Concorde neglected by the Yankees.

G-BOAD NEW YORK 7th SEPT 2013

I had the pleasure of returning to the Intrepid today, permanently moored in New York Harbour as a Museum to things nautical and aeronautical. I am sad to say, though, they haven't been paying enough respect to the Concorde they have been entrusted with. It was looking a little under-valued today. I don't think Americans get it. 

I read a story of how she was transported to a temporary storage facility in a Brooklyn airfield while some renovation works were being carried out on the Museum site. Apparently some twat in a truck reversed into her and took off the nose cone. They have since repaired it, but still... it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Robert Stolarik for The New York Times

It is also worth mentioning that the livery on the tail is looking a little weather-beaten and could do with the attention of a specialist. I think even the Late Baroness Thatcher would be irritated by the shabbiness, as much as she hated the livery altogether.

But what made me the most unhappy was the relegation of her use to what amounts to the roof of an outdoor cafe. Tourists sipped overpriced soft-drinks and lattes under the delta wingspan of "Delta" probably unaware that they were in the shade of such a unique piece of engineering and human endeavour. 

The walk-through of Concorde is now closed to the general visitor. I am told this was because people were taking souvenirs from the cabin, including cutting out bits of seat. Even the addition of perspex casings didn't prevent the gradual destruction of Sir Terence Conran's interior. Tours are now limited to pre-booked numbers once a day. So I guess that it's a good thing people have to make the effort. I suppose, if they do and they are supervised they are unlikely to continue nicking stuff.

So there she is. Offering shelter to khaki-shorted Americans queueing up to get autographs from washed up Yankee players courtesy of CBS Radio. They really are beneath her.