950816

Concorde aims

to break

speed record

NEW YORK: An Air France Concorde carrying 98 people has departed from New York on a flight to try to break the round-the-world speed record for a passenger plane.

They expect to see three sunrises and three sunsets and make refuelling stops in France, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Guam, Hawaii and Mexico.

Air France expects to complete the trip in 32 hours and 44 minutes beating the previous record of 32 hours, 49 minutes and three seconds set by an Air France Concorde in October 1992. It will cover 25,448 miles (40,717 km) at a speed of up to 1,350 miles an hour (2,160 kph).-Reuter