'Concorde could fly you on day-trip to Niagara Falls'

When it took its maiden flight 50 years ago, Concorde was the epitome of luxury and glamour.

The supersonic aircraft first flew passengers on simultaneous flights from London to Bahrain and Paris to Rio de Janeiro on 21 January 1976.

But it was decommissioned over 20 years ago, and now one of the few places anyone can step inside one of the supersonic jets is at Manchester Airport's Runway Visitor Park.

Tour guide Steve Edwards said: "I first saw Concorde at a local airshow back in 1970. It's still an iconic, beautiful aircraft so I love working here and talking about it."

Mr Edwards added: "Scheduled services flew from Heathrow but there were experience flights from Manchester and you could fly to Niagara Falls for a day out. That's what Concorde was capable of doing."

Concorde began its signature route from London Heathrow to JFK airport in New York in November 1977.

That journey takes around eight hours today but the record time for Concorde was 2 hours and 52 minutes.

The supersonic aircraft flew at 1,354mph (2,179 km/h), more than twice the speed of sound and faster than a bullet fired from a rifle.

By 2003, the standard return fare from London to New York was £6,636.

Passengers were offered caviar and champagne on take-off, before being served a luxury five course meal on Royal Doulton bone china with silver cutlery.

Edwards added: "The menu on Concorde included food like foie gras or lobster and they would also cook your steak how you wanted it.

"There was even a Concorde wine cellar at Heathrow, with bottles costing £95 in the 1980s."

Concorde was retired in 2003 because its high fuel consumption made it expensive to operate and there were restrictions on flying over land due to the loud noise of the sonic boom.

The aircraft at the Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park was the second Concorde to be delivered to British Airways in 1976.

G-BOAC, known as Alpha Charlie, was used by many celebrities and royals including Princess Diana and the late Queen Elizabeth II.

British Airways ran regular flights from Manchester Airport, often over the Bay of Biscay, allowing passengers a taste of supersonic flight without a long journey.

A gala dinner is being held to mark the 50th anniversary of the first commercial Concorde flights at Manchester Airport on Friday 13 February.