Concorde

The first supersonic airliner Concorde began transatlantic flights from London to New York on 24 May 1976. The new aircraft reduced the flight time to three and a half hours, having a maximum speed of 2.2 times the speed of sound, a cruising speed of 2,000 kilometres per hour (1,300 miles per hour), and a maximum range of 6,400 kilometres (4,000 miles).

Concorde was built by the British Aircraft Corporation and Aerospatiale of France. The aircraft led the supersonic aircraft industry until 1996, when the Russians launched another version they claimed was faster than Concorde.

Developed jointly by Britain and France, there had been an argument over whether or not the aircraft's name should have a final French 'e'.