FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-007

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (January 21, 2026) – This issue of Fun with Maps takes us on a fast flight into aeronautic history half a century ago.

SUPERSONIC BIRD OF PREY

Aeronautic history was made 50 years ago – January 21, 1976 – when passenger service on the supersonic Concorde began.  It was a partnership between British Airways and Air France, so of course regular flights were scheduled between London and Paris, but also on that day British Airways flew from London to Bahrain as another Concorde plane took off from Paris bound for Rio.

In England, the anniversary included a gathering of former Concorde personnel at the sites where the three of the planes are on display.  At 11:40am, the plane noses dropped, commemorating the time of the first takeoff.

The SST cut transatlantic crossing to 3 hours, less than half the usual time.  Although London/Paris-New York was best known, the Concorde’s other US destinations were Washington Dulles, Miami, and Dallas.

The Concorde stopped flying November 26, 2003. 

Of the 20 planes manufactured, 18 are on display at airports and museums around the world.

This tape-indicator map of London was designed to measure distances with attached tape. It is from 1890 by Smith… pre-Google Maps.  

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.