Flying at the Speed of Sound

the Concorde

Part of the Series: The Amazing World of Aviation

Flying at the speed of sound doesn't seem lime the type of thing that was possible in the 1960's, but that was when traditional rivals Britain and France collaborated to build the world's first Concorde, a jet that could traverse the Atlantic in just 3 hours, at twice the speed of sound, around about 1400 miles an hour.

The all-metal Trident jet was a popular choice for airlines but couldn't compete with the glamour and allure of the Concorde. However, its inception wasn't without its complications. Britain and France squabbled over many aspects of its design, including the spelling of the name, eventually adopting the "e" on the end as a tribute to "Excellence and England."