Review of Air France flight from Dakar to Lyon in First

AFR

AF - Air France

Flight taken on 20 April 1976
AF
14:10 01h 30m 17:40
Class First
Seat 15A
Etiennedh
7,101 · 7 · 9 · 18

Dear all,
For a while now I wanted to share this inaugural flight in Concorde that my parents enjoyed some decades ago. My relatives gave me details as much as they can so I hope this modest story will constitute a real added value to this community.
My mam' won a ten days trip in Senegal through a game contest including the inbound inaugural flight in Concorde from Dakar to Lyon Satolas (not yet called Saint-Exupéry).
This day, the 20th April 1976, the welcome has been very luxurious kind-hearted by all the airport staff as well as the AF crew. The airport and its tarmac are almost empty;
the Concorde is obviously the only one curiosity.


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The first impressive attraction is the cockpit overview with its large and numerous panels and the four-members crew preparing technically the aircraft for departure.
Then walking towards the seats through a real confined cabin, apparently worst than the existing narrow body aircraft.
A glass of Champagne is served before taking off and a beautiful leather case is handed out.


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Accordingly to my parents’ point of view, the take off is especially impressive due to the power and noise of the engines.
The engagement of the post combustion to reach mach2 is also a notorious moment in such a flight.
According to the picture, the take off took place RWY 36 heading north, offering a view on the sea coast just after leaving the ground at the end of the runway.


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The catering was lavish and served with manners. It was comprised of salmon, caviar and goose liver.
Some delicates sweet cakes are served too.


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As it was an inaugural flight, some journalists in Lyon-Satolas were waiting for this inbound flight
and my parents answered some questions asked by JP Foucault still unknown at that time…


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Hope this report enabled you to get away for a moment.
Cheers.

Display all

Product ratings

Airline

Air France 9.0

  • Cabin7.0 / 10
  • Cabin crew10.0 / 10
  • Entertainment/wifi9.0 / 10
  • Meal/catering10.0 / 10
Departure airport

Dakar - DKR8.0

  • Efficiency8.0 / 10
  • Access8.0 / 10
  • Services8.0 / 10
  • Cleanliness8.0 / 10
Arrival Airport

Lyon - LYS8.0

  • Efficiency8.0 / 10
  • Access8.0 / 10
  • Services8.0 / 10
  • Cleanliness8.0 / 10

Conclusion

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Comments (9)

  • What a unique FR! I think I saw this exact aircraft at the Udvar-Hazy center in Dulles. What a beautiful report; even though it's short, love to see the old Concorde days live again here. Thank you so much for sharing!

  • Wow ! Just wow !

    Thank you for this piece of History.

  • Wouah, thank you very much for this very exclusive report aboard Concorde on what must be one of the oldest flight in FR database !

  • Thank you for share with us this great piece of aviation history!

  • Thank you for sharing a such testimony of aviation history :)

  • How cool to see a vintage report on Concorde! What a beautiful bird. Such a shame that we've gone backwards since the retirement with no more supersonic passenger transport. Thanks for sharing!

  • Thank you so much for this great vintage report. It's so fascinating and I would say a lifetime experience to be onboard a Concord during their active time. But it's a little bit a shame, too. It's been more than 12 years since the last scheduled passenger flight and still no plans, if we will ever have a supersonic passenger aircraft again.

  • Well this is definitely the one kind of lifetime experience! That plane is the marvel of aviation, no matter how modern and comfy today's aircrafts are. I am still fascinated by how man could fly faster than sound at a time where computers and cellphones were pure science fiction. Thank you for sharing this short but nonetheless amazing report on board this time machine ;)

  • Wooow! Thank you so much for this treasure

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