Concorde taking off

Concorde taking off. In 1959 the Supersonic Transport Aircraft Committee recommended the construction of a fleet of long range intercontinental airliners which would fly almost twice as high and over twice as fast as those in service at that time. In 1962, the British and French Governments signed an agreement to develop the aircraft together. Two prototypes were built, 001 (French) and 002 (British), which had to have low drag at high speed and high lift at low speed. On 2 March 1969, 001 made her maiden flight, limited to 250 knots and 10,000 ft altitude, the 002 made her maiden flight on 9th April 1969. ©SSPL/Science Museum