There's a Concorde Engine Complete with Afterburner for Sale on eBay

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

A retired Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 engine from the Concorde supersonic airliner briefly appeared on eBay, complete with afterburner, selling for over half a million pounds despite being certified only for static display. Commenters trade technical details about export controls, certification, and the engine’s role in Concorde’s performance, while also debating whether such historic aerospace hardware belongs in museums or private collections. The listing sparks a wave of nostalgia about Concorde’s deafening presence near airports and reflections on how quickly once‑futuristic technology is being dispersed or dismantled.

Listing details and sale outcome

  • Concorde Olympus 593 engine with afterburner appeared on eBay; listing now ended and marked sold.
  • Reported sale prices vary in the thread (seen as ~£565k, ~£678k, or not visible at all), possibly due to caching or regional differences.
  • Condition marked as “Used” despite being non‑airworthy and for static display only; some note this may violate eBay policy and could allow a “not as described” dispute.
  • Seller described as a “private seller” but appears to run a Concorde memorabilia business.
  • Delivery is collection-only; commenters note specialist hauling costs can rival the cost of the item for heavy vehicles/equipment.

Restrictions, legality, and export controls

  • Listing and article state a British Airways restriction: engine may only be used for static display, not flight.
  • Some view this as liability protection and to prevent attempts to reuse it in an aircraft.
  • Debate over whether export controls (US ITAR vs UK/EU equivalents) apply:
    • One side argues old, foreign-designed engines shouldn’t be ITAR-relevant.
    • Others respond that arms/dual‑use export rules focus on potential military use, not age or origin.
    • UK strategic export control lists for aerospace/propulsion are mentioned; whether they specifically cover this engine remains unclear.

Technical and historical commentary

  • Engine lineage traced to the Olympus used in the Vulcan bomber; several reminisce about its extreme noise and characteristic “howl.”
  • Notes that Concorde’s performance depended heavily on variable-geometry intakes and exhaust nozzles; the bare engine isn’t the full propulsion system.
  • Discussion of supersonic afterburner use: needed for takeoff and to accelerate through the sound barrier.

Nostalgia and cultural reactions

  • Many share vivid memories of Concorde takeoffs/landings near Heathrow, JFK, Dulles, and at air shows; extreme noise and shaking are recurring themes.
  • Some lament that the engine may be dismantled into furniture or art rather than preserved intact.
  • Broader side‑discussion on aerospace hardware disposal, surplus auctions, and how institutions vs private collectors treat historic parts.

Website and adblocking issues

  • Several complain SimpleFlying forces adblocker disabling; others report no such issue, possibly due to browser/setup differences.