Former Concorde Pilot, John Tye, answers your questions!

John Tye, a former Concorde pilot, answers your questions that have been sent in over social media.
You can now purchase John’s book ‘Life of a Concorde pilot: From the orphanage to the edge of space’ from the Museum shop or online.

[@patsystreasurehunt4251]

It's sad that she hasn't been brought back. This was a very interesting video. Great job, Captain.

[@gzk6nk]

I can certainly recommend John's book. It's a great read. I flew on Concorde in August 1999 on a lovely day, Manchester to Paris via The Bay (of Biscay) for Mach 2 and 60,000' (supersonic flying is not allowed over land due the sonic boom). And I was in the flight deck jump seat of G-BOAD for the entire flight, strapped in, headset on, safety-briefed by the FE, with a superb view out and a fascinating insight as to how this wonderful aeroplane was operated. It was my 50th birthday present from my wife (she was in the passenger cabin sipping Champagne, which obviously we didn't get in the flight deck, but hey, that was no problem!). I wrote up the experience in an article in 'Pilot' magazine (I've been flying small aeroplanes since 1978). That led to me becoming a tour guide on Concorde G-BOAC at Manchester after the Concordes retired. Initially at weekends until I retired from 'real' work and could do Concorde tours and events in the week as well! I was very lucky to get that flight deck flight. 1999 was the last year it was possible - the Paris crash happened in 2000, then Concorde was grounded for a year, then came 9/11 which brought a ban on non-crew being in the flight deck in flight. Vince

[@lnewton3677]

Nice contribution

[@lawrencemartin1113]

What a fantastic Q&A. Thank you so much. As a child, living just outside Guildford close to the A3, we often would see Concorde as she came in towards Heathrow. As an aviation obsessed boy (still am!) it was a favourite shout to my brother or parents when spotted; "CONCORDE!" and we would rush to a window or more often straight out into the garden to see if we could catch a glimpse. She was never very close, but was unmistakable both by spund and that amazing sleek shape sliding across the sky. My grandfather was responsible for a specialist heat treatment and testing of the first 'black box' flight recorders used on the test aircraft. I wished that I had been able to spend more time asking him about his work on that job.

[@lincolnengland5005]

Thank you John, that was really insightful and educating.

[@oldergeologist]

Such an informative interview. Wonderful man.

[@tommybsgc30]

Thanks for answering my question!!

[@markramsay6399]

Excellent video indeed, much respect. Going to check out the book! Mark.

[@ceanothus_bluemoon]

Excellent Q&A. Another book I need to check out!

[@richardshiggins704]

Inspirational life . Marvellous man . Enjoy your retirement .

[@ehouli77]

Thanks for this video, he brings attention to the fact that all in all, the Concorde was designed to be flyable even with the FBW turned off, which should still be a requirement for all the new commercial aircrafts being released today and in the future, regardless of the flight cockpit commonality, safety is first. If this requirement existed, probably the 737 Max issues regarding the flight envelope could have been avoided.

[@iamarizonaball2642]

Hello, being born 4 years after the retirement of the Concorde in May of 2009, what’s the best way to realistically experience the Concorde in a flight sim? (As the passenger?) would VR combined with full motion sim suffice?

[@johntye9069]

Thanks for the comments guys. Only just seen them! The sub titles are out of our control. They’re ’orto-geeneroted’ 😉 whatever that means. Some kind of AI I think, but the system doesn’t cope with anything technical nor the name ‘Brooklands’! If you can figure out how to turn them off, please let me know!

[@c898dba]

Fascinating interview,but so many errors in the subtitles it became distracting. With no way to turn them off. Noise of Batement point!? Pushed back into the sea? Base trains? Mac 2? And many more. Really, doesn’t anyone proof read anything these days?

[@happyhamster7712]

I didnt realise Concorde was fly by wire. I think its construction is equal the achievement of the SR71. I do understand the challenges are exponential going from Mach 2 to 3 but Kelly Johnson didnt have to duplicate ever decision/drawing in to French.

[@MaxPlankton]

In a way somewhat like Fawlty Towers Gourmet Night haha, no riff raff!

[@mizzyroro]

Why did they only use the taxi turn lights on takeoff and landing during the day, I believe? What was the procedure for the use of the various landing lights as I can't seem to see any consistency.

[@mrsmith4100]

Great video but terribly incorrect subtitles.

[@adrianpeters2413]

Was luck enough to live at Faiford , at the time of Concorde was evaluated from 002 to production madels ...amazing time indeed especially 002 !!!! Try being behind that one with no noise abatement enginering added ....😊😊😮😂❤❤❤.... Concorde was a life changing environment, and i am very happy at the result ,to date , thank you ..❤..

[@markfox1545]

Faiford? Madels? What ARE you talking about? 😅

[@meurighailstone1999]

Fascinating video and John is really interesting to listen to. But, the camera work is terrible, and the auto-generated subtitles are full of mistakes!

[@bugmanuk]

If he was in training in 1999 he could have only have been flying for 4 years. No disrespect here but I was thinking he had flown for many many years

[@JKevinBrady801]

You flew this magnificent airplane! In 2002 I took a video of the whole flight from check-in, in flight arrival and even retirement up the Hudson to Intrepid museum; kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmasYoiYadiBjZY