Photo by Dennis Biela Eagle Hanger presentation by BA Capt. John D. Eames (Ret) on flying Concorde into Oshkosh

July 30, 2009 - Oshkosh, Wisconsin  - Today the show-stopper in the sky came from Europe and wowed the Oshkosh crowds with its bulk.

But 24 years ago it was the Queen of Speed that drew tens of thousands of visitors to jam the AirVenture flightline, anxious to get the first glimpse of the British Airways supersonic Concorde jet. It turns out the people on the ground weren’t the only ones excited. The Concorde crew was, too.

That crew returned to Oshkosh this week to celebrate and recall that first Concorde visit, as well as its subsequent visits in 1988, 1990, 1994, and 1998. The Concorde is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of its first flight back in 1969. Anne McKenary flew as a flight attendant on the Concorde to AirVenture, and although two decades have passed, she remembered the visit to Oshkosh.

“My favorite part was the atmosphere when we landed,” she said.

“It was seeing all the people and all the aircraft. “It was such a warm welcome and so much enthusiasm from youngsters to the very old.”

But the Concorde demonstration flights at Oshkosh were exciting for McKenary since a touch-and-go wasn’t something they’d normally do on a flight with paying passengers.

“As a flight attendant, I had never experienced touch-and-goes,” she said. “It was a new thrill.”

Ian Smith, the copilot two decades ago, said arriving in Oshkosh was overwhelming.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I didn’t expect to see so many people and so many immaculate airplanes,” he recalled.

He said he was overwhelmed by the reception from all the visitors. “I enjoyed being surrounded by so many aviation enthusiasts.

“It was very humbling to meet so many skilled people and to see the interest in the plane that they showed.”

Pilot John Eames said they weren’t allowed to fly at supersonic speeds above the United States because of the resulting sonic boom.

But even at subsonic speed the delta-winged bird traveled about 100 mph faster than other planes, he pointed out. Flying at 60,000 feet was also a great view, with clouds below and a dark, blue sky above.

The Concorde crew has presentations scheduled through August 2. To view the complete schedule, go to www.airventure.org/schedule/.