We have looked a variety of applications of simple physics principles to aircraft.  We have looked at the way electronic sensors communicate with flight computers in the most modern of aircraft.  We have not mentioned that icon of modern supersonic transport, Concorde.  Despite its futuristic looks, Concorde was actually very old-fashioned, components that were state of the art fifty years ago, a lot derived from the Vulcan bomber.  Its flight management computer walked on and off the aircraft with the two pilots.  He had a vast array of instruments on a panel in front of him.  For example, he had to balance the aeroplane by pumping fuel between tanks, among a hundred-and-one different tasks.

Although Concorde had an excellent safety record, there was one serious accident.  As a Concorde was taking off from Paris, one of the wheels  struck a small pin (about the size of a pencil), which shredded a tyre.  Since the machine was travelling at 80 m/s, lumps of tyre were thrown with considerable force onto the wing, puncturing fuel tanks.  The spilling fuel was ignited just as the aeroplane was lifting off.

The pilot tried to do a circuit to land, but the fire caused the two left hand engines to fail, and he had to cope with extreme asymmetric flight.  In these circumstances, if the flight speed gets too low (a speed called VMC), the aeroplane becomes uncontrollable and will roll over.  The stricken aeroplane became unflyable and crashed into a hotel car park, killing all on board and several people on the ground.

Although work was done on all the other Concordes to make the fuel tanks less vulnerable to such damage, it was clear that the aeroplane's days were numbered.  Its navigation systems were desperately out-dated.  It was noisy, smelly, had a prodigious appetite for fuel.  It was hopelessly uneconomic.  It was retired and all surviving aircraft ended up in museums.

Although Concorde will never fly again (vital parts were removed on retirement), a Vulcan bomber (not this one) has been restored to flying condition.

Here is a concept map of the unit: