Left: aeronautical icon. One of seven BA Concordes which may be given to museums in the autumn. Picture courtesy: Newscast

Museums the length and breadth of the UK are queuing up to become the final resting place of supersonic legend, Concorde.

Following BA's decision and announcement on April 10 to retire its fleet of seven Concordes for commercial reasons, the airline has said the planes are to be given a grand send off before being 'destined for museums'.

The announcement has led to a swift reaction from museums with as many as thirty expressing a serious interest in taking one of the aeroplanes. BA say they are now beginning to look "very closely" at each individual claim.

"We've had an overwhelming response from museums and members of the public with literally hundreds of letters being sent to our chief executive with ideas and offers," said a BA spokesperson. "People have such fond memories of Concorde, some remember it flying overhead, others have strong local manufacturing connections."

Right: BA are taking the supersonic aircraft out of service in October 2003. Picture courtesy: Newscast.

The Bristol Aero Collection has its sights on Concorde 216 - one of the last of the jets to be built. "It was the last ever Concorde to be built at Filton," explained Museum Director Oliver Dearden. "It was designed and conceived there and the engines were built at Bristol - so we think we have a strong case."

For the Museum, currently residing at Kemble Airfield near Cirencester, the acquisition of a Concorde would hasten their proposed move closer to Bristol and new premises at the former BAe airfield at Filton.

"We want to bring Concorde back home where it was built," said Mr Dearden. "The old hangar is still in place and it could even land here."

The Brooklands Aviation Museum in Surrey also has a strong Concorde connection. "The very first Anglo-French meeting was held here in the office of BAC chairman Sir George Edwards," explained curator Julian Temple. "From that moment on, Brooklands was at the forefront of Concorde design and production."

Factories at Brooklands made the airframe, cockpit, rear fuselage, fins and rudders - prior to their shipping to Bristol for construction. "We've put in a request and we're preparing a detailed proposal," added Mr Temple.

Left: touching down at a museum near you? Picture courtesy: Newscast

In Scotland the East Fortune Museum of Flight has recruited the support of MSP Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, the son of famous aviator the Duke of Hamilton. He is said to have enlisted First Minister Jack McConnell to his campaign whilst the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington has also registered a bid.

With big hitters the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC and Virgin supremo Richard Branson also interested, the decision is a potentially tough call for BA.

"We will look at which ones have the strongest local connections and ones that will be able to afford the best public access," said the BA spokesperson. "Obviously we'd like to help as many as possible, but we will be coming to a decision later in the year after assessing each application purely on merit."

For museums up and down the country it's going to be a period of intense activity followed by an anxious wait to see who will have the honour of looking after a prized piece of our aviation history.