Concorde: How it works

by Lisa Cardy

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FOLLOWING recent safety checks, it's hoped that Concorde will take to the air again in the spring of this year. Passengers will once again be able to travel from London to New York in 3 hours and 50 minutes, but how does Concorde make this flight in half the time of a normal jet

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Concorde has several different features from other commercial jets to help it travel faster than the speed of sound.

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��Press Association

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Concorde's wings shape also helps reduce drag. Known as a delta wing design, they are thin and swept back and triangular in shape, rather than rectangular like those of a 747.

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One of Concorde's most recognisable features is its nose. The long, needle-shaped nose helps penetrate the air more easily.

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Concorde has four Rolls Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 turbo jet engines. Each engine generates 18.7 tons (180 kN) of thrust necessary for take-off, cruising and landing. Together, the 4 engines burn 6,771 gallons (25,629 litres) of fuel per hour. The engines use afterburners to gain additional thrust to reach supersonic speeds. Afterburners mix additional fuel with the exhaust gases from the primary combustion chamber and burn it to get more thrust.

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Because the Concorde moves faster than sound, it's in danger of over heating because of friction with the air. The walls of the cabin are warm to the touch. To help reflect and radiate this heat, the Concorde has a high-reflectivity white paint, twice the reflectivity of white paint on other jets.

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Impressive isn't it Unfortunately such technology doesn't come cheap, a flight on Concorde will cost about �3,000 one way.

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