Concorde: supersonic plane marked by Royal Mail’s new 50th anniversary UK stamps - including last flight
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Celebrate Concorde’s 50th with rare nose-drop displays, collectible stamps, and aviation history ✈️
- Royal Mail has released 12 special stamps to mark 50 years since the first Concorde flights
- Eight main stamps feature British Airways’ Concordes, including the first and last commercial flights
- Three Concorde noses in UK museums will drop simultaneously to commemorate the anniversary
- Concorde was famous for supersonic speed, luxury travel, and celebrity passengers
- The stamps are available online, at select post offices, and in stamp shops nationwide
Aviation fans and stamp collectors have reason to celebrate, as the Royal Mail releases a special set of stamps to mark the 50th anniversary of the first commercial Concorde flights.
The supersonic jet, famous for its speed, style, and glamour, continues to capture the imagination decades after its retirement.
The new collection features 12 stamps, showcasing Concorde’s elegance, engineering, and storied history. Eight main stamps depict British Airways’ Concordes in action, from the first commercial flight in 1976 to the final journey in 2003.
Highlights include a striking stamp of four Concordes flying in formation to mark a decade of service. A further four stamps are presented on a miniature sheet for collectors seeking something a little different.
To mark the anniversary, the noses of three Concorde aircraft on display in the UK at Aerospace Bristol, Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park, and the Imperial War Museum Duxford will drop simultaneously at 11.40am on Wednesday (January 21).
This historic moment echoes the departure times of the very first commercial flights; British Airways from Heathrow to Bahrain, and Air France from Charles de Gaulle to Rio.
Concorde’s distinctive hydraulically operated nose cones, which lowered during take-off and landing for pilot visibility, will be lowered in front of spectators, giving aviation enthusiasts a rare display.
David Gold, director of external affairs at the Royal Mail, described the stamps as a tribute to “innovation, elegance, and engineering excellence,” while British Airways marketing director Hamish McVey highlighted Concorde as “a landmark chapter in our history” and a symbol of British creativity.
Concorde’s reputation was built on more than speed. With a cruising velocity of 1,350mph (twice the speed of sound), it could cover a mile in just 2.75 seconds.
The jet became synonymous with luxury, attracting celebrities and royalty including Joan Collins, Sir Paul McCartney, and Princess Diana. Its fine dining, champagne service, and ultra-fast travel made it the ultimate experience for those who could afford it.
Though Concorde was retired in 2003 due to rising maintenance costs and falling passenger numbers, its cultural and technological legacy endures.
Alongside these new stamps, the Royal Mint recently issued a 50p coin celebrating the aircraft, giving collectors multiple ways to mark this aviation milestone.
The Concorde stamps are now available from the Royal Mail website, selected post offices, and stamp shops nationwide.