THIS is a sad time for aviation enthusiasts, thousands of whom thrilled to the displays at the Yorkshire Air Show last week. Concorde, one of the greatest aircraft ever built, is on its farewell tour.

At the weekend, the favoured transport of high fliers everywhere flew out of Barbados for the last time. Next month Concorde will make its final transatlantic journeys. Already British Airways is selling off souvenirs.

Many will be sad to see this icon of the skies grounded. However, even supersonic clouds have a silver lining. If the Yorkshire Air Museum is able to land Concorde, the region's fortunes will take off.

The wait is nearly over. British Airways is due to announce the retirement homes for its most famous plane within a fortnight.

Bosses at the Yorkshire Air Museum have every reason to feel confident they will be on that list. Although the museum is up against international names including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, it has as good a claim as any.

After all, Elvington is home to a replica of the first manned aircraft, designed by Sir George Cayley 150 years ago. Place Concorde next to it, and the history of manned flight is encapsulated in two machines.

Moreover, the Elvington curators' characteristic enthusiasm and tenacity is likely to have impressed BA. They created the museum from scratch, and its down-to-earth approach brings air travel to the public like no other venue.

What is likely to sway BA is grassroots support for Concorde. Already it has commented on this newspaper's enthusiasm for the idea, and the endorsement of local MPs. It is not too late to contact the company to add your support to the Elvington bid.

Success will lift the whole region. Concorde would take the Yorkshire Air Museum to a new level and send tourism soaring. York would then boast the best of both transport worlds, the railways and air travel. So fingers crossed that Elvington can land Concorde and complete a fantastic jet set.

Updated: 10:30 Tuesday, September 02, 2003