A Concorde simulator originally used for training British Airways' (BA) crew has been re-commissioned for public use by Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey.
The simulator, which was first used in 1975 and cost £20m to develop at current prices, was decommissioned by BA in 2003 and transported to Brooklands Museum after the airline withdrew Concorde operations.
Aviation enthusiasts and museum visitors will now have the opportunity to 'fly' the supersonic aircraft, following a three-year project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to restore the simulator.
Led by a team including the University of Surrey, volunteers and specialists from XPI Simulation, the 34-year-old simulator will be open daily for museum visitors to view and will complement the Concorde G-BBDG aircraft exhibit.
A new Special Occasions programme has now been launched, which will offer an hour-long ride on the simulator, including a briefing from an ex-BA Concorde Captain and 15 minutes at the controls of the aircraft, as part of a £139 package per person.
For £395 per person, visitors can take up the option of a cocktail reception and a captain's lunch or dinner, in addition to a two-hour ride on the simulator and 30 minutes at the controls.
