Air France painted Concorde F-BTSD in Pepsi blue in 1996 as a temporary advertisement for the drinks brand’s move toward a blue identity. The dramatic scheme came with an engineering compromise: the fuselage could be blue, but the wings stayed white, and the aircraft’s time at Mach 2 was limited.
Why Pepsi used a Concorde
Pepsi’s 1996 rebranding gave the company a reason to put its new blue identity somewhere highly visible. Concorde was already a powerful emblem of speed and advanced technology, making it a conspicuous flying advertisement. Air France operated the aircraft; Pepsi did not own it.
The aircraft was F-BTSD, construction number 213. A proposal to paint a Concorde in Pepsi colors was reportedly declined by British Airways, while Air France agreed to the promotion. The Airliners International Association’s 2014 account says F-BTSD was chosen because its schedule and maintenance availability made it suitable for the short campaign. (Airliners International Association, Spring 2014, pp. 43–44)
Why the aircraft was not painted entirely blue
At supersonic speed, air friction heats Concorde’s structure. The Institute of Physics explains that the aircraft’s aluminium body had a stated maximum safe temperature of 127°C and that its normal reflective white paint helped keep it from overheating. (Institute of Physics, IOP Spark)
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Officially Licensed & Kid-Friendly (3+) – Designed for young aviation fans and collectors, suitable for ages 3 and up
- Durable Die-Cast Construction – Made from high-quality die-cast metal for a sturdy feel and long-lasting play or display
- Rolling Wheels Feature – Equipped with rolling wheels for added play value and interactive fun
- Perfect Size for Play & Display – Measures approximately 5.75 inches long, ideal for kids or collectors alike
- Iconic Supersonic Jet Replica – Detailed model of the legendary British Airways Concorde, one of the fastest commercial aircraft ever built
For the Pepsi promotion, the fuselage was painted blue, but the wings remained white because of concerns about fuel temperature. This was a functional distinction, not an unfinished paint job: the white finish helped manage heat where the fuel was carried. (Heritage Concorde, Concorde Livery)
What the blue paint changed in flight
The promotional livery did not impose a 20-minute limit on the whole flight, nor did it prevent supersonic flying. The reported restriction applied to time at around Mach 2: Airliners International Association says Air France was advised to limit flight at Mach 2.02 to 20 minutes at a time. It also reports no restriction below Mach 1.70. F-BTSD could therefore fly supersonically, but it could not remain at its highest cruise speed for as long as usual. (Airliners International Association, Spring 2014, pp. 43–44; Heritage Concorde, F-BTSD (213))
Rank #2
- 1.Product dimension: 14.6 * 6.3 * 2.8 inches, Package weight: 0.66 pounds,Suitable for playing.
- 2.High-Quality Materials: Diecast automobile Airplane models, zinc alloy, plastic parts, rubber tires, detailed interior and exterior decoration.
- 3.Function: Press the button at the bottom of the aircraft to trigger the sound of the engine and headlights.
- 4.Best Gift Toy: This 1/168 airplane model is perfect for children. The paint is very good, it feels great. It's very heavy to move. Suitable as a cognitive toy, it can be used for learning. It is also a great soothing toy, suitable for children with ADHD or autism. Suitable as a birthday and Christmas gift.
- 5.Accessories and collections: This product is very suitable as a static accessory and can be used as an accessory next to a computer. For those who are passionate about collecting airplane models, this is a great art collection.
That operational limit helps explain why the airline selected an aircraft not scheduled for long flights requiring extended Mach 2 operation, according to Heritage Concorde. Air France gives Concorde’s ordinary cruise speed as Mach 2.02, approximately 2,170 km/h. (Heritage Concorde, F-BTSD (213); Air France, Concorde: Engineering Excellence)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How long the Pepsi livery lasted
Repainting reportedly began at Air France’s Orly maintenance facility in late March 1996. The Airliners International Association account says the job used 200 litres of paint and took 2,000 hours of work. After an unveiling in London on 2 April, F-BTSD flew a promotional tour that the account lists as 16 flights to 10 cities. It returned to standard Air France markings after about ten days. These campaign figures are reported by the 2014 account. (Airliners International Association, Spring 2014, pp. 43–44)
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsQuick Recap
Rank #4
- [Quick introduction] Type: Concorde airplane model kits, Material: all-metal diecast airplanes model, Dimensions: 7.87×3.15×1.18 inches, Painting: paint-sprayed Concorde Air France plane, not airplanes toy stickers, Accessories: display plastic airplane stand, Scale: 1/300 airplane model concorde, with wheel
- [Dimension details] - The Concorde model is based on the real Concorde. The Dimension of the Concorde plane is 7.87×3.15×1.18 inches, 20.00×8.00×3.00 cm, Weight 0.34 lbs. it's a 1/300 scale model airplane. The 1/300 Concorde is a mini airpalne model that does not take up space, an exquisite and lovely creative ornaments, desktop decoration ect.
- [Material Details] - The Concorde model is a metal die cast airplane model. We use alloy diecast Concorde model airplane body, the engine part is plastic, strong and not easy to break. This metal airplane model kits comes with an display airplane stand, which can be used as a toys airplane model for adult to supplement your mini airplanes collectibles.
- [Paint details] - The metal plane model is based on the paint of the real Concorde Air Fance airplane, made of spray paint, not Concorde toys stickers, which will make the British Airways plane model look more realistic. The classic Concorde British planes paint can trigger memories and discussions about this aircraft.
- [Others] - The 1/300 Concorde model airplane kits package contains an plane model & a set of plastic airplanes landing wheels, with stand. The metal model plane kit is very suitable as a creative Ornaments for people who are interested in aviation, or displayed on your desktop as a collection. If the qiyumoke aircraft model encounters quality problems or parts are missing, We will provide reasonable assistance.
Rank #3
- [Quick introduction] Type: Concorde airplane model kits, Material: all-metal diecast airplanes model, Dimensions: 7.87×3.15×1.18 inches, Painting: paint-sprayed Concorde British Airways plane, not airplanes toy stickers, Accessories: display plastic airplane stand, Scale: 1/300 airplane model concorde, with wheel
- [Dimension details] - The Concorde model is based on the real Concorde. The Dimension of the Concorde plane is 7.87×3.15×1.18 inches, 20.00×8.00×3.00 cm, Weight 0.34 lbs. it's a 1/300 scale model airplane. The 1/300 Concorde is a mini airpalne model that does not take up space, an exquisite and lovely creative ornaments, desktop decoration ect.
- [Material Details] - The Concorde model is a metal die cast airplane model. We use alloy diecast Concorde model airplane body, the engine part is plastic, strong and not easy to break. This metal airplane model kits comes with an display airplane stand, which can be used as a toys airplane model for adult to supplement your mini airplanes collectibles.
- [Paint details] - The metal plane model is based on the paint of the real Concorde British Airways airplane, made of spray paint, not Concorde toys stickers, which will make the British Airways plane model look more realistic. The classic Concorde British planes paint can trigger memories and discussions about this aircraft.
- [Others] - The 1/300 Concorde model airplane kits package contains an plane model & a set of plastic airplanes landing wheels, with stand. The metal model plane kit is very suitable as a creative Ornaments for people who are interested in aviation, or displayed on your desktop as a collection. If the qiyumoke aircraft model encounters quality problems or parts are missing, We will provide reasonable assistance.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
