In 1973, scientists made history by using the Concorde supersonic aircraft to extend the observation time of a solar eclipse to 74 minutes. On June 30th of that year, the Concorde 001 chased the Moon’s shadow along the Tropic of Cancer during a total solar eclipse. Flying at an altitude of 17,000 meters, it was able to extend the viewing time from just over seven minutes to an impressive 74 minutes. This historic flight attracted seven observers from around the world and marked a groundbreaking achievement in eclipse observation.
In April of this year, JSX Airlines organized a flight to view the upcoming solar eclipse over Dallas. Both United Airlines and Delta quickly sold out tickets for flights across the entire spectrum from Texas to Northeast. While no aircraft can match what the Concorde did in 1973, it is still an incredible feat that has inspired many recent successful eclipse viewing flights.
