=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/04/10/i= nternational0354EDT0471.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, April 10, 2003 (AP) Milestones in the history of the Concorde The Associated Press (04-10) 04:32 PDT (AP) -- Key events in the history of the Concorde: * Nov. 29, 1962: The French and British governments sign agreement to develop prototypes for a supersonic transport aircraft, eventually dubbed Concorde. Aerospatiale of France and the British Aircraft Corporation Ltd. -- later known as British Aerospace PLC -- sign a similar pact the same day. * December 1967: The first test version, Concorde 001, is unveiled by Aerospatiale. * March 2, 1969: First test flight from Toulouse to Le Bourget in France. * April 9, 1969: British prototype, Concorde 002, makes first test fligh= t. * Dec. 3, 1973: The first commercial-production Concorde flies its maiden voyage. * Jan. 21, 1976: First Concorde passenger flights: a British Airways Concorde travels from London to Bahrain, while Air France goes from Paris to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. * May 24, 1976: British Airways and Air France launch Concorde service to Washington from London and Paris. * Oct. 17, 1977: The U.S. Supreme Court overrules a New York Port Authority ban on Concorde flights in New York area; regular service to and from New York begins later that year. * Oct. 8, 1998: A large piece of a Concorde's rudder falls off during a flight from London to New York. The plane lands safely. * July 23, 2000: British Airways discloses that cracks had been found in the wings of all seven of its Concorde jets. Air France makes a similar disclosure the following day, having found cracks in four of its six Concordes. * July 25, 2000: An Air France Concorde en route to New York crashes outside Paris shortly after takeoff, killing all 109 people on board and four people on the ground. All Air France Concordes are grounded. * Aug. 4, 2000: French authorities find strip of metal on runway which d= id not belong to departing Concorde. * Aug. 10, 2000: French says metal strip apparently damaged tire, and debris punctured fuel tank of Concorde, starting fire. * Aug. 15, 2000: British Airways suspends Concorde operations after learning that British and French officials intended to revoke the plane's airworthiness certification. * Aug. 16, 2000: British authorities say burst tire was primary cause of disaster. * Sept. 4, 2000: Metal strip probably came from Continental Airlines plane, French say. * Nov. 7, 2001: British Airways and Air France resume Concorde service to New York after reinforcing fuel tanks and installing improved tires. * Nov. 5, 2002: Engine failure on Air France Concorde forces rapid desce= nt over Atlantic but plane lands safely in Paris * Feb. 27: Air France Concorde loses two pieces of its rudder over Atlantic but lands safely in New York. * April 10: Air France, British Airways announce that Concorde will be grounded this year. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP