The Story of the Secret Flight to Caracas
Partager
The story of the secret flight to Caracas
In the 1980s, Concorde was the pride of Air France and British Airways. Capable of flying at over Mach 2, it offered regular flights between Paris, London, and New York. But did you know that it was also used for an almost clandestine mission to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela?
The context
At the time, oil-rich Venezuela maintained close ties with France. However, its distance and tropical climate made commercial flights long and unattractive. The Venezuelan government, admiring Concorde, wanted to experiment with a direct supersonic flight from Europe.
Air France, seeing a unique opportunity, organized a special flight in 1987 to test the feasibility of such a route. But this flight was not intended for the general public: it was an ultra-confidential flight, reserved for diplomats, industrialists, and political figures from both countries.
The flight
Concorde took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle at dawn, under a veil of discretion. The direct journey to Caracas, nearly 7,500 kilometers long, was completed in just 4 hours and 30 minutes. This represented a drastic reduction compared to conventional commercial flights which took over 9 hours.
Upon arrival, Concorde caused a sensation at Maiquetía Airport. Fascinated locals flocked to admire the supersonic jet. Local personalities were invited aboard to discover the luxurious interior of the aircraft. Meanwhile, discussions between governments and companies focused on establishing a regular route between Paris and Caracas.
Why didn't it continue?
Despite the enthusiasm, several obstacles arose:
- Costs: The price of a ticket would have been exorbitant, severely limiting potential customers.
- Noise: Concorde's sonic boom prohibited flying over many land areas at maximum speed, making the flight less practical.
- Logistics: Caracas, with its humid and hot climate, required expensive technical adjustments to regularly accommodate the aircraft.
Ultimately, the project was abandoned, but this unique flight remains a technical and diplomatic feat. It briefly symbolized the ambition to connect the world at incredible speeds, even to exotic destinations.
An amusing anecdote: some passengers on this flight kept the cutlery and menus as souvenirs, knowing they were part of a unique historical event!