A man from Neath has spent the last six years travelling the world to visit the last 18 Concorde aeroplanes in existence. Civil servant Paul Evans, who flew on the G-BOAG Concorde, has just one Concorde plane left to visit – the G-BOAE at Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados which he plans to see later this month. The aircrafts, which were widely considered to be for the rich and famous, remain the fastest commercial planes ever. They took to the skies commercially for the first time in 1976 and ceased flying in 2003. The planes, which could effortlessly cross the Atlantic in less than three hours, never fully recovered from the Air France Flight 4590’s crash in July 2000, minutes after take-off, killing 109 passengers and four people on the ground and damaging the Concorde’s reputation commercially.
But superfans like Paul still harbour an undying passion for Concorde. And he’s made it his mission to see every last one. Paul recalled his first encounter with Concorde back in autumn 1977 when he witnessed the very first visit to Cardiff Airport, which sparked his fascination with the iconic aircraft. Remembering his flight on the G-BOAG, Paul described the experience as fulfilling one of his life’s ambitions, despite maxing out his credit card. He highlighted the incredible speed and uniqueness of the flight, flying from Heathrow to New York at the speed of a bullet.
Paul’s interest in Concorde led him to volunteer overseeing visits to the British Airways Concorde G-BOAF in Filton, Bristol. He assisted in conducting guided tours, raising funds for the new museum where the aircraft now resides at Aerospace Bristol. His group, Foxie’s Filton Flyers, has expanded to include fanatics from across the world, embarking on tours to visit various Concordes globally. From Toulouse to the US, Paris to Germany, the group has left only one Concorde – the G-BOAE in Barbados – to visit, planning a trip with museum staff and former Concorde engineering staff.
The journey to see all the Concordes left has been a fulfilling adventure for Paul and his group, providing them with unique experiences and memories to cherish. Whether it’s reminiscing about past flights or planning the next visit, their passion for Concorde continues to unite them in their shared love for the iconic fleet.