chrysler with the K-car/LeBaron series. All cars top of the line or bottom had the same parts. You could buy a $25,000 car that talks with the exact same drive train and engine as the $12,000 K-Car. Neither lasted more than five years before death.

As for muscle, I have owned a 1970 Dodge Charger RT (ala Dukes of Hazzard, sans the rebel flag), last summer I finished rebuilding a 1973 Cuda with an overbored 360 and .202" intakes, a 1973 Ford Cougar (the rear lights WORKED!)and a 1954 Musrang (True classic even though I'm not a Mustang fan).

Although Chrysler has made a few pathetic attempts at the NEW AGE muscle car, they still haven't proven it yet.

Intrepid, crap with a junko Mitsubishi engine, weak, slow doesn't live long.

Prowler, nice lines but weak drivetrain and not as fast as they hoped.

Viper, overkill that never worked as predicted, prone to fall apart fast and have serious exhaust noise, not to mention the overkill V10 that REALLY isn;t that fast anyhow.

WORST OF ALL!!!

The PT CRUISER! This vehicle is a poorly built, deathtrap! Falling into the minivan category, the PT Cruiser slipd through the cracks when it comes to safety. Due to it's callsification, it has no need for side impact door beams. Judging by the height of the drivers window, this has been dangerous. NOt to mention, the Power Steering fluid is HIGHLY flamable, a slight leak from the pump will ignite on the manifolds and the car will burn quite efficiently in your parking space.

Chrysler is still making crap for yet another decade.

by hal 9000

As Ampex and 3M have all but disapeared there is still the TDK and although they are Jap they seem to work well enough although I personally don't think that they have the same dynamic range as the good old Ampex stuff.

But I've only been able to find then in very limited quanties in specalised Sound Shops and when I do I generally buy their whole stock something like 5 tapes Big Deal hey?

But they do have the advantage of having leaders and trailers on them so you don't have to splice these on like we used to with both the Ampex and 3M tapes.

by hal 9000

That where balls out tear aways like the Vincent HRT, Idian Chief, The good Old Harlies although I can't say i like the new rubber band driven ones much, Nortons, Trumpies, Ducati's, MV Augusta's, BMW's and their ilk.

Recently I took my 1982 Ducari 900 SS in for some parts as it only has about 14,000 Km's on it from new and the guy there insisted that I take one of the new so called Mussle Bikes out and he gave me a Ducati Monster to have a play with well to say it was a disapoinment is an understatment it is susposed to be one of the fasest things on wheels and my old 900 SS was faster, better behaved and far less civilised.

Now just why is it that all these susposely powerful Cars/Motorcycles are all now tame little play toys that you could allow anyone without any experience to drive/ride?

Then to add insult to injury a Bloody Social Worker of al people ran me and my Ducati down a couple of weeks ago and I still haven't got an estimate for repairs although they will be extensive and expensive and the guy who is doing the quote has suggested that I take the money and instead of repairing the thing I buy one of the new ones.

Sorry mate but where's the fun in that? I've had the 900 SS from new and I'm the only one who's ever laid a spanner on it and they expect me to give it away Like Hell! I got it in the box and that's the way it's going with me in a pine box and burried six feet under so what if I have to wait 3 - 4 years to get the bits at least I'll have my uncivilised play toy that I can trust to do what is expected of it rather than some new computer driven thing that breaks down every second day.

This is what I detest the new things have 3 computers in them and they are slower than something with no new technology well at least nothing new since 1956 and nowhere as much fun to drive/ride.

by road-dog

Now there is a lot of interest in custom bikes. There is a show on our Discovery Channel showing the inner workings of a small custom bike shop, Orange County Choppers. They produce the most amazing bikes, an stunning mix of engineering and art.

This is a backlash of the pseudocustom products that are out there where you spend 20 grand on the bike and toss on another 5 grand in bolt-ons and call it custom.

I think it's somehow self-defeating to buy a custom bike though, because even though it's built to your specs, you didn't build it, you bought it.

I want a HD really bad, but I'm building mine...

by hal 9000

The new ones have just too much chroe and the like for my taste. They look like overkill to me anyway but i'm not someone to critise onother for their likes.

Actually when I "restore" anything my main aim is to make it look standard and as new off the show room floor.

