The Comet showcased unique design features including swept wings in which the engines were embedded, creating a streamlined, low-drag profile. The man tasked with this was Ronald Eric Bishop, who had previously designed the famous de Havilland Mosquito combat aircraft. The specifications of DH.106 were so advanced that de Havilland had to design and develop the airframe and the engines from scratch. This new jetliner was given the title DH.106 and would go on to be styled as ‘The Comet’. Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, who was on the committee, championed the idea of a commercial jet and, by 1945, the de Havilland company had been awarded the contract. The committee defined several types of aircraft, with varying specifications, one being the Type IV which was envisioned as a jet-powered, high-speed aircraft capable of flying non-stop transatlantic and carrying a generous payload. In March 1943, the British Government set up the Brabazon Committee to plan for the country’s commercial aircraft requirements in a post-war era. Nevertheless, various investigations helped aviation to understand concepts such as pressurization and metal fatigue thereby shaping the future of aircraft design. While it remains one of the most iconic aircraft ever to grace the skies, and propelled advancement within the industry, there is also a story of great loss and design flaws. The story of the Comet is one of triumph and tragedy. The Comet was the world’s first pressurized commercial jet airliner, offering a heightened level of comfort and promising a new era for aviation as well as Britain’s future within the aircraft manufacturing sector. It covers the introduction to flight of hundreds of aircraft type and variants, including the de Havilland Comet, with colour photographs, stats, facts and easy references.On July 27, 1949, the de Havilland Comet prototype flew for the first time, taking to the sky from Hatfield Aerodrome in Hertfordshire, UK. Comet 4C, N888WA, at the Museum of Flight Foundation, Everett, WAįlying Firsts is a new book from Martyn Cartledge.Comet 4C cockpit, G-BEEX, at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums, Sunderland.Comet 4C, G-BDIW, at Hermeskeil Musuem, Germany.Comet 4C, G-BDIX, at the National Museum of Flight, Scotland.Comet 4B G-APYD, at the Science Museum Store, Wroughton.Comet 4 G-APDB, at Imperial War Museum Duxford.Comet 2R cockpit, XK695, at the de Havilland Museum.Comet 2R cockpit, G-AMXA, at the Al Mahatta Museum, Sharjah, UAE.Comet C2 cockpit, XK699, at Old Sarum Airfield.Comet 1A cockpit, G-ANAV, at the Science Museum Store, Wroughton.Comet 1A, G-APAS, at the RAF Museum Cosford.Comet 1A fuselage, F-BGNX, at the de Havilland Museum.Other Comet aircraft that survive include the following: In fact, the Comet 4 still managed the accolade of becoming the first jet aircraft to fly passengers across the Atlantic in October 1958, ahead of the 707. de Havilland was forced to rethink its airliner, coming up with the Comet 4 and 4B as the ultimate variants, which offered more seats and a greater range. This allowed the rival Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 airliners to catch up and capture a much greater share of the market. This aircraft was used in development flying and route proving for the much larger, longer range and ultimately much more successful Comet 4. Comet 2s in production were also modified but these only ever went to the RAF as all airlines cancelled orders for this and the Comet 3, the latter making its first flight in July 1954. #De havilland comet seriesHowever, a series of unfortunate accidents and crashes led to the aircraft being grounded until the cause could be determined.Īll Comet 1s were withdrawn from service and were scrapped or had oval windows installed and strengthening modifications incorporated. The initial variant, the Comet 1, entered service with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1952 following a period of testing. It was also able to fly above the weather, offering a smoother, more comfortable flight for its passengers. 27 July 2019 marks the 70 th anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Comet – the world’s first commercial jet airliner.ĭeveloped in the years following the Second World War, the Comet revolutionised air travel and brought the world closer together thanks to the higher speeds it could fly at.
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