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Concorde fans hope to get jet airborne by 2019 Concorde fans hope to get jet airborne by 2019
(about 1 hour later)
Enough funds have been raised to buy a Concorde with the aim of getting it flying again by 2019, a group of British enthusiasts says.Enough funds have been raised to buy a Concorde with the aim of getting it flying again by 2019, a group of British enthusiasts says.
Club Concorde, made up of former captains, charterers and aviation fans, says it has £120m in reserve for the "return to flight" plan.Club Concorde, made up of former captains, charterers and aviation fans, says it has £120m in reserve for the "return to flight" plan.
The group also plans to put another of the supersonic aircraft on permanent display in central London.The group also plans to put another of the supersonic aircraft on permanent display in central London.
Concorde, which can travel at twice the speed of sound, last flew in 2003.Concorde, which can travel at twice the speed of sound, last flew in 2003.
Negotiations are now under way to purchase a Concorde currently on display at Le Bourget airport in Paris. Negotiations are now under way to try to purchase or lease the two aircraft. Club Concorde president Paul James said they were hoping to source both the display and flight jets from France but no agreements had yet been made.
After restoration the plane would be used for airshows, special events and private charter. 'Global icon'
Club Concorde president Paul James said: "We have been overwhelmed by the amount of enthusiasm and people wanting to invest. The support shows how much people still admire Concorde and want to see it flying again." "We have been overwhelmed by the amount of enthusiasm and people wanting to invest," Mr James said.
Mr James said he hoped flights would start by 2019 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Concorde's first flight. "The support shows how much people still admire Concorde and want to see it flying again.
"The plane we would like to get in the air is at Le Bourget in Paris. We had wanted to lease and restore a British Airways Concorde for display in London - next to the London Eye - but this has not been possible, so again we are looking to France and a Concorde near Orly airport."
After restoration the flight plane would be used at airshows, for special events and private charter.
Mr James said he was confident a plane would be secured and hoped flights would start by 2019 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Concorde's first flight.
The plan started after the group raised £40m to display a jet on London's South Bank close to the London Eye.The plan started after the group raised £40m to display a jet on London's South Bank close to the London Eye.
"It is a global icon," Mr James said. "All the authorities have been very keen on our idea to bring Concorde to the river as a tourist attraction and London Eye have agreed we could share their landing stage.""It is a global icon," Mr James said. "All the authorities have been very keen on our idea to bring Concorde to the river as a tourist attraction and London Eye have agreed we could share their landing stage."
The group needs to secure planning permission but Mr James said they were aiming to have the attraction up and running by 2017 before looking to open a similar display in Paris.The group needs to secure planning permission but Mr James said they were aiming to have the attraction up and running by 2017 before looking to open a similar display in Paris.