30 years ago this weekend (1996), the Concorde, the European-based supersonic aircraft, capable of flying at twice the speed of sound, flew in to Wichita for the first time.
During the stop in Wichita, 250 people got the chance to pay $5 and walk through the plane while it was on the ground; that money got donated to the Kansas Aviation Museum. The Concorde also took 100 Kansans up for a one-hour ride for $545 each.
The Supersonic Concorde, British Airways tour package to London sold out in Wichita. The visit in 1996 marked the 25th anniversary for the British Airways Concorde.
Thousands of people showed up on a cloudy day to get a glimpse of the famous airplane at Mid-Continent Airport.
During its flight from New York City to Wichita, the Concorde flew 600 miles per hour, slightly below the speed of sound, at 31,000 feet. At the time of its visit to Wichita, this plane was among 16 Concordes flying worldwide.
