Was the Concorde supersonic aircraft a joint project between Britain and Germany?

The Concorde, that iconic supersonic passenger jet, represents a fascinating period of international collaboration in aviation history. While Germany is a major player in European engineering, the Concorde was specifically a joint venture between Britain and France. Think of it as a symbol of post-war cooperation between these two nations. The project began in the 1960s, driven by a desire to create a faster-than-sound passenger plane. Both countries pooled their resources, expertise, and technology to make it happen. The name "Concorde" itself reflects this unity, meaning "agreement" or "harmony" in both English and French. The first test flight took place in 1969, and commercial service began in 1976. While the Concorde was a technological marvel, it was also expensive to operate, and flights ceased in 2003. So, while it's easy to imagine other European countries being involved in such a large project, the Concorde's story is uniquely British and French.