Learn why Concorde wore Pepsi's blue livery in 1996, which Air France aircraft was painted, and why its time at Mach 2 was restricted.
In real-world aviation, Air France Concorde F-BTSD was painted blue in 1996 as a flying billboard for Pepsi’s global brand relaunch. Pepsi chartered the aircraft for a short publicity campaign; it did not own or operate Concorde. The unusual colour was temporary, and engineering limits prevented sustained Mach 2 operation in the dark paint.
What was the purpose of the Pepsi Concorde?
The livery formed part of Pepsi’s 1996 Project Blue campaign, which introduced the company’s new blue visual identity worldwide. Concorde gave the campaign an instantly recognisable symbol of speed, exclusivity and advanced engineering, generating far more attention than an ordinary advertising display.
It was a temporary corporate promotion, not a new Air France colour scheme. Our explanation of aircraft liveries and promotional paint schemes covers that distinction in more detail.
Which Concorde wore the livery, and why were its wings white?
Air France Concorde F-BTSD wore the Pepsi scheme, and its wings remained white because Concorde’s thermal limits ruled out blue paint there. Most of the fuselage and fin became dark blue, carrying Pepsi’s large white wordmark and red, white and blue globe branding.
Concorde’s normal white finish was functional as well as decorative. At Mach 2, aerodynamic heating raised the airframe’s temperature substantially, while fuel carried in the wings also had to remain within defined temperature limits. The approved white coating provided suitable reflectivity and thermal performance; Pepsi blue did not offer the same margin.
The aircraft was therefore limited to no more than about 20 minutes at Mach 2 while wearing the blue paint. This did not restrict the entire flight to 20 minutes, nor did it mean F-BTSD could not reach Mach 2. It restricted how long it could remain there, making the scheme unsuitable for Concorde’s usual sustained supersonic transatlantic cruise.
Did Pepsi own or operate Concorde?
No. Pepsi paid for the publicity arrangement and used the aircraft as part of its campaign, but F-BTSD remained an Air France Concorde under Air France operational control, with the airline providing the crews and handling the flying.
A branded fuselage does not establish ownership or operator status. Our account of who actually owned and operated Concorde explains why promotional colours and airline operations should not be confused.
Was the Pepsi Concorde real, and how long was it blue?
Yes—the Pepsi Concorde was a genuine flying aircraft, but the blue finish lasted only roughly two weeks during a short promotional programme in spring 1996. Once the campaign ended, F-BTSD was returned to Air France’s predominantly white colours and resumed normal duties.
For simmers checking whether a repaint is historically accurate, the two clearest identifiers are the registration F-BTSD and the white wings. An entirely blue Concorde, blue-winged version or Pepsi scheme carrying another registration is not an accurate representation of the real campaign aircraft. Our Concorde package and livery notes for FSX and Prepar3D provide useful context when separating authentic schemes from fictional repaints.