Concorde Airframe Fragment

Concorde was a supersonic luxury airliner produced as a joint venture between the United Kingdom and France. Capable of speeds exceeding Mach 2, or more than twice the speed of sound, Concorde could complete the journey between New York and London in under three hours. This remarkable speed was made possible by its sleek, delta-winged design and four Rolls-Royce Olympus engines. Concorde entered service in 1976, and despite its technological marvels, it was retired in 2003, mostly due to operational costs and environmental concerns. Of the 20 that were originally built, the 18 that survive are now housed in museums around the world.   About This Artifact This fragment originates from a support section of Concorde’s internal airframe. It was integral in maintaining the aircraft’s structural integrity, particularly under the stresses associated with supersonic flight. The material is an aviation-grade alloy called Hiduminium–RR58 consisting of 2.5% copper, 1.5% magnesium, 1.0% iron, 1.2%