Concorde: The thrilling account of history’s most extraordinary airliner

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The rest of the fuselage would sizzle at 100 degrees Celsius, equal to the boiling point of water. Such temperatures meant the airframe stretched a staggering 10 inches during flights. I was very young when the Concorde crash of 2001 happened and didn't understand much of the news reports but as a kid who loved the plane was very sad learning of this news. Reading this provided much insight into what happened and why Concorde was grounded soon after. Tom was an absolutely charming chap," recalls Mike. "He brought the trophy up and allowed us to take photos. When the stewardess said his lunch was ready, he left the trophy with us. With nearly a quarter of a century’s experience flying the world’s only successful supersonic airliner, there’s no one better qualified to tell her story. The author describes how because it was supersonic there were many things to flying Concorde that were quite different to conventional airliners. It must have been incredible to fly at sixty thousand feet and see the curvature of the earth.

Investigators initially believed a tyre had exploded, sending metal fragments to puncture a wing-borne fuel tank which was then ignited by hot wiring. For over a quarter of a century, Concorde was the world's only successful supersonic airliner, carrying passengers at speeds faster than a rifle bullet - and at heights that provided a glimpse of the edge of space. An excellent read. For a change, I listened to the audiobook version, narrated flawlessly by Mike himself. For all the books written on Concorde, it is surprising that until now there has been none written by Mr Concorde himself, Mike Bannister. As someone who spent 22 years on the aircraft, rising from First Officer to Chief Pilot his perspective adds a new viewpoint to the existing material.This is really three books in one. It’s Mike’s autobiography, starting from the seven year old child gazing up at aeroplanes and deciding he wanted to be a pilot. It’s the story of Concorde and its history in BA, including the politics and economics as well as technical details about the aeroplane and what it took to fly it. I was worried that the book would lose my interest or that the aviation terminology would be hard to follow, but Bannister done a fantastic job of explaining the terminology and keeping the reader invested. Our venues are accessible to everyone. We want to ensure everyone across the city has access to health, fitness and entertainment facilities. Bookings can be transferred, where sessions are available within 7 days of the original booking,only if more than 24 hours notice is given of the original booking taking place.

I was on Concorde for 22 years, so I felt I needed to capture the story of an incredible aeroplane," he says.Flying over Windsor Castle, she once remarked: "I can see my sister's home - the Royal Standard is flying." BA engineers even made a special seat for the Queen, giving her a little extra room to work. One thing I do wish was perhaps having a little more insight from Bannister about the future of commercial supersonic flight and where he visions it, rather than the few lines about Boom Overture. It was Concorde's only crash in 27 years, but it forced the grounding of the BA fleet while new features - including stronger tyres and Kevlar fibre lining in the wingborne fuel tanks - were introduced. Dynasty star Joan Collins preferred to sit nearer the front and always seemed to look fresher and more elegant after her journeys. "The secret behind her wonderful look will remain between Joan Collins, the cabin crew and Concorde," smiles Mike.

Mike argued vehemently to keep Concorde flying and was determined she would be given a special place in aviation history, hence the Concorde at Brooklands, where he is vice-chairman of trustees. The book can be divided into three parts, Learning to Fly, Concorde and the End of Concorde. While the first part wasn't what I was reading for, it was instrumental in laying a foundation for the reader who may be a lay-person in aviation. This is important for the reader to understand just how much of a technical achievement Concorde was, especially in the age it came from as well as the political achievement it represented for Britain, France and their respective Airlines.

When Concorde’s retirement was announced it was Mike who masterminded the celebrations, flying the last ever Concorde scheduled flight in October 2003. When, after that terrible crash, the cause had to be established, Mike was a member of the British team that was part of the investigation. And when the French-led investigation led to unsafe criminal convictions, Mike was the expert witness whose evidence help see them overturned, while at the same time as restoring the reputation of his beloved aeroplane. Our gym is equipped with the latest cardio and resistance kit to help meet all your fitness needs. We're kitted out with cardio stations including treadmills and cross trainers all with touchscreens and internet access, bikes, resistance kit machines, large free weights areaand dedicated functional training zone. You'll be welcomed by our knowledgeable and experienced fitness team who are always on hand to offer support and guidance whenever you need it. But the brilliant cross-Channel avionic collaboration first forged in 1962 was tested to the limit when one of the French aircraft crashed shortly after take-off in Paris in 2000, killing 113 people.