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Join Wundry Plus in the Wundery app or on Apple Podcasts. It's spring 1972 in the center of London.

Michael Hesleton paces around his own 1972 in the center of London.

Michael Hesleton paces around his office at the Department for Transport,

gearing himself up for a meeting.

Michael is the latest minister with responsibility for the Concord Supersonic Jet program.

This joint Anglo-French project is now more than 15 years old and the first production planes

are under construction at factories in Bristol and Toulouse.

But Michael is one of many in Britain who sees the project as an economic disaster.

It's over budget and behind schedule, But that doesn't matter now.

Since the British government has funded the program, Michael has to act as a

salesman to try to earn back as much of the money invested as possible.

Michael looks up as one of his aides opens the office

door and shows Kenneth Keith in. Kenneth is a negotiator representing British Airways, a newly formed airline created by a merger between two state-owned companies.

One of those firms, BOAC, made an early commitment to buy several Concord jets, but now British Airways is threatening to cancel that order.

Michael smiles and stretches out his hand.

A pleasure to see you again, Kenneth.

Well, is it?

Of course it is.

Please take a seat.

...