F-BVFF. Aerospatiale Concorde 101. c/n 215.

 

This aircraft was built by built by Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale, (Aerospatiale), Toulouse, France. It was entered onto the French Aircraft Register as F-WJAN and registered to Aerospatiale.

It flew for the time from Toulouse on December 26, 1978. It was reregistered as F-BVFF on June 26, 1979 to Aerospatiale. It was then registered to Compagnie Nationale Air France on October 13, 1980, and was officially handed over to Air France on October 23, 1980.

F-BVFF was the first Air France Concorde to travel around the world on a Charter Flight. It completed a further 12 similar trips in its operational life. It was withdrawn from service, following what turned out to be its final flight on June 11, 2000, in preparation for its 'D' check.

The aircraft was used as a source of parts for F-BTSD which was undergoing a 'D' check at the time. Once F-BTSD's check was completed and it was back in service, the 'D' check was scheduled to commence on F-BVFF.

Following the crash of Air France Concorde F-BTSC on July 25, 2000, all Concordes were grounded, pending the enquiry into the cause of the crash. Work started on the 'D' check of F-BVFF in April 2002. The aircraft was 60% of the way through its check when it was announced that Air France Concorde services would stop. Work was stopped and the aircraft cosmetically re-assembled. The airline deemed that it was not cost effective to complete the outstanding work on this airframe and return it to flight status. It was then placed on display at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

It was re-registered to the Societe Air France on September 23, 2004, before being cancelled from the French Aircraft Register on April 10, 2006.

At the time of its retirement F-BVFF had flown a total of 12,421 hours with 4,259 cycles. It had flown 3,734 supersonic cycles.

 

F-BVFF. Air France - in the old livery at Paris Charles de Gualle Airport, April 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1926-022.)

F-BVFF. Air France - in the final livery at Paris Charles de Gualle Airport, February 1998.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1926-023.)

F-BVFF. Air France - in the final livery at Paris Charles de Gualle Airport, July 1999.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1926-051.)

F-BVFF. Air France - in the final livery at Paris Charles de Gualle Airport, November 2005.

(C. Laugier Copyright Image 1926-052.)

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