Today in History：March 2
March 21969: Concorde flies for the first time
The maiden flight lasted just 27 minutes
1969: Concorde flies for the first time
England have
The supersonic airliner, Concorde, has made a "faultless" maiden
flight.
The Anglo-French plane took off from Toulouse and was in the air for just
27 minutes before the pilot made the decision to land.
The first pilot, Andre Turcat, said on his return to the airport: "Finally
the big bird flies, and I can say now that it flies pretty well."
The test flight reached 10,000ft (3,000m), but Concorde's speed never rose
above 300mph (480kph). The plane will eventually fly at a speed of 1,300mph
(2,080kph).
Mr Turcat, his co-pilot and two engineers taxied to the end of the runway
at about 1530GMT. Strong winds meant the test flight was in doubt for much of
the day.
Two previous test flights had to be abandoned because of poor weather
conditions.
Concorde sped down the runway and there was aspontaneousburst of applause
from watching reporters and cameramen as the wheels lifted off the ground.
The noise from the four Olympus 593 engines, built jointly by the Bristol
division of Rolls Royce and the French Snecma organisation, drowned out any
noise from the crowd.
Less than half-an-hour later, the aircraft was brought back down to earth
using a braking parachute and reverse thrust.
The crew emerged at the top of the steps, led by Mr Turcat, who gave the
thumbs up signal with each hand.
The first British test pilot, Brian Trubshaw, who watched today's flight
from the news stand, said, "I was terribly impressed by the way the whole flight
was conducted. It was most professional and I would like to congratulate Andre
on the way he handled this performance."
The British government has so far invested ?55m in the project. It is hoped
Concorde will begin flying commercially in 1973, when it will cut the flying
time between London and New York from seven hours 40 minutes to three hours 25
minutes.
Ian Smith remained an MP until 1987
1970: Ian Smith declares Rhodesia a republic
Artificially 1969:
The The Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Ian Smith, has declared his country a
republic, cutting its last link with the British Crown.
The new Rhodesian Republic, came into being at 2301BST yesterday,
unrecognised by the rest of the world and barely noticed by Rhodesians
themselves.
Mr Smith signed a proclamation officially dissolving the current parliament
and introducing a new Republican Constitution.
The ceremony took place at Government House, until last year the official
residence of Sir Humphrey Gibbs and his predecessors as governor and
representative of the British Crown.
The creation of the republic breaks an 80-year-old link with the British
monarchy - but has been widely anticipated since Mr Smith unilaterally declared
the country independent of Britain four years ago.
Since then, Rhodesia has left the Commonwealth and been subject to tough
international sanctions.
Mr Smith said: "Today is not such a tremendous day for us Rhodesians. Our
Independence Day is the great day.
"Rhodesia did not want to seize independence from Britain. It was forced
upon us."
The real question now is whether a Rhodesian republic will gain any
international recognition.
The chairman of Mr Smith's Rhodesian Front party, Ralph Nielson, said: "We
have cut our ties as to whether or not a republic is going to make all that
difference, I sincerely believe it will, particularly in the eyes of the rest of
the world.
"I believe various things are going to flow, improved trade and without a
doubt, in time, diplomatic recognition."
The British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, has already made clear his
Labour government will not recognise the new regime in Rhodesia.
The United States has also indicated it will not recognise Smith's republic
"under any circumstances".
Vocabulary:
spontaneous: produced without being planted or without human
labor(自发的;自然产生的)
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