Aerospace Bristol

#OnThisDay in 1971, Prospero, was launched into Earth’s orbit from Woomera, Southern Australia. Designed and built by the British Aircraft Corporation at Filton, it was the first British satellite to be launched from a British rocket, ‘Black Arrow’. Our volunteer, Terry Ransome shares, “Prospero was a technology-development project - testing new types of solar cells to generate power, different surface finishes to control temperatures, and new electronics technology.” Eight minutes after the launch of Black Arrow, the rocket fell away and the Waxwing motor under the satellite pushed Prospero into its final orbit 590km above the Earth. Look out for the full-size replica of Prospero in our admissions area with a real (but unfuelled) Waxwing motor beneath it. 📷Prospero replica at Aerospace Bristol & Prospero structure image.

Concorde Reunion: Captain Surprises Crew Member After 20 Years! This evening, we welcomed guests to the Concorde After-Hours Tour: Mach Two to celebrate the anniversary of Concorde’s final commercial flight. What we didn’t reveal beforehand was that Les Brodie, captain of Concorde’s final flight in November 2003, would be hiding in the flight deck, waiting to surprise everyone. The surprise became even more special when Les was there to reunite with Neil Smith, who served as cabin crew on that final flight. Neil and Les hadn’t seen each other in over 20 years, and we were thrilled to facilitate their reunion on board Alpha Foxtrot. We captured the moment Neil saw Les for the first time in two decades!

#OnThisDay in 2003, Concorde made its final commercial flight. At midday on 24th October, Concorde G-BOAG flew from New York to London Heathrow, marking the end of the aircraft’s commercial service. It landed as the third in a sequence, following G-BOAE from Edinburgh and G-BOAF, which made a special flight from London via the Bay of Biscay. The final commercial flight attracted significant attention, with crowds gathering at Heathrow to capture photographs of the iconic supersonic plane one last time.

We’re working with Junior Saunders and GCSE Boost to help 4,000 local students feel prepared and confident ahead of their GCSEs. Aerospace Bristol will host GCSE Boost across two days in March 2025. The students will meet local employers and get professional advice on topics such as mental health and wellbeing, diet and nutrition, motivation and aspiration, and exam techniques. The event aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering learning and inspiring younger generations, and it will all take place in an inspiring setting alongside Concorde. You can find out more about Junior, his story and the GCSE Boost event by watching the video linked below⬇️ https://ow.ly/poRa50TSBR9

Major Relaunch of Museum Café Following Prestigious Food & Drink Accolade☕ Aerospace Bristol has been awarded a VisitEngland Food & Drink accolade, recognising the high standards of our cafe. Building on this success, we’re preparing for a major relaunch in February 2025, with a complete refurbishment that will transform the café into a more welcoming space for both visitors and the local community. We look forward to unveiling this new chapter and expanding upon our role as a vibrant community hub. Read more about the relaunch here⬇️ https://ow.ly/XQ6U50TQWfY

Did you catch us on BBC Radio Bristol this morning?📻 Our Head of Marketing & Commercial Operations, Adam Jones was interviewed on Joe Sims' breakfast show about our Concorde appearing in the new Disney+ series, Rivals. If you missed it and would like to listen, follow the link below. Our segment begins 2 hours and 5 minutes into the programme. https://lnkd.in/exhh7TCA

We’re Finalists in the Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards🎉 We’re thrilled to announce that Aerospace Bristol has been shortlisted for the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award! Thank you to our amazing staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and a big thank you to our visitors for their continued support. For more details about the Tourism Awards, click the link below ⬇️ https://ow.ly/Ul9L50TPZNu #BBSTA2024 #AerospaceBristol #TourismAwards

Concorde After-Hours Tour: Mach Two 📅 Saturday 23rd November Join us for a special After-Hours tour celebrating the 21st anniversary of Concorde’s final flight on 26th November 2003! Enjoy a welcome drink and canapés before exploring the aircraft with the longest-serving Concorde Captain, Colin Morris, who will share fascinating stories from his remarkable career. Finish with the iconic Droop Nose demonstration, operated by Captain Morris! For everything you need to know, follow the link below⬇️ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eAE9jTpx

Our Concorde features in the opening scene of the new Disney+ series, Rivals! ✈️ In early 2023, TV crews descended on Aerospace Bristol’s Filton site, taking over the Concorde Hangar for two days and transporting it back to a time reminiscent of the 1980s. The Concorde Hangar was transformed from a bustling visitor attraction into a vibrant movie set, with cameras and filming equipment lining the balcony, makeup and hair stations set up beneath Concorde, and 80s-inspired outfits laid out in the conference rooms. We’re so excited to welcome fans of the programme to the museum, where they can experience the world of supersonic travel, and visit the exact filming location. Read more about the Bristol filming locations seen in the new series ⬇️ https://ow.ly/t1e150TOohb

That's right! Our Concorde features in the opening scene of the new Disney+ series Rivals 👠 We welcomed the film crew to the Concorde Hangar in early 2023, where they took over for two days and transported it back to a time reminiscent of the 1980s. Adam Jones, Head of Marketing & Commercial Operations, said: "It was incredible to see dozens of extras, dressed as 1980s travellers, boarding the supersonic jet as if they were about to embark on a real flight."