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Nose

When taking off and landing, the Concorde flies at a steep angle, which makes it difficult for the pilot to see. To increase visibility during take off and landing, the pilot tilts the whole nose down by 12.5 degrees. During flight, the pilot straightens the nose and raises a heat-resistant visor to create a streamlined shape. This reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency.

animation of nose movement during flight

  1. Take-off and Subsonic Cruising (tilt 12.5 degrees, visor down)
  2. Supersonic Flight (tilt 0 degrees, visor up)
  3. Subsonic Cruising (tilt 0 degrees, visor down)
  4. Landing (tilt 12.5 degrees, visor down)
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