Concorde was different from other aircraft in many ways. Supersonic ability was, of course, the key, but there were also differences in commercial use (with just two airlines taking it on), route ability, and cabin configurations. Upfront was different too. Concorde had a cockpit that is frequently acknowledged as very complex compared. Other large aircraft at the time were similar, but Concorde’s extra features made it that bit busier.

Adding a flight engineer station

The main difference that stands out when looking at Concorde’s cockpit is the additional control panels on the right-hand side. Concorde required a minimum flight crew of three, with a flight engineer working alongside the two pilots. This was not uncommon at the time – the Boeing 707, 727, and 747 were all designed for a three-person crew. It was dropped for the 747-400, 757, and 767 but was standard at the time of Concorde’s design and early operation. The three-person cockpit was a factor in the Boeing 747-300’s lack of popularity.

While such a large cockpit and control layout may seem very different from today, it was not that different from other aircraft. The picture below shows a Boeing 707 cockpit – with the same right-hand side engineer controls. Bear in mind when comparing it to Boeing’s quadjets that the control layout was very different for the new manufacturer.

More controls than other airliners at the time

Concorde was not alone in having separate flight engineer controls, nor in having a complex cockpit. In many ways, it improved on designs and layouts from earlier aircraft. But the aircraft’s special roles gave it more controls and displays necessary than other aircraft.

The aircraft had many technical differences that added controls. It had four engines, and these added the use of afterburners. This required additional control and monitoring options. Aerodynamic features, especially the moveable nose, likewise brought more into the cockpit.

Fuel management, too, was more complex with Concorde. It had multiple fuel tanks, with fuel moved around during flights and requiring monitoring and control. The bulk of the fuel was stored in the wings, but there were tanks forward and behind to enable vital control of the aircraft’s center of gravity during supersonic flight.

Concorde also required complex cooling systems to avoid overheating of the fuselage at higher speeds. Part of this functionality lay in the materials used, but the aircraft also had a cooling system that circulated lower-temperature jet fuel to cool leading edges.

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Moving to a glass cockpit

The big difference when we look at Concorde, or similar large aircraft at the time, is the traditional analog cockpit. Modern aircraft, of course, have a much simpler cockpit. The so-called glass cockpits that are in use now enable computerized controls, with increasing use of digital screens. This was not the case in Concorde’s day, and every possible dial or control option needed its own indicator or switch.

Were you lucky enough to ever get inside the Concorde cockpit? We would love to hear your experiences of this, or any other Concorde experiences or memories, in the comments.