LENOX, Mass. — Frequent flyer and author Rene Silvin will relay his experiences with "The Concorde: Technology Meets Glamour." 

 

His presentation will be available on Zoom only on Tuesday, August 24 at 4 pm. Silvin's program is part of the museum's Tuesday Talks.

 

The speaker flew on this technologically advanced plane 160 times and will present the history of this marvel of technology from an in-depth, personal point of view. As one of Air France's best customers, he was treated to a very early non-stop flight originating and ending in Paris.  It was akin to a 3½ - hour test flight over the Atlantic. He will also introduce us to the famous folk with whom he rubbed elbows in flight.

 

Of the 350 aircraft planned, a French/British joint development, a mere 20 were built due to the high cost of operation, and only 14 of these supersonic and expensive marvels went into service. Air France and British Airways were the only airlines that flew Concorde planes.

 

A fatal accident in 2000, followed by the tragic events of 9/11, precipitated Concorde's decline in popularity and led to the eventual retirement of this still unsurpassed supersonic plane.

 

Silvin has an active interest in historic preservation as vice-chairman of the Palm Beach Landmarks Preservation Commission.  He is the author of "Noblesse Oblige, the Duchess of Windsor as I Knew Herand Normandie: The Tragic Story of the Most Majestic Ocean Liner," subjects of past lectures at Ventfort Hall.  He is also the author of "I Survived Swiss Boarding Schools: An Arc to Triumph and Villa Mizner: The House That Changed Palm Beach."

 

Admission for the Silvin talk is $20 per person on Zoom. To order on Zoom visit https://ventfort08242021.eventbrite.com The Summer 2021 series of Tuesday Talks is sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.