FDC Personalized "European Parliament 2016, 40 Years CONCORDE London-Bahrein 1976" (CO-RET63)

PHILATELIC EXHIBITION AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN STRASBOURG (France) - MAY 8, 2016

40 years ago, Concorde ushered Europe into the era of supersonic commercial aviation

As part of the 40th anniversary of the first commercial flights of the Franco-British supersonic aircraft Concorde, Historiaphil (Philately Kiosk of the European Parliament), with the support of the European Parliament, La Poste (the French postal service), and the UNION 1877 Philatelic Association, is presenting a temporary philatelic exhibition during the European Parliament's Open House Day in Strasbourg on May 8, 2016, extended during the plenary session from May 9 to 12, 2016.

It is entitled "40 years ago, CONCORDE ushered Europe into the era of supersonic commercial aviation (1976-2016)". Through numerous collectible philatelic documents, the exhibition showcases the history of the supersonic aircraft, the result of seven years of research and development, leading up to the transport of its first passengers who, on January 21, 1976, were the first to experience the breathtaking acceleration of the supersonic jet and the taste of champagne at 2,300 km/h. Many countries dreamed of a supersonic aircraft, but it was Great Britain and France (driven by the will of General de Gaulle) that won the race for air speed. The great story of Concorde, a technological marvel, ended in 2003 but remains in everyone's memory.

An illustrated postmark and five personalized postage stamps from France, designed by Mélissa Staedel, were issued on "First Day".