After 25 years, the blight imposed on the airport communities surrounding Queens provided by the SST has finally come to an end. The final flight of the looming supersonic transporter was celebrated in Charles Park in Howard Beach on Friday at 7a.m. as elected officials, community activists and residents joined in a champagne toast for the farewell.
The final flight landed at Londons Heathrow shortly before 11 a.m. Only 100 passengers were aboard the landmark flight and included celebrities and aviation enthusiasts who were invited by British Airways. Some of the planes will eventually end up in museums across the country.
1989
April: A Concorde loses a piece of rudder flying from New Zealand to Australia.
1991
January: A Concorde loses pieces of a rudder flying from New York to London.
1993
March: A Concorde experiences a rudder failure.
July: A Concorde’s forward right tire bursts, damaging wing.
1994
August: Outer windowpanes shatter on a Concorde.
1996
May: Engine shuts down on a Concorde flying from London to New York.
1998
May: A Concorde bound for New York loses part of left wing.
October: A Concorde bound for New York loses part of lower rudder.
2000
July: A Concorde crashes shortly after takeoff in Paris, killing 113.
August: Passengers on a Concorde flying from London to New York smell fuel in rear of cabin.
2002
July: A Concorde flying from London to New York experiences an engine surge which makes it difficult to fly straight. Plane returns to London.
October: A Concorde cuts speed on flight after crack in cabin windows is discovered.
November: A Concorde flying from New York to Paris descends 27,000 feet rapidly after an engine malfunctions.
November: A Concorde flying from London to New York loses a section of the rudder over the Northern Atlantic.
2003
January: A Concorde flying from Paris to New York is forced to return to Paris after an engine fails to kick into supersonic mode.
February: A fuel leak causes an engine failure, and a Concorde is forced to make an emergency landing in Canada.
February: After the fuel leak, the same Concorde, a week later, loses part of its rudder.
March: Concorde experiences engine problems on flight from London to Barbados.
