Mr Duffy said it was an "immense privilege" to fly Concorde

He tells BBC New Online what it was like to be at the contols of 'The Bird'.

I was very fortunate to be selected to be one of the nucleus group of BA captains to initiate Concorde services.

We were trained by the test pilots, and I was checked out by Brian Trubshaw - the first test pilot of Concorde.

The Concorde Flight Test department was based at Fairford in Gloucestershire, and in July 1975 I had the experience of walking out to the aircraft for my first flight with test pilot Johnny Walker.

It was a sunny summer day, and the gleaming shape of the lovely aircraft reminded me of how lucky I was to be associated with such a project.

I shall miss the sight of this unique and elegant shape in the skies Peter Duffey

Our first take off was a very spirited dash down the runway to become airborne in a very short period of time, for full power plus reheat - afterburner - gave terrific acceleration at the light training weight.

We went on to explore the magnificent handling characteristics of the aircraft in subsonic and supersonic flight, and then flew many so called "endurance" flights with non-commercial passengers as far as Melbourne, Australia and Gander, Newfoundland.

We were always concerned to ensure that the aircraft would be acceptable to communities and nations, and developed the best way to minimise noise, and to avoid booming sensitive areas.

However on one occasion during a flight to Melbourne from Singapore we passed right over Bali, and must have shaken things up a bit amongst that paradise.

On arrival there was a message from Brian Trubshaw warning us to avoid using the same route on our return flight.

Concorde symbolised an age of scientific promise

In fact, crossing the Indonesian archipelago at supersonic speed and avoiding populated areas was difficult.

I am of course full of mixed emotion about the final days of Concorde.

The aircraft is certainly still airworthy and able to continue in service for further years, but on the other hand it is becoming increasingly expensive to do that.

The decision to end its days is financial, and has to be viewed in the setting of reducing loads, and the future costs of maintenance.

I shall miss the sight of this unique and elegant shape in the skies, and find it uplifting to know that so many more feel that the effort to reduce travel times has shown the way for the future.

Concorde will not be the last, but she was the first to carry passengers in comfort at Mach 2.