CloseDec 23, 2010 11:29:22 AM
Would you buy one of these?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11935565
RT Moderator - 997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection
Dec 23, 2010 3:30:18 PM
Dec 23, 2010 3:51:15 PM
fritz:
So why does making the car's body out of three main parts instead of one make it safer?
I wondered this too 
maybe he is talking about he body and the two side mirrors as the three detachable parts 
... not sure safety is something I associate with russian engineering 
Dec 23, 2010 3:58:45 PM
Tupolev anyone? We take for granted that we fly in Boeing or Airbus aircraft powered by General Electric, Rolls Royce or Pratt & Whitney engines. Why should cars be any different?
I have only ever owned German cars. There are good reasons for this 
RT Moderator - 997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection
Dec 23, 2010 5:18:25 PM
Dec 23, 2010 6:05:07 PM
Tupolev, established in 1922, was the designer and manufacturer of the world's 1st supersonic airliner (the TU-144) and the manufacturer of the heaviest and fastest strategic bomber in the world (TU-160). Its engineering prowess is well know in the aviation and aerospace world.
PS: You might also like the famous Maxim Gorky that Tupolev built. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_ANT-20
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FERRARI RULES!!!
Dec 24, 2010 3:51:21 AM
REALZEUS:
You forgot to mention that the Tu 144 came out first and that it was both quicker and larger than the Concorde.
But not even remotely comparable as an engineering achievement. Range was hopeless due to the inefficient engines that had to use reheat continuously to maintain M2.0. Concorde only used reheat on takeoff and to accelerate through M1.0 to approx M1.4. After that no reheat was required. No other aircraft, even military could or can do that. First aircraft to use fly by wire, first aircraft to use ceramic brakes, an incredible variable geometry air intake system that slowed the incoming air from 1,350mph to 500mph in only 4 metres. The computer programme that controlled those intakes is still secret even today. The air intake ontrol computers have been removed from all the aircraft and securely stored for that reason. In no other aircraft could you fly across the Atlantic at 60,000 feet at twice the speed of sound without a pressure suit.
Concorde was one of the most significant technical achievements if not the most significant of the 20th Century. Even a senior NASA engineer stated that getting a man on the moon was easy compared to getting Concorde to work.
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Porsche Cayman S PDK Aqua Blue / Ocean Blue (November 10) 
: Toyota Yaris D4D (Oct 10) 
Dec 30, 2010 11:23:52 AM
That's why it was such a tragedy for mankind's technological advancement that Concorde was decommissioned.
Mankind went backward that day 
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RT Moderator - 997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection
Dec 30, 2010 11:36:55 AM
easy_rider911:
That's why it was such a tragedy for mankind's technological advancement that Concorde was decommissioned.
Mankind went backward that day
Very much so, easy. 
I'll never forget my flight in April 2003, looking out of those small windows, warm because of the friction of the air at Mach 2.0, looking up at the edge of the atmosphere, sky the darkest blue, almost black, and on the horizon clearly seeing the curvature of the earth, in comfort drinking the finest champagne.....
"I must be old because I can remember when it only took 4 hours to fly to New York from London or Paris".....
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Porsche Cayman S PDK Aqua Blue / Ocean Blue (November 10) : Toyota Yaris D4D (Oct 10)
Dec 30, 2010 12:16:38 PM
Apparently Concorde's average flying time from London to New York was as little as 3 hours 20 mins - simply amazing
http://www.britishairways.com/concorde/faq.html#5
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RT Moderator - 997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection
Dec 30, 2010 12:25:27 PM
One of my personal regrets was that I never flew on Concorde - I never hurried to book a flight because I never thought it would ever be axed.
And now that chance has gone forever ...
I think Tony Blair must be one of the luckiest PMs. Shortly after taking office in 1997, when he flew to Washington DC to meet President Clinton, he went there in a British Airways Concorde aircraft. It was the ultimate way for a British PM to arrive.
RT Moderator - 997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection
Dec 30, 2010 2:07:15 PM
easy_rider911:
One of my personal regrets was that I never flew on Concorde - I never hurried to book a flight because I never thought it would ever be axed.
