View Full Version : 'Comet' low over J18 on the M1 yesterday
drawbarz
31st Mar 2010, 09:25
Can anyone shed any light on what has been described by a work colleague, as a 'Green DH Comet' seen low over the M1 between J18 & J19 yesterday.
Regards
John
Teaboy24
31st Mar 2010, 09:56
Going north on the M1 just past J19 yesterday afternoon I saw a RAF C-130 come low down on my right. Although cannot see how it looks similar. Was about time 15.45-16.00.
No comment
31st Mar 2010, 10:16
Surely a Nimrod? Unless 'Canopus' has managed to somehow get airborne out of Bruntingthorpe..... :=
Big Eric
31st Mar 2010, 10:35
A Nimrod MR2 from Kinloss did overshoots at several RAF bases in England yesterday.It was on it's final flight before the type is retired today.
Certainly not "green" though,it would either be hemp or dark grey.
HEATHROW DIRECTOR
31st Mar 2010, 10:36
No Comets flying, least of all green ones.
A Nimrod has been touring the UK doing fly-bys at various airfields.
drawbarz
31st Mar 2010, 11:38
Thanks guys,
John
obnoxious
2nd Apr 2010, 16:23
It seems to have missed Woodford, it were made there.:*
Fournierf5
3rd Apr 2010, 11:32
Are there really gentlefolk out there, who appear to have made a fair number of posts - an implied aviation interest - who don't know what a Nimrod is/was! I look forward to the 'it was dark black with four very noisy engines and possibly two rudders and low over East Kirby', what was it question. Do try and keep up!:ugh:
John Alcock
4th Apr 2010, 19:51
Let's not forget the DH 88 Comet!
de Havilland DH.88 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_DH.88)
Several light twin piston aircraft could be mistaken for this, rather than the much rarer Comet airliner.
HEATHROW DIRECTOR
4th Apr 2010, 21:05
OK John... When was the last time the DH88 flew?
Noah Zark.
4th Apr 2010, 23:51
H D,
I don't know when the DH88 last flew, but I remember I used to see the Nimrod AEW regularly on Friday afternoon/evenings going over my patch back to Woodford, and that was about mid-eighties.
I mention that because about that time, one summer-ish evening, I heard an aircraft sound that wasn't familiar with normal traffic hereabouts, and went outside to look, and, rapidly disappearing in the same direction as the Nimrod usually went, was an aircraft that I could only think of as the DH88, but such a thing was unheard of 'oop north'.
However, I had the idea to phone Old Warden, not knowing if anyone would still be there, as it was around 6-ish in the evening as I recall.
Luckily, someone answered. I put to them what I thought I had seen, and they said 'Yes, that's right, the Comet was en route to Woodford to take part in a Families Air day the following day.
So, I'm one of the lucky ones, I've seen it flying. As I said, my best memory is that it was mid-eighties.
I assume from your answer above that you know when the last flight took place. Are you going to let us in on it? :ok:
HEATHROW DIRECTOR
5th Apr 2010, 07:01
No, I don't know when it last flew, but suspect it wasn't long after your sighting.
Noah Zark.
5th Apr 2010, 23:09
Just out of curiosity, I have emailed Old Warden to ask. I will post any reply I receive.
A quick search on the web came up with the following:
G-ACSS (http://www.xs4all.nl/~tozu/dh88/Comets/GACSS.htm)
'There the restoration to flying condition began culminating in the first flight of G-ACSS for 49 years in 1987. It flew until the closure of Hatfield airfield in 1993 but was kept in taxiable condition at Old Warden. The extension of the runway there lead to a complete overhaul of the aircraft and it will take to the air again in 2002.'
GINFO Search Results | Aircraft Register | Safety Regulation (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=ACSS)
'Total Hours: 549 at 31/12/1993
Permit to Fly Validity Expiry: 02/06/1994'
Landing accident 2002:
On 28 October 2002 G-ACSS was taken for a test flight for the purpose of obtaining a Permit to Fly. On landing the aircraft suffered severe damage to the right landing gear, minor damage to right engine, nacelle and wing-tip.
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_028728.pdf
Video of taxi run during 2008
YouTube - De Havilland DH.88 Comet taxi run (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEih8WRGdUY)
TJ
dixi188
6th Apr 2010, 05:56
In about 1992 or 93 I saw the DH88 Comet and Boscombe Down's DH106 Comet being filmed together from a C-130 over Geoffrey De Havilland's house whilst I was on the M25.
I think this may have been to do with some aniversary.
Is the film available anywhere? I can't find it on youtube.