CONCORDE DEPARTURE

PRE-ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN READY FOR OUR EVENT ON 22nd FEBRUARY

Concorde departs New York's JFK Airport from runway 31 left. This was the most dramatic take-off route out of JFK requiring Concorde to climb at full power whilst turning left over Jamaica Bay and staying inside the city's Belt Parkway. The manoeuvre was known as the ‘Canarsie Climb’

Concorde: the world’s first supersonic airliner and arguably the most beautiful commercial aircraft ever built – its speed and elegance captivated the public eye for almost thirty years. With lines close to perfection, few could ever forget their first view of this majestic airliner. Or, if they could afford the ticket, the experience of cruising ten miles high at Mach 2.4 – 1,354mph – faster than the earth was spinning!

Yet in a world where a typical scheduled flight from London to New York took less than four hours, the Concorde experience wasn’t just about speed, it took passengers into a realm of luxurious indulgence where one could sip Champagne, be tempted by caviar before dining from menus created by some of the world’s finest chefs. This wasn’t just First Class but Supersonic Class.

Hand built and expensive to construct, only a handful of Concordes eventually entered service on 21 January 1976. There were seven apiece flown by Air France and British Airways, the latter alone carrying 2.5 million customers over 50,000 flights. One of these is beautifully captured by Philip West in his stunning painting Concorde Departure.

Undoubtably one of the most striking aviation portraits of our time sees a gleaming British Airways Concorde climbing at full power away from New York’s JFK Airport whilst turning left over Jamaica Bay in a famous manoeuvre known as the ‘Canarsie Climb’.

To perpetuate the memory of one of the finest aircraft ever built, this new limited edition commemorates a magnificent era in aviation history and celebrates 50 years since Concorde entered service.

Adding significant authenticity, a very limited number of prints have been personally signed by some of the small band of aircrew who flew the iconic ‘Speedbird’. Concorde aircrew were highly experienced aviators known for their exceptional skill and being chosen to work on this supersonic jet was considered the peak in professional standards.