This page features numerous anecdotes experienced at Concorde’s American stopovers. They are presented in their original version, meaning in english.
A french version of this page is proposed by clicking on the following button :
Thanks to Ann Wadman and Michael Carroll, Directors of the Amicale USA Association
who managed to coordinate and transcribe many testimonials.
My One and Only Concorde Flight by Jim Zuckerman. With a lot of humor, Jim Zuckerman, Training Supervisor for the USA, tells us how he had the chance to flight on the Concorde, and how it didn’t quite work out as planned.
The great ice storm by Steve Sterner. In North America, winter storms are fearsome for air transport, as this ice storm that occurred in the Washington DC area, a few months after Concorde entry in service to Dulles. Steve Sterner, the manager of the handling company, tells us how he had to go retrieve a Concorde in Baltimore.
Bob Saitta goes on vacation – Concorde “diverts” to Halifax by Steve Sterner. Concorde waited for Bob Saitta, the station manager in Washington, to go on vacation before experiencing an engine failure and being diverted to Halifax. Consequently, it was Steve Sterner, the person designated by Bob in his absence, who had to handle the re-routing of passengers and their luggage.
Concorde waits for no man nor woman………and so…By Steve Sterner. Steve, Handling Company Manager, explains to us that Concorde must depart on time and that, sometimes, he has to refuse high-contribution clients… but not always! For example, with Stevie Wonder, it was a close call.
The “Nomads” take flight on the Concorde by Ziya Akbas. Chicago Station Manager. The “Nomads” were a travel club. Its members particularly enjoyed surprises like “mystery trips” where they didn’t know the destination. Ziya Akbas tells us about May 1999, when the “Nomads” flew on the Concorde, a true adventure.
A Record-breaking Concorde Flight by Michael J. Carroll. Michael is relating his experience on board the famous record-breaking Concorde trip around the world. Since 1995, this speed record, recorded in the Guinness Book of Records has never been broken.
A joke at Kennedy’s take off. This anecdote gives an idea of the friendly relationships that prevailed within the Concorde family in the United States. Larry tells us how, with the complicity of the co-pilot, he played a trick on Captain Chemel…”