Worlds longest taxiway ?

Agree with Dave about the Polderdaam runway at Schipol, always took at least 15 minutes. The longest taxi time I ever experienced was on a KLM 777 to São Paulo, some taxiways were closed due to construction work and we had a tour of Schipol it was 55 minutes from leaving the gate to starting the take off!!

Carnaby wrote:

Good job Concorde didn't use these sites. I have it on good authority that if it didn't take off within 20 minutes from starting engines, it would have to refuel.

Slightly OT but to complete that quote there was further info to the rule concerning an aircraft which left JFK after an 18-minute engine run. That's just within the 20 minutes, however the aircraft encountered a significant headwind across the Pond.

The pilot radioed in and was advised to land and refuel at Shannon. He didn't and evidently at least one engine had stopped on the approach to Heathrow.

It must be remembered that Concorde is 'a dart' and cannot glide like conventional airliners. The pilot concerned was lucky to land without the inevitable happening, but lost his job immediately.

Some time later I was assisting at a hot-air balloon meeting and the take-off conditions were marginal due to wind gusts. We were walking round the ten or so balloons which had decided to give it a go, when Ian, my pilot rushed over to one of the balloons. It was partly inflated and he'd noticed a problem with the crown man. He's the (usually hefty) guy on the end of the long rope attached to the top of the balloon and has to pull hard to prevent the envelope from flipping up as the hot air fills the structure. This guy had wrapped the rope several times his waist in order to 'get a better pull'. Ian advised him that it was a no-no and dangerous as a sudden gust of wind could lift the balloon and, unable to let go quickly, this guy would find himself 10-20 feet off the ground. He'd have no option but to drop. 'It's OK', said the crown man, 'my pilot told me to do it and he's a Concorde pilot!'

"The pilot concerned was lucky to land without the inevitable happening, but lost his job immediately"

The Captain was the BA General Manager Concorde at the time and as you say he never flew again.

Longest one I know was from Luqa to Hal Far on Malta via Safi airstrip.

The longest one I experienced was at Frankfurt when Pan Am 007? landed at on one runway from Heathrow. It took up to 30 minutes non-stop taxiing to reach the terminal from landing. It was a peculiar flight with one route being a clock-wise navigation of the earth with various landings and another going counter clockwise.
The 707's were specially strengthened for military use and the cabin staff were mature ladies who gave excellent service. You could always get a late booking on them.

The Concorde incident happened around the same time as the 747 tried to land on the A4. And at Leuchars (a runway only 8491 feet long) the French wouldnt let their KC135S use us as they reckoned the runway wasnt long enough!!!

Went to Paris CDG once with Air France.
Airborne time (takeoff to touchdown) about 21 min; taxy time at CDG 20 min!