Concorde makes its farewell visit to Birmingham

Thousands of people turned out to see Concorde make its final visit to Birmingham International Airport on 20 October, as part of the supersonic airliner's farewell tour.

The British Airways jet flew in to the airport as part of a series of farewell flights around the country, just days before Concorde is retired from service for good.

Crowds line the route

Spectators gathered around the airport perimeter and on nearby roads and fields to catch a glimpse of the famous aircraft. Some had travelled long distances and waited for hours for the chance to see Concorde one last time.

As the aircraft came in to land, many people cheered and waved. Cameras clicked as Concorde taxied past, its distinctive pointed nose and delta wings instantly recognisable.

For many, it was an emotional moment. Concorde has been a symbol of British engineering and ambition for more than a generation, and its retirement marks the end of an era in aviation.

The end of supersonic travel

British Airways and Air France announced earlier this year that they would retire Concorde, blaming falling passenger numbers and rising maintenance costs. Air France has already made its final flights, and BA's last commercial flight is due to take place from New York later this week.

The loss of a Concorde in a crash near Paris in July 2000, in which 113 people died, led to the fleet being grounded for more than a year. Although flights resumed in 2001, the aircraft never fully recovered its popularity, and a downturn in air travel hit demand.

An engineering marvel

Concorde was developed jointly by Britain and France and first flew in 1969. It entered commercial service in 1976, and could fly from London to New York in around three and a half hours, at twice the speed of sound.

It was a favourite of celebrities and business travellers, and its supersonic flights became a byword for luxury. For many people, a trip on Concorde was the experience of a lifetime.

The aircraft has visited Birmingham on special charter flights over the years, and has always drawn big crowds.

A growing airport

Birmingham International Airport is one of the fastest-growing in the country, handling millions of passengers a year. It has expanded its terminal buildings and added new routes in recent years.

The airport has also installed a new people mover this year, the Air-Rail Link, carrying passengers between the terminal and Birmingham International railway station and the National Exhibition Centre.

Airport bosses say they want to continue to grow, and have made the case for a longer runway to allow flights to more distant destinations.

For the thousands who watched Concorde's farewell visit, it was a day to remember, and a final chance to say goodbye to one of the most famous aircraft ever built.