Last Days of the Concorde

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "[Last Days of the Concorde] proves enlightening about the post-accident investigative process, showing “how happenstance and entropy can conspire to wreak havoc.” Chittum has a gift for making the complex details easily understandable." "Aviation may well be the most unforgiving of man’s activities. Yet rarely does just one failure or misjudgment cause an airplane to crash; instead it is a chain of events, any link of which might have prevented the disaster. The crash of a supersonic Concorde in France just after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle in Paris on July 25, 2000, is the subject of this excellent book by experienced reporter Samme Chittum, who has a wonderful knack for lucidly explaining tech for the uninitiated. Highly recommended for all aviation professionals and everyone fascinated by man’s reach for the sky." —Stephen Coonts, author of Flight of the Intruder and The Armageddon File "A tragic crash during takeoff from Paris marked the beginning of the end for the Concorde. Chittum provides a compelling and detailed account of the crash, the ensuing investigation, and what was behind the decision to retire a majestic aircraft that was ahead of its time."—Joe Anselmo, Editor-in-Chief, Aviation Week