BAC Concorde G-BBDG
| Company type | Development aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | August 7, 1973 |
| Headquarters | Filton , United Kingdom |
| Products | Concorde development and evaluation |
G-BBDG, also referred to as "Delta Golf", is the British development Concorde used specifically for evaluation purposes. Together with the French Concorde F-WTSB, it played a crucial role in conducting the necessary tests for fleet certification. Following its retirement, the aircraft was stored at Filton airfield until 2003, after which it was moved to the Brooklands Museum located in Weybridge, Surrey.
History
The maiden flight of G-BBDG took place on 13 February 1974, having been registered earlier on 7 August 1973. Known as Delta Golf, this aircraft was instrumental in completing Concorde’s design validation and product certification before commencing passenger operations.
Distinct from the production series, this model featured a fuselage skin that was thinner and bore British Airways colors during its testing phase.
Its last flight occurred on 24 December 1981, after accumulating 1,282 hours and 9 minutes of air time. Subsequently, it was kept at Filton in a semi-airworthy state throughout 1982 but did not fly again. In 1984, British Airways purchased it as part of acquiring Concorde support assets.
Although it never entered commercial service, G-BBDG served as an essential source for spare parts supporting British Airways’ fleet of seven Concordes. During the late 1980s, a dedicated hangar was constructed at Filton for storage purposes, with the tail section removed prior to storage.
In 1995, following damage to Concorde G-BOAF’s nose at Heathrow Airport, British Airways exchanged its nose with that of G-BBDG. Additional components such as engines, landing gear, and most hydraulic systems were also removed. The original nose was subsequently repaired and reinstalled on G-BBDG.
Despite several considerations for scrapping over the years, the aircraft remained valuable for ground-based testing at Filton. Notably, in 2001 it was used to evaluate reinforced cockpit doors implemented in response to security measures following the September 11 attacks.
When both British Airways and Air France retired their Concorde fleets in 2003, the Brooklands Museum accepted G-BBDG as a display artifact. The plane was divided into five sections for road transport. The disassembly and reassembly process was managed by Air Salvage International. Restoration efforts included over one hundred volunteers, comprising staff and students from the University of Surrey.
In July 2006, Brooklands launched The Concorde Experience exhibit, offering visitors the opportunity to board the aircraft and engage in virtual flights reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.