When two Concorde supersonic airliners landed simultaneously at Orlando International Airport
The video and photo in this post, taken on October 18, 1982, show two Concorde supersonic airliners landing side by side on parallel runways at Orlando International Airport almost simultaneously for the first time. Following the first X-1 rocket plane test flights in 1946, Orlando International Airport (MCO) conducted a unique aviation event relating to supersonic flight on that day.
The Orlando Sentinel claims that Walt Disney organized the event, which was mainly a publicity gimmick to announce the arrival of the sponsors of the exhibits at the recently opened British and French pavilions at Epcot Center. In addition, the two European airlines that flew the Concorde—British Airways and Air France—had attempted a simultaneous landing at Washington in 1976. However, due to heavy air traffic over Dulles International Airport, which hindered the two planes from correctly lining up on their approach, they landed 70 seconds apart.
Orlando provided an excellent location for the 1982 landing because of its two parallel 12,000-foot runways and less air traffic congestion. Approaching from the south, the droop-nosed British and French planes landed close to each other, less than two seconds apart, in front of an estimated 35,000 spectators.
A little-known detail of this stunt, according to AviationHumor.net, is that the airport was not designed to withstand the heat produced by the Concorde’s engines. They cooked the runway to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars when they took off. Due to urgent repairs, the airport was closed for more than a week.
Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 turbojets
The Concorde was powered by four Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 turbojets. It was initially a joint project between Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited (BSEL) and Snecma, derived from the Bristol Siddeley Olympus 22R engine. Rolls-Royce Limited acquired BSEL in 1966 during the development of the engine, making BSEL the Bristol Engine Division of Rolls-Royce.
As the only turbojet with an afterburner powering a commercial aircraft, the Olympus turbojet was unique in aviation until regular Concorde flights ended in October 2003. During supersonic cruising flight or supercruise, the engine’s overall thermal efficiency reached approximately 43%, the highest value ever recorded for a typical thermodynamic machine.
Photo by Orlando International Airport (MCO)