Short Final: Concorde Criticism

About 30 years ago I had a business trip to London and took the BOAC Concorde from Washington Dulles International Airport to London Heathrow Airport.

Captain McMahon had a very pleasant voice and I sent him a note requesting the jump seat if it was available for the approach and landing. I promised "not to touch anything or to criticize."

His note back to me was classic British: "We're still learning about this thing and it works best when we don't touch anything either. You're welcome to join us as we begin our descent and, as to criticism, I doubt you could say anything we haven't already heard."

It was, of course, a perfect landing.