Concorde: 50 years on

Losing Concorde was definitely a huge step back for humanity. Why? Well, just look at today's planes in comparison. They're slow and, to many, they're a poignant symbol of a new technological dystopia. 'Progress' has even managed to compel some motorists to sit around for hours waiting for their electric cars to gain enough charge.

Yes, half a century ago, Concorde was indeed the stuff of dreams. The beautifully sleek supersonic marvel could sprint across the Atlantic in what seemed an impossibly short time. Concorde heralded the promise of a brand new dawn, a time of hope and optimism.

Whilst Concorde could sprint from Paris to Washington in three-and-a-half hours, today's airliners cover that distance in more than twice that time. In 1969, men landed on the Moon, which appears to be yet another 'giant leap' that humanity hasn't replicated in the modern era. To me, it seems that the 20th century was a time of technological advancement, hope and progress which kind of brings home a niggling feeling that the 21st century (thus far) has been a bit of a letdown.

My great aunt regularly flew on British Airways' Concorde during the 1980s. She absolutely adored the experience and saw Concorde as being at the very pinnacle of human endeavor. She often spoke of the moment that the aircraft surged past the speed of sound as four huge Rolls-Royce engines powered up, thrusting Concorde's lucky passengers back into their sumptuous leather seats. Yet inside the cabin, it was almost completely silent. Serene. That's because the aircraft was traveling at Mach-2 (1,350mph) meaning that it flew faster than the speed of the sound it created.

At 60,000 feet, the Concorde soared much higher than today's commercial aircraft. Passengers could even see the curvature of the Earth from their window seats. An upward glance meant that you'd glimpse the uncanny blackness of outer space as you sat back and polished off an extravagant feast of fresh shellfish and caviar entrées followed by some of the finest filet steak washed down with some of the very best claret.

Indeed, whilst passengers sat and enjoyed their multiple courses complete with impeccable service, the destination loomed all too speedily. Back in those heady days, few aboard could ever have imagined that Concorde was not the embodiment of a brand new age of modern commercial flying and the promise of even greater things to come. But twenty years beyond Concorde's untimely retirement, we still have nothing that even comes close.

OK. A flight aboard Concorde was definitely a privilege bestowed only upon the elite. But that was then. There was a time when jet-setting in general was mainly the preserve of the well-healed. But there again, so was early motoring. Even today's all too ubiquitous mobile phones were once just 'yuppie' toys.

So it's worth asking the question: why hasn't groundbreaking supersonic air travel followed the usual trend of getting progressively more affordable in the same way as other technologies have become more attainable to the masses?

There are plenty of good reasons why the supersonic commercial aircraft was taken out of service. The sonic boom for example. This phenomenon creates loud, thundering noises on the ground making supersonic flying over land virtually impossible. This clearly limits how (and where) the technology can be used, making commercial viability far more limited.

But none of the limitations negate the sad reality that having no Concorde amounts to regression. Crowded skies often mean that 50 years after Concorde first graced the skies we're now lucky if flights even take off on time.

In many respects, commercial aviation is far removed from its 60's and 70's glamour days. Today, flying is often an arduous and inefficient nightmare. Cramped cabins are all too often filled with seats covered in tired-looking fabric and carpets can soon begin to look stained and grubby. As for service? Well try that depends on the airline. We can even expect some of our fellow passengers to be drunk and unruly. You'll often be subjected to their wrath if you dare so much as to compete for any remaining overhead locker spaces.

But I guess it's a bit too easy (and a tad unfair) to single out commercial aviation as the poster boy for latter-day woes. Apparent negative aspects may merely be symptomatic of some deeper problems. I suspect that after the heady years of rapid post-industrial strides, humanity as a whole has rested somewhat on its laurels.

The core problem appears to be that there are no obvious last bastions of those striving for greatness. "Let's make America Great Again" perhaps implied that "greatness" has been somewhat forsaken. In many ways it certainly looks like greatness has been firmly placed on the back burner. Many nations, such as GREAT Britain, once known for its many skills and aspirations, now sit like some old moss-covered monument; weathered, glum and rather far removed from past glories.

In all honesty, what huge advancements has humanity made in the five decades after Concorde first appeared? You're probably holding one of the biggest advancements in your hand right now. Devices! By that I mean smartphones, tablets and such-like. The World Wide Web brought us social media and streaming services. These so-called advancements have not encouraged tangible innovation because they've only tethered vast swathes of the population to their settees. So many people now exist in some virtual world where tangible things are not all that necessary. We're told that technology has never progressed so rapidly but other than the bitter-sweet proliferation of computers, where are all the other modern marvels?

Once upon a time we had gleaming trade fairs. Packed halls were filled with an array of innovative new ideas. TV programmes such as Tomorrow's World showcased all the wonders awaiting us in the new millennium. The future was exciting, filled to the brim by mankind's imagination and ingenuity. But I fear that all those labour-saving devices succeeded only to make us lazy. Life became all too easy and the grass grew beneath our feet.

Now, Concorde is merely a museum piece sitting idly, not as a historical artifact, but moreover as a symbol of unrealised human potential.

These days, there are those who even resent and repel progress and only aspire for us all to be small - not great. According to these people, we must keep our carbon footprint low. We mustn't speak outside the constraints of a given mainstream narrative because so-doing might be construed as offensive. This is why in these days of abject stagnation it's very important to remember Concorde.

Perhaps there might be a glimmer of hope because there are experiments afoot to achieve quiet supersonic flight. Companies, along with NASA, are actually investing in business jet concepts that are capable of reaching Mach-2 and even go beyond.

Perhaps humanity can rediscover lost aspirations that lead to greatness. Who knows. But one thing's for sure, our greatest achievements as human beings shouldn't simply be collecting dust as museum pieces. Rather, we should proudly flag them up as important stepping stones that lead to even greater possibilities. The Concordes of this world are simply a byword for collective human pride. It's imperative we shouldn't forget this.

Douglas Hughes is a UK-based writer producing general interest articles ranging from travel pieces to classic motoring. 

Douglas Hughes