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I was fortunate to fly on Concorde with my grandparents once when I was young, towards the end of its operating life. Things that I most remember: - it was tin

by cr1895 10y ago

I was fortunate to fly on Concorde with my grandparents once when I was young, towards the end of its operating life. Things that I most remember: - it was tiny inside! the seats were comfortable, but small. 2 by 2. - the force with which you are pressed into your seat on takeoff - gladly being served a glass of port (I must have been 12-13 at the time) - leaving the flight with a bag full of good caviar that was served with the meal since quite a few people didn't eat theirs.

mhb 10y ago
When you were 12, you could tell what was good caviar?
- cr1895 10y ago
  Ha believe it or not yeah; it wasnt the relatively inexpensive black roe you find in grocery stores, but proper sturgeon caviar. My grandfather loved it and always used to share some with me when I'd visit. He especially liked malossal(?) Beluga. I don't think you can even get that anymore.
pchristensen 10y ago
The Museum of Flight in Seattle has a Concorde you can walk through. I'm a big guy and I had to walk sideways down the aisle and stuck in my gut. I was shocked at how tight it was inside.
wbrinkley 10y ago
Flew it once myself, must have 1986 or 1987. Some of the same memories: - Not just tiny, but claustrophobic: seemed like it had about 30 or 35 rows, so if you were in the back it was like looking down a long too-narrow tunnel. - The force, and the speed, of takeoff and landing. Ridiculously fast compared to today. Plus: - The view out of the too-small window: it was late morning, but the sky was a dark blue and you could see a couple stars. Also, I thought I could see a slight curve of the earth. As close to space as I'll ever come, I suppose! - Steve Martin and at least four other people I vaguely recognized were on my flight. - They offered (I think for free) transfers to LaGuardia or the World Trade Center by helicopter. I really regret not doing that! - And I remember being underwhelmed by the "Mach 2" speed: other than the flight being only a little over three hours, it didn't "feel" fast in the air at all. I forget how it much cost, but I remember using frequent flier miles to upgrade to Concorde from a paid first class ticket.

by cr1895 10y ago

mhb 10y ago

When you were 12, you could tell what was good caviar?

cr1895 10y ago
Ha believe it or not yeah; it wasnt the relatively inexpensive black roe you find in grocery stores, but proper sturgeon caviar. My grandfather loved it and always used to share some with me when I'd visit. He especially liked malossal(?) Beluga. I don't think you can even get that anymore.

pchristensen 10y ago

The Museum of Flight in Seattle has a Concorde you can walk through. I'm a big guy and I had to walk sideways down the aisle and stuck in my gut. I was shocked at how tight it was inside.

wbrinkley 10y ago

Flew it once myself, must have 1986 or 1987. Some of the same memories: - Not just tiny, but claustrophobic: seemed like it had about 30 or 35 rows, so if you were in the back it was like looking down a long too-narrow tunnel. - The force, and the speed, of takeoff and landing. Ridiculously fast compared to today. Plus: - The view out of the too-small window: it was late morning, but the sky was a dark blue and you could see a couple stars. Also, I thought I could see a slight curve of the earth. As close to space as I'll ever come, I suppose! - Steve Martin and at least four other people I vaguely recognized were on my flight. - They offered (I think for free) transfers to LaGuardia or the World Trade Center by helicopter. I really regret not doing that! - And I remember being underwhelmed by the "Mach 2" speed: other than the flight being only a little over three hours, it didn't "feel" fast in the air at all. I forget how it much cost, but I remember using frequent flier miles to upgrade to Concorde from a paid first class ticket.