Activating Concorde's Droop Nose

Lloyd Burnell, Executive Director, Aerospace Bristol and Oliver Starr, Managing Director, Zeus Hydratech

The droop nose of Concorde Alpha Foxtrot has not operated since the aircraft was decommissioned and the hydraulic fluid drained, following its final flight in November 2003.

To celebrate Concorde50, we aim to have the droop nose working by 9th April 2019: the 50th anniversary of the first British Concorde flight.

To make this special project a reality, a bespoke hydraulic power pack unit kindly generated by Zeus Hydratech Ltd was created to activate some of the original aircraft electrical system in order to make the nose move up and down.

Lloyd Burnell, Executive Director, Aerospace Bristol, said - "We're extremely grateful to Zeus Hydratech for providing the power pack for this exciting Concorde50 project. Thanks to their generous support, Aerospace Bristol will be able to make the droop nose of Concorde Alpha Foxtrot - the last Concorde ever to fly - operational once again, in celebration of 50 years since Concorde's maiden flight."

Oliver Starr, Managing Director, Zeus Hydratech, said - "It has been a real privilege to be part of such an exciting project - the opportunity to bring our expertise to a project that is so truly iconic and will bring joy to all that see it operating, was something we just had to be involved with"

We would like to thank all of the volunteers who have so generously given their time, and our grateful thanks to Zeus Hydratech Ltd for kindly providing the purpose built power packs for this project.

Find out more about the Concorde Nose Droop project.