In 1996, the Concorde made history by completing the fastest ever flight from London to New York in just two hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds, reaching a mind-blowing top speed of 1,354 mph.

Many have the miconception that the journey would be very grand and high-tech. However, according to Steve Varsano, a renowned aviation entrepreneur, says the jet wasn't as luxurious as many might believe.

Varsano, who flew on the aircraft multiple times during the 1990s, has been trending on TikTok after sharing his travel experiences. The former pilot revealed: "Back in the 1990s, I flew on the Concorde many times.

"Let me tell you, it was quite an experience. Of course, the most obvious reason you would want to take the Concorde was because of the time savings.

"We're talking about a three-and-a-half-hour trip instead of, let's say, a normal seven or eight-hour trip. It's amazing to be able to find time that didn't exist."

However, he admitted it "wasn't a super luxurious aeroplane though".

He described the interior as having just 25 rows of two seats on each side and a no frills cabin. What set it apart was its speed and exclusivity: "It was common to encounter very well-known people," he explained.

One of the highlights of the flight was when the aircraft broke the sound barrier and a small light would indicate the speed. In the front cabin, everyone would eagerly wait for it to change from Mach 0.99 to Mach 1.0.

Varsano added: "You didn't feel anything at all, just the number changing, but it was exciting.

"You could make a journey in three and a half hours that normally took twice as long. You could fly in the morning, do business in the US, and return to the UK the same night."

The Concorde, a joint venture between France and the UK, boasted an impressive speed of Mach 2 (around 2,180 km/h) at an altitude exceeding 18,000 metres.

However, the aircraft's maintenance was costly and fuel-intensive. Over time, the planes began to experience numerous malfunctions.

Varsano revealed: "In the end, they had to start dismantling some Concordes to obtain parts to keep others operational."

A devastating accident in July 2000 marked the beginning of the end for the aircraft. Air France Flight 4590 crashed shortly after departing from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, resulting in the death of 113 people.

Varsano confessed: "That was the final nail in the coffin for Concorde" and the aircraft ceased operations in 2003.