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Rory McGrath Celebrates Concorde from Filton
Concorde at Filton played host to Rory McGrath and his film crew when he chose Alpha Foxtrot to represent the British Concorde fleet in the aircraft edition of his Industrial Revelations series.
Shining in the sunshine after her six-weekly wash and polish, Concorde 216 revelled in Rory McGrath’s enjoyment of being so close this beautiful aircraft: a consumate professional, he took nine takes of driving into the compound, leaping out under the aircraft and shouting “wow” before he was satisfied! They stayed all day, and great fun was had by all; left on the cutting room floor however was footage of Rory McGrath & Andy Treweek re-enacting the Dead Chicken Sketch – the visor strength test, which according to legend our transatlantic cousins, not having a fresh (dead) chicken to hand, carried out with a frozen chicken to great effect! We hasten to add that no chickens, or indeed Concorde herself, were harmed during the making of this programme.
Alpha Foxtrot is no stranger to stardom: her return to Filton, birthplace of supersonic travel, was watched by millions around the world on 26 November 2003 and this much-loved aircraft is photographed by amateurs and professionals on a regular basis.
Youngest of the British Concorde fleet, the last to fly supersonically and indeed the last ever Concorde to Fly, Concorde 216 was selected by the BBC in their search for the Great British Design Icon: she was the people’s choice not only for the final ten and top three but the outright winner. Jonathan Glancey, a pilot himself, interviewed former Concorde Pilot Christopher Orlebar, author of The Concorde Story, and Concorde at Filton volunteers as part of the programme.
As befits a creature of the sky, Concorde Alpha Foxtrot’s starring roles are not restricted to terrestrial television, as satellite channels beat a path to her door. TwoFour Broadcast are currently working on a six-part series for Discovery RealTime which features Martin Shaw (star of The Professionals and Judge John Deed) and a crack team of engineers working against the clock to bring his rare Stearman biplane back to it’s former glory. To show viewers the extreme variations in aircraft, Concorde was called upon to represent supersonic travel and the future. Transmission is scheduled for October.
Discovery Channel are broadcasting the aircraft edition of Industrial Revelations on Sunday 13 August 2006 at 7pm.
Posted: Saturday August 12, 2006
