Summary
A legendary piece of aviation history has officially been enshrined in France’s cultural heritage. The Concorde airframe registered F-WTSB, affectionately known as ‘Sierra Bravo,’ has been designated a historic monument by the French Ministry of Culture.
This special recognition, announced on May 5, 2025, follows a unanimous decision by the National Commission for Heritage and Architecture. It acknowledges the aircraft’s crucial role in the development of supersonic commercial flight and its deep significance to the French aerospace industry.
A Supersonic Pioneer
F-WTSB was the first of two pre-production Concordes built to support the certification and airworthiness process ahead of the aircraft’s entry into passenger service. Although it never carried commercial passengers, Sierra Bravo played a vital part in the test program, conducting 423 flights between 1973 and 1982—including 247 at supersonic speeds.
Making its first flight on December 6, 1973, and retiring less than a decade later, Sierra Bravo amassed just 909 flight hours. Alongside its British counterpart, G-BBDG, the aircraft helped refine the systems and structure of the Concorde, ensuring the success of the production aircraft that eventually flew passengers with Air France and British Airways.
Now Preserved in Toulouse
Prototype Concorde F-WTSB at the new Aeroscopia Museum at Toulouse.
Since 2014, Sierra Bravo has been preserved at the Aéroscopia Museum at Toulouse Blagnac Airport—right next to the modern Airbus final assembly lines. The airframe is owned by the Académie de l’air et de l’espace (Air and Space Academy), which was founded by legendary Concorde test pilot André Turcat.
Visitors to the museum can explore the fully preserved aircraft, complete with original cockpit instruments, testing equipment, and the engineer’s station. It stands as a rare opportunity to get up close to one of the most iconic and technologically advanced aircraft ever built.
Sierra Bravo now joins other prestigious French landmarks—such as the Château de Chambord and the Palace of Versailles—in holding official historical monument status. This designation allows for future conservation efforts to be supported by state funding, ensuring the aircraft’s preservation for generations to come.
France’s Concorde Legacy
Concorde F-BVFF at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France. (Dennis Jarvis, distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0 Licence)
Out of the 20 Concordes constructed between 1967 and 1979, 18 have survived and are preserved around the world. Six of these are in France, including F-WTSB and F-BVFC at Aéroscopia. Others are on display at Paris Le Bourget, Orly, and Charles de Gaulle airports.
Speaking on the announcement, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati praised the aircraft as “a pioneer of supersonic flight,” and a lasting symbol of “France’s industrial strength and capacity for international cooperation.”
Have You Flown Concorde?
Sierra Bravo may never have carried passengers, but it helped make supersonic travel a reality. Have you ever flown aboard a Concorde, or visited one on display? Share your memories and photos in the comments below—we’d love to hear your stories.
Title image: Louis Concorde
Concorde Timelines Book
Our book, Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde Timelines is a concise history of this famous supersonic jet. From early designs, through development and production, its operational life and retirement, you’ll discover the full story of Concorde. Full of archive images and photographs, plus a production list.
