Behind the Name: The Concorde
Like Randolph Engineering, The BAC Concorde Supersonic passenger jet is a child of the 1970s. The Concorde first entered service in 1976, four years after Randolph opened for business. The Concorde was truly a modern marvel, one of just two turbojet-powered supersonic jets that flew commercial flights around the world. The jet travels at Mach 2, or two times the speed of sound, or 1350 MPH. It could make the jump across the Atlantic Ocean in about 3 hours and 30 minutes, a flight that typically takes about seven hours.
The Randolph Concorde takes its name from the landmark jet because it features the iconic teardrop aviator shape so adored by aviators across
The Randolph Concorde in gray lenses
the world. Made famous by General MacArthur in World War II, the teardrop aviator style has become eternally linked with aviators through films such as “Top Gun”. The teardrop shape offers the most sun protection for your eyes, making it an ideal choice for pilots.
The Concorde was retired in 2003, after suffering just one fatal crash in over 25 years of service. Its return, however, is imminent, with the passenger jet set to take flight in 2019, the 50th anniversary of its maiden trip.