Marking the Anniversary of Concorde’s Final Flight: A Weekend of Celebration, Reflection and Support for Aerospace Bristol
26 November marks the anniversary of the final flight of Concorde, when the world’s most iconic airliner touched down at Filton for the last time. To commemorate this milestone in aviation history, Aerospace Bristol hosted a special weekend of celebrations, including the Flight of Legends fundraising dinner, a Captain John Tye book signing and an exclusive after-hours Concorde anniversary tour.
The weekend brought together supporters, former crew, volunteers, partners and visitors to honour Concorde’s story and reflect on the museum’s purpose, achievements and future direction.
Flight of Legends: A Supersonic Fundraising Dinner Under the Wings of Concorde
On Friday evening, guests stepped into the golden age of aviation for an unforgettable fundraising dinner held beneath the wings of Concorde. Former crew reunited for the occasion, including Captain Les Brodie, Captain of the final flight, Captain John Tye, Captain Tim Orchard, and former Cabin Services Director Anne McKenary.
The evening featured a gourmet dining experience inspired by Concorde’s in-flight service, entertainment, an auction of unique memorabilia and experiences, and exclusive access on board. Guests also had the rare opportunity to hear first-hand stories from those who flew and worked on Concorde.
During the evening, CEO Sally Cordwell reflected on the museum’s purpose: to inspire, educate and connect people through the legacy of aerospace in Bristol and the region. She highlighted the importance of preserving and sharing the site’s history, of strengthening connections with local communities and volunteers, and of inspiring young people through STEM learning. To date, the museum has welcomed more than 740,000 visitors, including over 56,000 school pupils.
Sally also outlined our future ambitions including a new Air Traffic Control experience, the restoration of the Bristol Freighter, and the arrival of the Bristol Type 188.
Aerospace Bristol extends a warm thank you to everyone who supported the dinner, including Professor Sir Iain Gray, Sir George White, Claire Hazelgrove MP, John Britton, and all volunteers. Special thanks go to Paul Evans, who was instrumental in organising the event and together with former Concorde-at-Filton volunteers, also organised and delivered the anniversary tour the following evening.
We are pleased to share a selection of photos capturing the highlights of the Flight of Legends dinner.
Book Signing with Captain John Tye and Concorde Droop Nose Demonstration
On Saturday, Captain John Tye returned to Aerospace Bristol to sign second edition copies of his book Life of a Concorde Pilot – From the Orphanage to the Edge of Space. Visitors had the opportunity to meet him, hear his stories and take home a signed copy.
Visitors also enjoyed a live demonstration of Concorde’s droop nose. The mechanism was restored to working order by Aerospace Bristol volunteers in time for the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first flight in 2019 and we demonstrate it several times throughout the year. Keep an eye on our What’s On page for upcoming droop nose demonstrations.
A Special After-Hours Concorde Anniversary Tour
On Saturday evening, a small group of guests joined us for an exclusive after-hours Concorde tour, organised and delivered by Paul Evans and former Concorde-at-Filton volunteers. The experience included:
A historical talk from expert guides
A glass of bubbly on board Concorde, with the chance to sit in the cabin
Photo opportunities on the flight deck with former crew
Canapés served beneath the aircraft
A live droop nose demonstration
A commemorative certificate signed by former crew
This special anniversary tour was held in memory of Oliver Dearden OBE and in appreciation of all those who made Concorde, and its display at Aerospace Bristol, possible.
If you missed out, look out for future after-hours Concorde tour dates by clicking here.
Reflecting on Our Purpose
The anniversary weekend was an opportunity not only to tell Concorde’s story but also to reflect on how far the museum has come. With more than 740,000 visitors welcomed to date, tens of thousands of school pupils taking part in STEM learning and an active and growing community of volunteers, Aerospace Bristol continues to inspire visitors of all ages.
With ambitious plans for the future, the support shown by our community is vital in helping secure a sustainable future for the museum. We look forward to welcoming visitors to future special events, sharing more of our collections and stories, and inspiring the next generation of engineers and innovators.
Thank You.
