Gulf International Concorde

To celebrate its 40th anniversary in 1986, Gulf International leased a single Concorde (F-BTSD) from Air France to take over a weekly service on the Pont Aérien Acadien route between Houston and Paris Orly via New York JFK (for operational purposes New Orleans was skipped in favor of a direct Houston-JFK leg). Gulf had earlier expressed interest in the Anglo-French SST, as well as its US concept: the Boeing 2707, even ordering Concordes in 1967; they were eventually cancelled in 1973. Painted in a full Gulf livery in Paris and operated jointly with Gulf and Air France crews, the service was the first Supersonic service to be operated by a US airline. To get around FAA restrictions regarding the Concorde's airworthiness, while flying the US legs of the service BTSD was temporarily owned by Gulf, complete with US documentation and its tail number changed to N-81SD. Before it departed for Paris at JFK, it reverted to its original rego and ownership, with the US tail number covered up.

Due to poor loads and rising fuel costs, the arrangement lasted only a year, with BTSD returning to Air France in January 1987. The arrangement was revived again on a seasonal basis in the '90s, which was partially funded by Acrestar, a Dallas-based travel agency specializing in personalized package tours for wealthy clients. During the peak season, tours departed on Gulf Concorde (operated by BTSD once again) flights to Paris, London, Amsterdam and Barcelona; Rome and Athens were added to the schedule in 1996. This partnership continued until 1999, when Acrestar declared bankruptcy; not long after BTSD returned to Air France service and Gulf's time as a Concorde operator ended, this time for good.

The Concorde was the last aircraft to be painted in this version of the Gulf International livery; a new livery was introduced during the 40th anniversary celebrations, and progressively applied to the fleet from late 1986 onwards.

BAC-Aerospatiale Concorde, F-BTSD (N-81SD in the US)

Delivered to Air France, September 18, 1978.
Leased to Gulf International, March 17, 1986.
Returned to Air France, January 10, 1987.
Leased to Gulf International/Acrestar Travel, seasonally between April 30, 1993 and August 7, 1999.
Leased to Pepsi, between March 31 and April 9, 1996.
Retired, May 31, 2003.
Stored at the Le Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, June 14, 2003.

RIP old laptop. Hello new one.