Miss L. Toe
September 11th, 2003, 09:41 AM
Chance to buy a bit of Concorde
Concorde fans with as little as 20 euros to spend may be able to snap up a
piece of history in Paris next month.
Air France is auctioning Concorde parts and memorabilia to mark the end of
the supersonic airliner's 27 years of service.
Big spenders - with large spaces available - may fancy the giant engines
which powered the fleet to its supersonic speeds.
Estimated prices for the Olympus 593 engines, built by Rolls Royce and
Snecma, are not being made public.
We hope this landmark sale will contribute to the memories of this human and
technological adventure as well as raising funds for good causes
Jean-Cyril Spinetta
Air France chief executive officer
Concorde's distinctive nose cone is expected to be another highlight,
Christie's spokeswoman Capucine Milliot told BBC News Online.
The 3.5-metre cone has a guide price of 10,000-15,000 euros.
Those with a smaller budget might prefer wing parts with an price estimate
standing at 1,500-2,000 euros.
The machmeter, which measured Concorde's supersonic speeds, is another piece
of history waiting to be snapped up.
A total of 200 lots will be on sale, including photographs and scale models
of the plane.
There will be no reserve prices - meaning in theory that lots can be picked
up one euro. The lowest estimate price is 20 euros.
But interest is expected to be huge.
Concorde items offered for sale on internet site Ebay have seen a big
increase in traffic since the announcement that the Concorde fleets in both
France and the UK were being disbanded.
"This unique plane has an unparalleled place in the history of international
aviation and has captured the public's imagination for nearly three
decades," said Air France chief executive officer Jean-Cyril Spinetta.
He said the sale would give everyone a unique opportunity to buy a piece of
Concorde history.
We are proud to welcome in our saleroom admirers of the great white bird
which made us all dream
Francois Curiel
Christie's Europe chairman
"We hope this landmark sale will contribute to the memories of this human
and technological adventure as well as raising funds for good causes," Mr
Spinetta said.
Francois Curiel, chairman of Christie's Europe, paid his own tribute to
Concorde.
"It is a testimony to French and European technology, and we are proud to
welcome in our saleroom admirers of the great white bird which made us all
dream," he said.
The lots will be divided into four subject areas: the supersonic adventure,
technical elements, souvenirs, and finally a special series of photographic
prints.
Proceeds will go to the Air France Foundation, which supports children's
causes.
An Air France Concorde crashed on take-off from Paris in July 2000, killing
113 people.
Extensive safety modifications were carried out, but it was later announced
that the Concorde era was coming to an end.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/3097160.stm
Published: 2003/09/10 17:01:38 GMT
© BBC MMIII
Concorde fans with as little as 20 euros to spend may be able to snap up a
piece of history in Paris next month.
Air France is auctioning Concorde parts and memorabilia to mark the end of
the supersonic airliner's 27 years of service.
Big spenders - with large spaces available - may fancy the giant engines
which powered the fleet to its supersonic speeds.
Estimated prices for the Olympus 593 engines, built by Rolls Royce and
Snecma, are not being made public.
We hope this landmark sale will contribute to the memories of this human and
technological adventure as well as raising funds for good causes
Jean-Cyril Spinetta
Air France chief executive officer
Concorde's distinctive nose cone is expected to be another highlight,
Christie's spokeswoman Capucine Milliot told BBC News Online.
The 3.5-metre cone has a guide price of 10,000-15,000 euros.
Those with a smaller budget might prefer wing parts with an price estimate
standing at 1,500-2,000 euros.
The machmeter, which measured Concorde's supersonic speeds, is another piece
of history waiting to be snapped up.
A total of 200 lots will be on sale, including photographs and scale models
of the plane.
There will be no reserve prices - meaning in theory that lots can be picked
up one euro. The lowest estimate price is 20 euros.
But interest is expected to be huge.
Concorde items offered for sale on internet site Ebay have seen a big
increase in traffic since the announcement that the Concorde fleets in both
France and the UK were being disbanded.
"This unique plane has an unparalleled place in the history of international
aviation and has captured the public's imagination for nearly three
decades," said Air France chief executive officer Jean-Cyril Spinetta.
He said the sale would give everyone a unique opportunity to buy a piece of
Concorde history.
We are proud to welcome in our saleroom admirers of the great white bird
which made us all dream
Francois Curiel
Christie's Europe chairman
"We hope this landmark sale will contribute to the memories of this human
and technological adventure as well as raising funds for good causes," Mr
Spinetta said.
Francois Curiel, chairman of Christie's Europe, paid his own tribute to
Concorde.
"It is a testimony to French and European technology, and we are proud to
welcome in our saleroom admirers of the great white bird which made us all
dream," he said.
The lots will be divided into four subject areas: the supersonic adventure,
technical elements, souvenirs, and finally a special series of photographic
prints.
Proceeds will go to the Air France Foundation, which supports children's
causes.
An Air France Concorde crashed on take-off from Paris in July 2000, killing
113 people.
Extensive safety modifications were carried out, but it was later announced
that the Concorde era was coming to an end.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/3097160.stm
Published: 2003/09/10 17:01:38 GMT
© BBC MMIII