History of British Airways G-BOAB

10 years ago British Airways and Air France retires their Super Sonic jet airliner Concorde so today is the history of G-BOAB from British Airways throughout the years of operation. G-BOAB was the third Concorde delivered to British Airways On 30th September 1976 first flew in Filton, UK ON 18th May 1976. During the early years of G-BOAB, On 12th January 1979, British Airways and Air France delivered Concorde to Braniff International Airways in the United States before G-BOAB headed to the US, it was re-registered to G-N94AB on the same day; as it arrives in the US, Braniff re-registered the aircraft again to N941B only to be registered for US domestic flights between Washington - Dallas/Fort Worth - Washington only flight time roughly 45 mins up to 1 hour if my calculation is not correct, feel free to comment. Anyway Braniff owned 10 Concordes leased by British Airways and Air France as part of Braniff's interchange agreement for services between Texas and Europe. There wasn't a full article reasob why Concorde phase out of Braniff in 1980  so I'm not sure if British Airways and Air France agreement with Braniff ended so all of the Concorde fleet returned to BA and Air France re-registering their original registration and back to work on Trans Atlantic flights. However disaster strikes for Concorde.

Air France Flight 4590

As we've entered into the 21st Century, on 25th July 2000 Air France flight 4590 from Paris Charles de Gaulle, France to New York JFK, USA crashed after takeoff from Paris when a tire puncturing the fuel tank catching huge fire like space shuttle blasted off killing everyone onboard. After Flight 4590, all Concorde flights for Air France and British Airways was grounded until further notice. But what does it mean to G-BOAB? While the investigation was underway what caused the Air France crash. British Airways resume Concorde few months later I can't remember when I was too young back in the day. 

Before I continue what about "What does it mean to G-BOAB" that aircraft had an incident before. On 21st March 1992, British Airways flight from London Heathrow, UK - New York JFK, USA suffered a structural failure in-flight at Supersonic Speed the aircraft landed safely to New York with only one engine it wasn't a major incident but you get the idea. 

After the Air France crash, G-BOAB was withdrawn immediately by British Airways on 15th August 2000 after her sister G-BOAA was withdrawn on 12th August 2000.  After BA officaly retires all Concorde same with Air France, most Concorde you'll see today are now in museums apart from one poor Concorde that's currently at London Heathrow. The last flight of this aircraft was flight BA002P from New York JFK, US - London Heathrow, UK since then the aircraft never flew again it was never modified. Whats the future?

My recent photo you saw at my London Heathrow blog, G-BOAB has been in storage for 10 years still has no future but the good news is that the aircraft is preserved. So what are the plan for this poor aircraft? from what I've heard it could be a display to be open to the public which I think it's a good idea kinda like G-BOAC at a viewing park in Manchester, UK. In my opinion I think this aircraft would be useful to be turned into First Class Lounge at Terminal 5 before boarding to your long haul flights bring back Heathrow's routes with a Concorde Lounge. After it was withdrawn, G-BOAB was stored at "Point Rocket" next to runway 27R however when Airbus A380 was in production, the wings are big than a Boeing 747-400 so G-BOAB needs to be relocated up to this current location. With engineering tests to storage we have to wait & see the future otherwise it's Plan B.

If you like to see G-BOAB latest update, click on Heritage Concorde