Product Description
Concorde Maximum CardStamp: 1st class SG 2891 Design Classics Concorde, self adhesive from retail booklet
Postcard: Concorde loaded with Datapost for New York 1980, by Bristol Head Post Office, South West Postal Region card 15d
Postmark: British Designs Classics Retail book 18 August 2009
Another 2 pre-production prototypes were built to further refine design and test out ground breaking systems before the production runs, of only 16 aircraft in total, commenced in both countries.
The first production aircraft off each production line did not enter service but acted as a test bed for production techniques, airline training and further development work. They also paved the way for the granting of airworthiness certification as well as providing extensive route proving information.
In the end only British Airways and Air France purchased Concordes, with the airlines initially purchasing 5 and 4 aircraft respectively. The 5 surplus models were placed with the airlines in 1980 and eventually purchased for a nominal cost of £1 / 1 Franc each at the end of the Concorde programme a few years later, as part of a multi million pound support costs deal. British Airways acquired the 2 unsold UK built aircraft, while Air France bought the 3 unsold French built craft.
