Concorde to pass over Ireland in test flight today

Concorde will today pass over Ireland on its first top speed test flight since last year's tragic crash outside Paris in which 113 people were killed.

The British Airways supersonic jet will be in the air over Cork for a short period on both outward and return journeys of a loop flight out over the Atlantic.

Air traffic controllers at Shannon will guide the plane, which will fly at a speed of 1,350 miles per hour at an altitude of 55,000 ft.

The craft, which is flying out of Brize Norton RAF base in Oxfordshire, is due to pass over Ireland at around 2.30pm.

Air France has also been conducting separate tests in southern France.

The modifications made to the aircraft since last August's Air France crash include new engine liners, new tyres and stronger wires in its undercarriage.

Both airlines hope to return to commercial service later in the year.