The Gatwick Comet you refered to was I belive used for ground handling training-towing and pushbacks etc. I do not know its origins and as you say the outboard wing sections were missing to although I am sure it was a comet IV which variant is hard to tell without the outer wings

There were actually two Comets used for sundry training purposes at Gatwick over time, both inevitably ex Dan-Air machines. One was Comet 4 6414, G-APDM, retired in 1973, and the other was Comet 4B 6422, G-APMB, retired the previous year. I can remember seeing the one still there in the 1990s as well.

Using an old aircraft for training the tug drivers seems to have been a BAA thing - there was a Trident at Stansted in BA colours and quite well presented also until the early 1990s, long after they were finally retired from service, which was sometimes up against a gate at the terminal, and must have foxed visiting spotters who saw it from a distance !

Thanks for the replies.

Since posting my original question I've done a little research and found that this aeroplane was scrapped in 2004. I think she was used by Channel Airways until being grounded and converted to a training tool.

APMB, the Comet 4B, was the ex-Channel one. They only operated it for about 18 months, then it was grounded when the airline went under in January 1972. Dan-Air picked it up in April of that year, then in December it was retired. They might not have put it into service at all in that time - the Channel Comets were badly looked after, I recall one loading for Palma at Manchester in August 1971, a few months before their end, with what is undoubtedly the worst paint condition I have ever seen on an aircraft actively in service - discoloured and dirty, multiple old BEA liveries partly showing through, odd bits of spray paint here and there.

APMB was operated by Dan Air until at least the summer of 1977, as we flew on it - returning from Mahon, Menorca to Birmingham at that time.

Checkout this thread for mention of this flight and details of Dan Air Comet retirement dates:
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...ing-trace.html

Thanks for your reply re the Comet 2 at Lyneham G-ANTZ-and long may it survive.

There was a thread awhile back which pointed out that the Boeing Dreamliner nose section looked very much like the Comet's. Quite apt considering the 787 looks like it will be out of service for a long time until a redesign is effected.

Comet II of 216 Sqdn at Lyneham 1957


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