Celebrities await the return of Concorde

Celebrity members of the unofficial "Concorde Club" are queuing up to get back on board the supersonic jet as the CAA prepares to give the green light for it to return to the skies.

The entire Concorde fleet has been grounded since one fell out of the skies over Paris last year, killing 123 people. Now after a series of safety modifications, the Civil Aviation Authority is expected to make an announcement approving passenger flights.

Before the tragic crash, the plane had built up a loyal following among the rich and famous. Madonna, Robert Redford, Joan Collins, the Duchess of York, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Phil Collins, were all reported to be regular passengers, as was the Queen Mother, who once even took the controls during a journey to New York.

Last night, Phil Collins, who famously used Concorde to play both the London and Philadelphia Live Aid concerts in 1985, said he still considered the jet one of the best ways of travelling and would not hesitate to use it again. The American singer Tori Amos is even keener to get back on board since the recent birth of her daughter. "It's a question of time," she said. "Nine and a half hours on a traditional BA flight is a tall order with a baby. I have flown on Concorde before, and I will fly on it again."

The Duchess of York will be another face at the boarding gate when Concorde finally makes it back on to the runway. A spokesperson confirmed that she is a firm fan, and planned to use it as a means of spending whole weekends with her daughters during increasingly prolonged working stints in America.

However, not all of Concorde's celebrity club were as keen. Joan Collins has said she would never fly on the jet again. American R&B star R Kelly shares her fears. Despite the title of his most famous hit – "I Believe I Can Fly" – he has developed a phobia of aircraft. Instead, he will be travelling to the UK this week aboard the QE2.