A joint British-French crew flew the first supersonic Concorde into New York's John F. Kennedy airport on Wednesday (19 October) after a legal battle lasting more than 18 months. It carried no passengers.

SYNOPSIS: Concorde approached Kennedy airport over Coney island -- three and a half hours after taking off from Toulouse in France. On its way to the airport, the droop-nosed jet banked over the neighbourhood of Howard Beach which has been a hotbed of opposition to its landing rights. But there were no demonstrators as Concorde came in for its landing.

A spokesman for British Airways in New York said most of the calls they had been receiving were either from well-wishers or those who were just curious. Those who heard the plane land said it was remarkably quiet. According to one television station, the noise it made was less than that of subway trains.

Airport authorities were taking no chances. Instead of allowing the plane to go on display, they ordered it to a remote corner of the airfield. It remained in a locked-up hangar surrounded by security guards as it waited for its return journey home. Protesters, who say Concorde's noise will make their lives intolerable and ruin the value of their houses, have promised to turn out in force at the airport before scheduled Concorde services begin on November 22.