Other Special Components
There are several components that enable and support the speed and power achieved by the Concorde.
Fuel Tanks
The Concorde has 17 fuel tanks that can hold a total of 31,569 gallons (119,500 liters) of kerosene fuel. The main tanks are located in each wing (five on each side) and fuselage (four).
The Concorde also has three auxiliary or trim fuel tanks (two in front and one in the tail). Here is what the trim tanks are used for:
- As the Concorde reaches supersonic speeds, its aerodynamic center of lift shifts backward.
- This shift drives the nose of the aircraft downward.
- To maintain balance, fuel is pumped backward into the trim tanks.
- The redistribution of fuel balances the aircraft by making its center of gravity match the center of lift.
- When the plane slows down, the center of lift shifts forward.
- Fuel is then pumped forward into the trim tanks to compensate.
High-reflectivity Paint
Because the Concorde moves faster than sound, the air pressure and friction (collision with air molecules) really heat up the plane. The temperature of the aircraft's skin varies from 261 degrees Fahrenheit (127 degrees Celsius) at the nose to 196 F (91 C) at the tail. The walls of the cabin are warm to the touch. To help reflect and radiate this heat, the Concorde has a high-reflectivity white paint that is about twice as reflective as the white paint on other jets.
The heat encountered by the Concorde causes the airframe to expand 7 inches (17.8 cm) in flight. To minimize the stress on the aircraft, the Concorde is made of a special aluminum alloy (AU2GN) that is lightweight and more heat-tolerant than titanium.
Now that we have seen the technical features that make the Concorde special, let's look at a typical flight from London to New York.
