Las Palmas - Concorde 001 and the 1973 Solar Eclipse

After some months at Toulouse, Concorde 001 flew down to Las Palmas to prepare for the eclipse-day flight. Once Concorde had taken off I followed it on the Caravelle aircraft provided for the Concorde support crew, engineers, etc.

My first view of 001 at Las Palmas

When the Caravelle arrived it taxied along to reach the terminal building of Las Palmas airport. This gave me my first view of 001 at Las Palmas and I took the above photo out though the window of the Caravelle.

Me, standing in front of 001 at Las Palmas

Tony Marston and Peter Reader in front of the Caravelle ‘chase plane’

Knowledgeable aircraft-enthusiasts may notice that the Caravelle used was an early model which has ‘triangular’ cabin windows.

001 being prepared for take-off

The following series of photos shows 001 taxing and taking off for the Solar Eclipse flight. Alas, although I had flown on 001 for tests I was not on-board for the actual eclipse.

Taxing out toward the end of the runway for take-off

Take-off!

Side view. Undercarriage starting to retract.

Start of the Tour de Tchad!

Hope you like the photos! I certainly enjoyed the project. And I regret that Concorde is no longer flying.

Jim Lesurf (ex-QMC student)
19th May 2013