Supersonic breakthrough: Concorde could fly again by 2019

A group of British aviation enthusiasts committed to seeing Concorde fly again has revealed it has the funds to purchase one of the supersonic jets and bring it back into service within the next four years.

Club Concorde, which consists of “ex-captains, ex-charterers and people passionate about Concorde” hopes to use £120m funding in reserve for its ambitious “return to Flight” project.

The club’s president, Paul James, has described the prospect of having Concorde return to the skies as the “dream of the global Concorde fraternity”.

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The aircraft, which can fly at twice the speed of sound and was the crowning jewel of the British Airways and Air France commercial fleets, fell out of favour after an Air France Concorde crashed in Paris in 2000. Concorde was retired soon after, making its final flight in 2003.

In a post on the club website published earlier this year, James said: “The main obstacle to any Concorde project to date has been ‘Where’s the money?’ – a question we heard ad nauseam, until we found an investor. Now that money is no longer the problem it’s over to those who can help us make it happen.”

The organisation hopes to buy the Concorde currently on display at Le Bourget airport in Paris. If it is successful, the plane will be restored before resuming operation as a private heritage aircraft that will be flown at air displays as well as being available for charter. The aim is to recommence flights in 2019, which will coincide with the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first flight.