Plot Synopsis

CONCORDE: THE UNTOLD STORY is a two-episode documentary that goes inside the race to build the first supersonic airliner at the height of the Cold War, with Europe's Concorde racing against the Soviet TU144 and the American Boeing 2707. The two-parter unearths a tale of espionage and national prestige as the British and French battled their counterparts, while examining the technical challenges in the battle for supersonic passenger jet supremacy. They all ultimately end in failure. The swing-wing Boeing never got off the ground. The TU144 took its maiden flight at the end of 1968, just two months before the Concorde, but development stalled after its crash at the 1973 Paris Air Show. The TU144 started commercial passenger service in November 1977, lasting only a half year before a test flight crasch in May 1978. The TU144s were used as commercial cargo aircraft for an additional five years, and then used by space programs until it was retired in June 1999. Concorde ultimately became the most luxurious airliner in the world but the supersonic dream still died on July 25, 2000 when the aircraft was taken out of service after 27 years following Air France Flight 4590's crash on takeoff from Paris that killed 107 people. Could the dream be revived? CONCORDE: THE UNTOLD STORY made its U.S. debut on Sunday, November 26, 2023 from 8-10pm ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel:

"Part 1" (World Premiere on Saturday, November 25, 2023 on Channel 4; US Premiere on Sunday, November 26, 2023 on Smithsonian Channel): Go inside the race to build the first supersonic airliner between Europe's Concorde, the Soviet TU144 and the American Boeing 2707, and examine both the technical challenges and the international espionage behind this story.

"Part 2" (World Premiere on Sunday, November 26, 2023 on Smithsonian Channel; UK Premiere on Saturday, December 2, 2023 on Channel 4): The story of how America's supersonic dream ended and the battle between Russia's TU144 and Europe's Concorde. Concorde ultimately became the most luxurious airliner in the world but the supersonic dream still died. Could it be revived?