This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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East Fortune lands Concorde
30/10/2003
The Museum of Flight at East Fortune airfield in East
Lothian is to be the permanent home for one of the British
Airways Concordes that have been retired from
commercial service.
BA made the announcement today and Tourism and Culture
Minister Frank McAveety welcomed it as a tremendous boost
for Scotland a great asset for the museum.
One of the airliners flew in and out of Edinburgh
airport last Friday on a day which marked their final
flights after three decades of supersonic travel.
Mr McAveety said:
"This is wonderful news for Scotland and for National
Museums of Scotland's ambitious plans to develop the Museum
of Flight into one of our foremost visitor attractions.
"It is a great follow-up to Concorde's flight to
Edinburgh last Friday and it will contribute to visitor and
tourist numbers as well as NMS education programmes when it
arrives next year.
"Scottish Ministers fully supported the bid by NMS to
bring a Concorde to Scotland, and the support of many MSPs
and MPs was very helpful. Scottish Ministers have pledged
up to £2 million from the existing culture budget for the
development plans for the museum."
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"Scotland has had a strong association with Concorde
from its early test flights out of Prestwick, to its final
flight to and from Edinburgh last Friday.
"Thousands of people turned out last week to witness the
last flight, demonstrating the powerful attraction and
excitement Concorde continues to generate among the public
34 years after it first began flying.
"It is very welcome news for Scotland to continue to be
a part of this aviation history by housing one of the
Concorde jets."
A spokesperson for Historic Scotland said:
"Historic Scotland has been supportive of the Museum of
Flight's bid for a Concorde. We look forward to working
with them further in developing the Museum of Flight in a
manner which preserves and enhances the historic East
Fortune Airfield, which is a scheduled ancient
monument."