Even before we could fly. Humans locked up with a burning desire to take to the skies. Our journey towards commercial aviation as we know it today can be traced back over 530 years.
It began with Leonardo da Vinci's early flying machine sketches. Although they were never made, these imagined aircraft would mark the beginning of the incredible aviation firsts to come.
These advances have relied upon constant engineering innovation, taking us quite literally to new heights and speeds.
But like me, the aviation industry is now facing an existential crisis after being ravaged by a pandemic and trying to exist in a world that's ever more climate conscious.
Can the aviation industry continue to innovate and become sustainable?
Winging it. Winging it. Now there's one part of this aviation innovation journey that's always bugged me because instead of moving forwards, it seems to move backwards. I'm talking about supersonic air travel.
Why did it end? And is this beauty coming back?
Concorde made the impossible possible? No. Not buying a property in London as a millennial, but flying the rich and famous two and a half times the speed of sound in ultra luxury around the world at a price.
Of course, in today's money, a seat like this would set you back about £4000 one way. Ouch. Excuse me. Can I have a little top up? Thanks.
After a turbulent 27 years of service, it was announced that Concorde would be retired in October 2003. Captain Mike Bannister was the chief pilot of the British Airways Concorde fleet.
