Concorde landing gear, toilet seat go under the hammer
28.09.2007 19:00
Shopping
- Source: cbc.ca
Aviation enthusiasts began bidding on Friday on parts from the supersonic passenger jet the Concorde at the start of a four-day auction in Toulouse, France. Landing gear, a Mach-monitoring speedometer, a toilet seat, oxygen masks and a cabin oven were among the 835 items included in the sale.  The Concorde made its final flight, crossing the Atlantic from New York to London, in 2003.
"This sale is aimed at two types of buyers: collectors who are crazy about the Concorde, but also nostalgic people looking for a last souvenir of the supersonic jet," said auctioneer Marc Labarbe. Proceeds from the auction, which is expected to fetch about $337,000 US, will be used for an airplane museum and park. The Concorde began commercial operations in 1976 by Air France and British Airways and was touted as the ultimate in trans-Atlantic travel, reducing travel time to about three hours. Round-trip ticket for trips between the U.S. and Europe were priced as high as $9,000 US. In 2000, a Paris crash killed 113 people and service was halted completely in 2003 as profits fell.
With files from the Associated Press
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