• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Concorde » When Prince Philip Flew Concorde…Himself
Concorde

When Prince Philip Flew Concorde…Himself

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 17, 2021November 14, 2023 5 Comments

a man in a suit walking out of an airplane

It’s one thing to have flown Concorde as a passenger. It’s quite another to have actually piloted it. On January 12 1972, Prince Philip took the controls of Concorde, the world’s first supersonic airliner, during one of its early test flights.

The Duke of Edinburgh stayed in control for 30 minutes, flying ten miles above the ground and at one point hitting 1,340 miles per hour, twice the speed of sound. Chief test pilot Brian Trubshaw commended his “pretty polished performance.”

Asked his flight experienced, Prince Philip remarked:

“A very pleasant aircraft to fly — nothing mysterious or complicated.”

At the time, Concorde was embroiled in controversy. Cost overruns threatened to axe the joint Anglo-French project and there was unease over its noise and smoke. Environmentalists and community activists wanted the project stopped, but the Prince’s cautious seal of approval helped to strengthen the project four years before its maiden commercial flight.

The Prince carefully noted:

“If you set out to do something as complicated as this, and succeed to the extent where people believe it will be a commercial success, then anybody associated with it has every reason to be proud.

‘That doesn’t include what possible side-effects it may have. If it has got side-effects they will soon become apparent, but that doesn’t detract from the technical achievement. I think it is a tremendous achievement in any language.”

One reporter asked him about the plane’s smoke and noise and Prince Philip, in classic form, quipped:

“Well I was inside, and I wasn’t smoking…”

But he then aded:

“No one needs to talk to me about aircraft noise.

“Windsor Castle is not far from one end of Heathrow’s main runway, and Buckingham Palace not far away at the other end. We know all about it. But no one is more conscious of the noise than the manufacturers.

“As far as I can make out they are very hopeful that the noise can be brought down to an acceptable level — or at least to the level of jets currently in use.”

You can watch a video from his flight here.

CONCLUSION

Oh to fly the Concorde. Even from across the Atlantic and outside the Commonwealth, I am thankful for Prince Philip’s life of service and devotion. And today I also salute him for piloting the Concorde.


> Read More: Prince Philip Calls Economy Class “Ghastly”


Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Review: United Club Atlanta (ATL)
Next Article Will United Airlines Install More Seatback TVs After All?

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • a large white airplane on a runway

    That Time Harvey Weinstein Was Arrested For Smoking On Concorde…

    June 13, 2020
  • a sign on a vehicle

    A Concorde Trip Report Worth Watching

    October 24, 2018
  • a red and white airplane on a runway

    Norwegian 787 Sets Transatlantic Speed Record

    January 19, 2018

5 Comments

  1. Paolo Reply
    April 17, 2021 at 7:32 am

    From inside the Commonwealth, and being of a certain age, it’s a sad day. He’s been a constant in our lives, and despite his foibles and eccentricities generally a positive, particularly in his support of Her Majesty , and in his commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme .

  2. derek Reply
    April 17, 2021 at 8:30 am

    Someday, a story should be written about the time Prince Charles crash landed the Queen’s BAe 146…

  3. Aaron Reply
    April 17, 2021 at 8:56 am

    “despite his foibles and eccentricities”

    Is that the new code for his not-so casual racism and sexism? lol

    Still, it is cool he got to fly it.

  4. TWA John Reply
    April 17, 2021 at 12:15 pm

    To devote even a line to these global criminals is reprehensible. Dantes missed the special level of hell reserved for the “Royals”. The centuries of misery, theft, exploitation, murder and war. The current crop are pedo’s and drug traffickers. The worship of these lizard people is like the cow licking the hand of the farmer on the way to slaughter.

  5. Pingback: TSA's Discovery Of Crystal Meth In A Burrito In Houston Shows What's Wrong With Airport Security - View from the Wing

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for June

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • two men hugging in a room
    American Airlines Flight Attendant Who Kicked Off Blogger Has Quite A Facebook Profile… June 15, 2025
  • Country Of Laws Not Kings
    A Country Of Laws, Not Kings June 14, 2025
  • an airplane with seats and seats
    Too Lit To Lift Off: Man Kicks Himself Off United Flight After Booze Denial June 14, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Qatar Airways Economy Class Breakfast
    Economy Class Breakfast On Qatar Airways June 7, 2025
  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • Qantas Lounge Review Hong Kong
    Review: Qantas Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) June 14, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025

Archives

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.