COMET 50th 2nd May 2002

[Tartan Giant]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the 2nd May 1952 the FIRST commercial jet, scheduled service, in the whole world graced the skies in the shape of the COMET, beating the Pan Am B707 by 22 days.

Without the COMET technology and sad lessons, the shape of the aviation world may well have been written differently.

It will 50 years on, in May 2002, that some who flew the COMET variants, and those associated with her, will meet to celebrate that momentous event.

Should you be of a mind to attend the event, or help in shaping it, then I would urge you to register an interest via the letters page of the Official DAN AIR web site at www.danair.webcentral.com.au (http://www.danair.webcentral.com.au)

It is a historic day in aviation history that should not pass without valid recognition.

Mark your diaries - venue to be decided !

TG - Yes, I did fly them !!

[ockham hold]

I don't think the first Pan Am B707 service was on 24th May 1952. Surely it was about 5 or 6 years later.

[Tartan Giant]

Ockham Hold

You are absolutely correct ! The COMET was years ahead of the B707.

The 22 days 'gaff' I made was a "cut and paste" omission of mine.

The COMET 4 made aviation history by flying the Atlantic for the first time on 4 Oct 58 (Comet first passenger service 2 May 52) followed by PanAm's Atlantic crosing using the B707-120 those 22 days later; 26 Oct 58. As you say, years and years behind.

Cheers,
TG

[Lou Scannon]

I well remember watching evening TV back in '58. The programme was Nationwide and on came Cliff Michelmore to announce the first commercial jet crossing by the de Havilland machine. He concluded by reciting the folowing.

"Twinkle, twinkle little Boeing,
How we wonder when you're going,
Up above the earth so high,
Like a COMET in the sky!"



------------------
Lou Scannon