Talking Pictures, 17:20 "First few operational months of Heathrow Airport in 1949."
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Talking Pictures, 17:20 "First few operational months of Heathrow Airport in 1949."
On tonight, "First few operational months of Heathrow Airport in 1949." just a heads up if you have the channel Talking Pictures. 
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‘Sound Barrier’ is a great Film for its time and along with everything else, includes fantastic footage of the beautiful and then so advanced DH Comet 1 Jet Airliner. Shame about its subsequent tragic history.
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Yes when I saw the shots of the Comet 1 (single large wheels) I immediately thought 'square windows'.
For many years on the fire burning area at Farnborough there was a Comet fuselage which was supposed to be cocooned but some of the cover had been removed to show Air France markings; used to drive past it every time I did a runway inspection ('70s/'80s).
Thankfully it was removed before it was burnt and is now hopefully preserved somewhere..
For many years on the fire burning area at Farnborough there was a Comet fuselage which was supposed to be cocooned but some of the cover had been removed to show Air France markings; used to drive past it every time I did a runway inspection ('70s/'80s).
Thankfully it was removed before it was burnt and is now hopefully preserved somewhere..
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Gnome de PPRuNe
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The French Comet from Farnborough, F-BGNX, is now preserved at the Mosquito Museum at London Colney.
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The 44 seat Export Comets had increased all-up weight, slightly more powerful engines and made use of water methanol injection, and had a greater fuel capacity of 7,000 gallons,
compared to the BOAC 36 seat series 1 aircraft, and also had an increased cruising altitude of 40,000ft.
At the time of the loss of ‘Yoke Peter’ in 1954, 12 new larger 44 seat Comet Mk.2s for BOAC were under construction, G-AMXA to G-AMXL and they were to have square windows.
They were also the first production aircraft fitted with Rolls/Royce Avon 503 engines rated at 7300 lb.ST.
The installation of the Avon necessitated enlarging the engine air intake ducts – which gave the Mk.2 a more distinctive appearance.
A handicap for the Comet 1 operators was the limited range – insufficient for North or South Atlantic routes.
So, BOAC ordered 12 Comet 2s, and Air France initially ordered three but later in December 1953, added another three.
A number of other airlines were also interested.
The Comet 2 now had genuine South Atlantic (but not North Atlantic) capability.
BOAC had ordered the Mk.2s for it's longer Empire routes, and on their South American routes.
Extensive test flights with G-AMXA confirmed its long-range capability.
In January 1954, en route for tropical trials, G-AMXA set a new record between London and Khartoum of just 6 hrs and 22 min,
and demonstrated that, even with less favourable weather conditions, impressive stage lengths could be flown on normal fuel tankage.
The African tropical trials in Khartoum were followed by a visit to Jan Smuts Airport at Johannesburg which, with an above sea-level altitude of 5,559ft, enabled high-altitude take-offs and other testing. A whole series of tests were also flown at Nairobi and Entebbe.
On the South African route Jan Smuts, Johannesburg was the highest airfield ASL.
Later BOAC decided to operate via Nairobi, at 5,380 ft ASL. More importantly, it had a runway only 7,980 ft in length.
So at Nairobi the Mk.2 would have to be operating with a low AUW to be sure to get airborne, especially at high ambient temperature.
To get round this problem it was decided to schedule Nairobi via Entebbe – a short stage-length of only around 300 miles, and so the fuel load, and consequently AUW, could be kept low.
The 12 Comet 2's intended for BOAC were later completed in accordance with the 1955 Court of Inquiries recommendations, and they became the property of the Ministry of Supply and the RAF Transport Command. Dropped were the square windows, and heavier gauge aluminium was used for the skins.
By the time a decision was made to modify the Comet structure three BOAC Mk.2s had been completed to the original specification … square windows included.
Comet 1's lost in accidents:
BOAC lost 5
YZ Rome overran runway on takeoff
YR Calcutta skidded off runway taxiing for takeoff
YV Calcutta crashed soon after takeoff when wing failed in heavy turbulence, Tropical Storm
YP off Elba crashed soon after takeoff from Rome
YY off Stromboli crashed soon after takeoff from Rome
Canadian Pacific Air Lines lost 1 at Karachi crashed on takeoff, failed to get airborne
Union Aeromaritime de Transport lost 1 at Dakar skidded off runway on landing
Last edited by rog747; 19th Jan 2024 at 11:44.
