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This accession consists of ephemera relating to Virginia D. Martus and Dorothy K. de Silva's Air France Concorde flight on May 28, 1978.
The first supersonic airliner to enter service, the Concorde flew thousands of passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound for over 25 years. Designed and built by Aérospatiale of France and the British Aviation Corporation (BAC), the graceful Concorde was a stunning technological achievement that could not overcome serious economic problems. In 1976, Air France and British Airways jointly inaugurated Concorde service to destinations around the globe. Carrying up to 100 passengers in great comfort, the Concorde catered to first class passengers for whom speed was critical. It could cross the Atlantic in fewer than four hour—half the time of a conventional jet airliner. However its high operating costs resulted in very high fares that limited the number of passengers who could afford to fly it. These problems and a shrinking market eventually forced the reduction of service until all Concordes were retired in 2003.
NASM.2019.0030
Trans World Airlines
1978
Virginia D. Martus, Gift, 2012, NASM.2019.0030
0.01 Cubic feet (One legal folder.)
National Air and Space Museum Archives
This accession consists of the following material relating to Virginia D. Martus and Dorothy K. de Silva's Air France Concorde flight on May 28, 1978: Air France flight certificates, along with letters explaining the certificates; two copies of the "Concorde Network" brochures, one from de Silva's is annotated with flight information; three postcards of the Air France Concorde; one 8.5 by 10 inch photograph of the Air France Concorde; a "Guide for the Supersonic Traveller" brochure, produced by Air France; and two menus. This collection also contains two Trans World Service (TWA) menus, presumedly from their trip back to the United States.
Arranged by type.
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Air France Concorde Collection [Martus], NASM.2019.0030, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Aeronautics
Aeronautics, Commerical -- Meals
Airlines
Concorde (Jet transports)
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Ephemera