But then that doesn't explain my 65 VW Beetle that has 3" of ground clearence a 2.5 Lt motor worked to the eyeballs, all the swayawaw suspension products that where ever capable of being bought and no way of fitting an engine cover because that bloody great twin through cross flow webber just sticks out too far maybe I'll relent and go with fuel injection at least that way I'll be able to fit a engine cover and it might even make it produce a bit more power.

But I'm in full agreement with you if you want a "Custom" whatever you do it yourself as I don't see the point in paying someone else to do all the work granted some special things like certian paint work is OK with me but I prefer to get my hands dirty and do it all myself. At least that way you appreciate it more and treat it better and try to keep away from lunitics who want to crash into you or worse still show no mechanical symathy to the poor thing and then complain when you keep breaking it.

by john_wills

I thought the PDP-8 from DEC was a great machine. At the same tiem I was working on a TR-440, which had hardware type differentiation.

But there is something about obsolete techniques. I studied history of philosophy at one time in my career, and a few years later had occasion to expound medieval symbolic logic to a colleague. It fascinated him to see the classification of syllogisms and the sentences composing them. Of course, the whole syllogism structure is made obsolete by Cantor's set theory, but there is still value in contemplation of the work of the scholastics.

The slide rule is another obsolete item of fascination.

by guruofdos

It still is a great machine...it must be if the US Army are still using them on a daily basis for training their troops (Invertron Observed Fire Trainer, for gunnery training...49 still in service as I type this, and we still have the maintenance contract)!

The 8" floppy is a joy to behold. Never mind the sound of a 50x CD ROM spinning up...just listen to the worm drive on a DEC 8" wind the read-write heads in and out! You can almost smell the heat from the PDP-8 when it's running at full song, and don't you just love those huge toggle switches on the front panel?!!

To many, a happy memory...to me, just another routine repair!

by rudder73

While in purgatory (CSTSC MARE ISLAND), I bought a surplus PDP-8(complete) from DRMO and refurbished the monster. Then my CO and the MAA confiscated it since I was working on a US computer in the basement of my barracks. - So much for property rights....

Now I'm looking for an UYK-20; I need a CP-642 to hold up the side of my house......

by jimhm

It just wasn't cost effective to fly that aircraft anymore... 3 times as much fuel - have the load or 1/3 the load of a 747 or AB... Cost per seat $5 to $8 thousand US...

They could only go SuperSonic over water - no country permitted the double sonic booms over their land... God I miss those - the supersonic booms you would hear -

But the times are a changing ... cheaper - better bottomline.. But you'll see some fat cat buy one of them - and begin his own airline for the rich and famous that flies only Concords...

by hal 9000

As Richard Branson tried to buy the whole fleet of Concord's and they just wern't for sale I can't help but wonder what will hapen to all those magnificent aircraft.

by oz_media

I saw it in England, I've seen it in New York and I've seen it in Canada.
Each time was as spectacular as the last.

I have photos of the Concorde taken in three countries over 20 years, they all look the same but each holds a memory and I remember standing and taking the pictures.

I'll always remember the Concorde.

by tomsal

No I'm not an aircraft genius or history buff (though I do have a stronger than most "average" folk interest in aircraft) -- it just happens by coincedence I was watching Discovery Wings channel this past weekend and they had that very story on-- they said the Tupolev was actually developed before the Concorde.

Also I believe Mach 1 is 717 mph, which would mean Mach 2 is about 1434 mph.

by hal 9000

Those miles in the nautical terms which could account for the difference but I'm not positive there is just something nagging in the back of my head about that one.

The really sad part about Concorde being no more is the fact that it was the last airframe that the late Barnes Wallace ever worked on and it remains a testoment to his brilliance.

by guruofdos

Concorde predated the Tupolev Tu144 by at least 6 years. The Tupolev was dubbed 'Concordski' as the Russians admitted 'copying' the Aerospatiale/BOAC design from photographs taken outside Filton, near Bristol where the aircraft first took flight!

by cals

Sometimes not sleeping in the night
I try for one fantastic flight
Across the ocean waves i rush
Beyond the clouds above the crush
Then sinking once again to earth
To rest at home my Heathrow berth
I feel the glow of satisfaction
Enough today of interaction
And then to my surprise, delight
The dawn has come I've passed the night

by hal 9000

Auctioning off some of their parts for this bird.

What's the bet that they will break them down to parts and sell them off to make more money?

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