SUPERSONIC TROLLEY DOLLY

Concorde Supersonic Aircraft

2019-09-11

I was in a Pub talking to some folks about where I had been and one very nice young woman mentioned that she was a member of the cabin crew, a Trolley Dolly, for British Airways for 14 years, 4 of which were on the Concorde.

I had never heard of the term Trolley Dolly, or plural Trolley Dollies. This was, and I suppose sometimes still is, a term used to refer to Stewardesses. OK, I suppose neither term is considered acceptable now. We currently use the terms Flight Attendant, or maybe that has changed since the last time I was sent to re-education camp, but political correctness is not relevant here. Although I did find this page kind of funny. Confessions of a Trolley Dolly

The main point is, I have not seen a Concorde since 1988 out in Oshkosh Wisconsin. That one was a passenger craft and decked out for the rich and famous.

Then, I see one at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford. A few days later I meet a member of the cabin crew for this style of aircraft.

THIS Aircraft is different - Very Different. The outside looked like I remember it.



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But the INSIDE was VERY different.

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This one was used for experimental trials and studies when they were developing it and ensuring that it was safe for flight.

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Passenger accomodations were, spartan.

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BUT, it DID come with an Escape Hatch. Presumably you would wait for the plane to come out of supersonic. Not sure what would happen to someone who entered the airstream at that speed.

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A few computers, and nitrogen tanks and other things you might not expect to see on a passenger aircraft.

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I don't think anyone would want to see this light come on.

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