Slurper-sonic brew: Take tea under Concorde’s wing at Manchester

The Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport will play host to a special event on March 2 to celebrate 50 years since Concorde first took to the skies. 
The Aviation Society at Manchester Airport will see afternoon tea served under the wings of British Airways’ flagship Concorde – G-BOAC. 
As well as a tour of the aircraft, visitors will be able to enjoy a Q&A with special guest Fred Finn who flew on Concorde more than anyone else – over 700 times since it first took to the skies in 1969. 
To mark the occasion, the Concorde on display at the park has been modified to enable its famous drooped nose to move once again.  Film footage of Concorde’s first flight and its arrival into Manchester will be also be aired. 
Rob Pattison, Runway Visitor Park Manager, said: “Concorde is such a unique and well-loved aircraft.  We’re incredibly lucky to have the flagship of the Concorde fleet, Alpha Charlie, housed at the Runway Visitor Park. Our visitors have been enjoying tours of this magnificent aircraft for fifteen years and I’m excited to mark the jubilee anniversary of Concorde’s first flight with this unique event.”
Peter Hampson, chairman of The Aviation Society, said: “This will be the first time Alpha Charlie’s famous drooped nose will be brought back to life for the public since the aircraft landed at Manchester.
"A raffle will take place at the event, the winner of the star prize will sit in the Captain’s seat and operate the actual controls of the nose – something not many people can say they’ve done.”  
G-BOAC made the Runway Visitor Park its permanent home in 2003.
Tickets for the 50th anniversary event cost £30 per person and can be purchased on www.tasmanchester.com