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N0KFQ > TODAY 25.07.15 16:42l 42 Lines 1626 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 62551_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jul 25
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<N0KFQ
Sent: 150725/1435Z 62551@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.63
2000
Concorde jet crashes
An Air France Concorde jet crashes upon takeoff in Paris on this
day in 2000, killing everyone onboard as well as four people on
the ground. The Concorde, the world's fastest commercial jet, had
enjoyed an exemplary safety record up to that point, with no
crashes in the plane's 31-year history.
Air France Flight 4590 left DeGaulle Airport for New York
carrying nine crew members and 96 German tourists who were
planning to take a cruise to Ecuador. Almost immediately after
takeoff, however, the plane plunged to the ground near a hotel in
Gonesse, France. A huge fireball erupted and all 105 people on
the plane were killed immediately.
The Concorde fleet was grounded in the wake of this disaster
while the cause was investigated. The Concorde, powered by four
Rolls Royce turbojets, was able to cross the Atlantic Ocean in
less than three-and-a-half hours, reaching speeds of 1,350 miles
per hour, which is more than twice the speed of sound. The July
25 incident, though, was not related to the Concorde's engine
construction or speed.
The investigation revealed that the plane that took off just
prior to Flight 4590 had dropped a piece of metal onto the
runway. When the Concorde jet ran over it, its tire was shredded
and thrown into one of the engines and fuel tanks, causing a
disabling fire.
Concorde jets went back into service in November 2001, but a
series of minor problems prompted both Air France and British
Airways to end Concorde service permanently in October 2003.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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