British Airways in mid-June rolled out the first (G-BOAF) of its fleet of seven Aerospatiale/British Aerospace Concordes fitted with Kevlar/rubber fuel tank liners and with armoured electrical cabling in the undercarriage area. On 19 June BA started a series of tests with the aircraft on the effects of the liners on weight and balance, fuel transfer, total fuel capacity and the amount of unusable fuel in the tanks. "This will be followed by engine and systems tests and taxi trials before operational assessment [flight] tests," says the airline, adding that it hopes the aircraft will fly in three to five weeks. BA hopes the aircraft will be back in commercial service by "late summer".
Source: Flight International
