This accession consists of ephemera relating to Virginia D. Martus and Dorothy K. de Silva's Air France Concorde flight on May 28, 1978.
Scope and Contents:
This accession consists of the following material relating to Virginia D. Martus and Dorothy K. de Silva's Air France Concorde flight on May 28, 1978: Air France flight certificates, along with letters explaining the certificates; two copies of the "Concorde Network" brochures, one from de Silva's is annotated with flight information; three postcards of the Air France Concorde; one 8.5 by 10 inch photograph of the Air France Concorde; a "Guide for the Supersonic Traveller" brochure, produced by Air France; and two menus. This collection also contains two Trans World Service (TWA) menus, presumedly from their trip back to the United States.
Arrangement:
Arranged by type.
Biographical / Historical:
The first supersonic airliner to enter service, the Concorde flew thousands of passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound for over 25 years. Designed and built by Aérospatiale of France and the British Aviation Corporation (BAC), the graceful Concorde was a stunning technological achievement that could not overcome serious economic problems. In 1976, Air France and British Airways jointly inaugurated Concorde service to destinations around the globe. Carrying up to 100 passengers in great comfort, the Concorde catered to first class passengers for whom speed was critical. It could cross the Atlantic in fewer than four hour—half the time of a conventional jet airliner. However its high operating costs resulted in very high fares that limited the number of passengers who could afford to fly it. These problems and a shrinking market eventually forced the reduction of service until all Concordes were retired in 2003.
Provenance:
Virginia D. Martus, Gift, 2012, NASM.2019.0030
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
This collection consists of the files of Bernard J. Vierling (Deputy Director, FAA Office of SST Development, 1965-69; Acting Director, 1969-71). The material consists primarily of in-depth documents, brochures, reports, and studies pertaining to the SST proposals from Boeing, Lockheed, and associated bid contractors General Electric and Pratt & Whitney. Also included is material on sonic boom research, congressional funding, private funding, and congressional and civilian antagonists, such as Senator Proxmire and Dr. Shurcliff, as well as the Anglo-French Concorde and Russian Tu144 SST programs. The collection also includes newsletters, executive committee papers, executive board activities and minutes of meetings, financial reports, awards, banquet programs, and photographs pertaining to Vierling's involvement the National Aviation Club from 1952 through 1972.
Biographical / Historical:
The United States' Supersonic Transport (SST) program was initiated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1963. The program aimed for a Mach 2+ aircraft capable of carrying c.300 passengers with intercontinental range. The US aimed to outstrip the British Aerospace/Aerospatiale Concorde and Soviet Tu -144 programs through the use of advanced technology and materials. By the late 1960s contracts had been let to prime contractors Boeing (airframe) and General Electric (engines) but the program was four to five years behind the European and Soviet efforts, which had graduated to supersonic flight testing while the US program had yet to pass beyond the mockup stage. In 1971 the slow pace of technical; development, environmental concerns, high costs, and questions over the commercial feasibility of the aircraft led Congress to cancel the program.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Bernard J. Vierling?, Gift, unknown, XXXX-0144, unknown
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
5.45 Cubic feet ((5 records center boxes) (1 flatbox))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Correspondence
Publications
Charts
Audiotapes
Posters
Press releases
Reports
Date:
1960-1975
bulk 1962-1965
Scope and Contents:
This collection is the files of Robert K. Friedman (Chief, FAA SST Support Division) on the development of commercial SST capability in the United States. The material consists primarily of technical and research reports, but also press releases, marketing procedures, proposals, assessment and evaluation reports on the entire SST program. The collection also includes material on foreign and U. S. military research, applications of supersonics and sonic booms and marketing and presentation material from Lockheed, Boeing, North American and Convair. This collection also has miscellaneous items including copies of the first FAA anti-hijacking poster, seven open reel audio tapes (one on SST program, six on hijacking), and a set of charts used for demonstration and training on management of aircraft design and procurement.
Biographical / Historical:
The United States' Supersonic Transport (SST) program was initiated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1963. The program aimed for a Mach 2+ aircraft capable of carrying c.300 passengers with intercontinental range. The US aimed to outstrip the British Aerospace/Aerospatiale Concorde and Soviet Tu 144 programs through the use of advanced technology and materials. By the late 1960s contracts had been let to prime contractors Boeing (airframe) and General Electric (engines) but the program was four to five years behind the European and Soviet efforts, which had graduated to supersonic flight testing while the US program had yet to pass beyond the mockup stage. In 1971 the slow pace of technical; development, environmental concerns, high costs, and questions over the commercial feasibility of the aircraft led Congress to cancel the program.
Provenance:
Robert K. Friedman, Gift, 1987, 1987-0130, not NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Concorde - flight into the future: the story of the British and French technical achievement in building Concorde, a new dimension in air travel; [authors, Terry Hughes, John Costello; editor William F. Waller]
![view Air France Concorde Collection [Martus] digital asset: Finding aid](https://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryService?max=170&id=https://sirismm.si.edu/siris/findingaid.gif "Finding aid")