And now that chance has gone forever ...
We were very lucky, I always wanted to fly on Concorde, ever since witnessing a Concorde take off very close hand in the Pink Elephant car park at Heathrow some years ago, right alongside the runway. The sight and sound was incredible, you could actually feel the sound waves from those engines and it set off every car alarm in the car park! When the decommissioning was announced BA offered 2,000 tickets at very reduced prices, If I recall £1,500 each, which was to fly one way cattle class in a 747, a three night stay in New York and Concorde either out or return. She got one of the last pair of tickets on offer, they all went within 1 hour. We did the return leg on Concorde, which had the advantage of leaving the best bit to last, but we missed the unique opportunity that very few have seen, watching the sun rise in the west on the LHR - JFK flight as Concorde flew faster than the earth's rotation.
Not quite the same thing, but for my birthday earlier this year SWMBO gave me a ticket to "fly" the genuine Concorde pilot flight training simulator at Brooklands, instructed by a retired Concorde pilot. An amazing experience that I thoroughly recommend (and I'm not an aircraft "anorak").
http://www.brooklandsconcorde.com/moreinfo.html
Sorry for taking your thread "off topic" easy 
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Porsche Cayman S PDK Aqua Blue / Ocean Blue (November 10) : Toyota Yaris D4D (Oct 10)
Dec 30, 2010 2:17:51 PM
Thanks DC - much appreciated
Don't worry about straying off-topic 
There's only so much we can say about Marussia before we descend into a conversation about Russian technology, Tupolevs and then how Concorde was so much better
RT Moderator - 997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection
Dec 30, 2010 2:32:06 PM
easy_rider911:
Thanks DC - much appreciated
Don't worry about straying off-topic
If you feel tempted go for the Gold package - you get two 15 minute flights, I had choice of take off from LHR, a go around including flying through Tower Bridge, a low flight over the Mall and Buckingham Palace and then landing, take off and go around from JFK including the famous sharp bank to the left immediately after take off, taking the aircraft under the Verrazano Bridge and return, or take off and landing at the notorious Khai Tek airport at Hong Kong and landing at night. The screen displays have been updated and are very realistic. I did the latter as one of my choices and was dripping with sweat after landing!
The training pilot assured us that the simulator in feel and response is identical to the real thing - except for the G forces!
The museum at Brooklands has a historic car collection, as well as a retired Concorde and an aircraft museum, is right alongside part of the historic banked circuit and an easy walk to Mercedes Benz World.
The Russians didn't get it all wrong, the US spent millions of dollars developing a pen that could be used in zero gravity (which became the Papermate) - whilst the Russian used perfectly good pencils! 
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Porsche Cayman S PDK Aqua Blue / Ocean Blue (November 10) : Toyota Yaris D4D (Oct 10)
Just came out from a night out with the mates... I have read so many inaccuracies that I am really bewildered. I promise to answer every and each one of them shortly. Let me just say that the Concorde was the more accomplished product, but by no means the most advanced.
PS: Anyone here an ex airman or serviceman? Justa asking...
REALZEUS:
I have read so many inaccuracies that I am really bewildered. I promise to answer every and each one of them shortly. Let me just say that the Concorde was the more accomplished product, but by no means the most advanced.
Here we go - instead of arguing about the merits of a Cayman I'm going to get embroiled in arguments about Concorde! 
Porsche Cayman S PDK Aqua Blue / Ocean Blue (November 10) : Toyota Yaris D4D (Oct 10)
REALZEUS:
I have read so many inaccuracies that I am really bewildered. I promise to answer every and each one of them shortly.
The claims - and they are facts - I have highlighted have come from my flight experience at Brooklands. The two instructors that day were Mike Bannister, British Airways Chief Concorde Pilot, and Ian Smith a Senior Concorde Flight Engineer. They are also documented in two books I have, namely "Concorde - Story of a supersonic pioneer" written by Kenneth Owen, published by the Science Museum, and "The Concorde Story", 6th Edition author Christopher Orlebar, a retired Concorde captain.
Porsche Cayman S PDK Aqua Blue / Ocean Blue (November 10) : Toyota Yaris D4D (Oct 10)
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