#De havilland comet series#
#De havilland comet windows#

London, England, at Comet 2002 Anniversary May 02) (speaker's notes - Col Michel Legault, Air Force Advisor, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff, Marville France The de Havilland Comet in RCAF Service

#De havilland comet series#

Following two further prototypes, the Comet 4 series launched in 1958 and remained in use for over 30 years.Marville France - de Havilland Comet - The de Havilland Comet in RCAF Service

#De havilland comet windows#

The Comet was withdrawn from service and extensively redesigned, with improvements including oval windows and structural reinforcements. In fact, the pressure surrounding the corners of the windows was two to three times stronger than anywhere else on the cabin. The problem was exacerbated by its square windows: as the structure of the fuselage was too weak, stresses were forming at the corners. Shortly thereafter, another plane exploded in mid-air and crashed after leaving Rome.Īfter these devastating crashes, an inquiry found that the plane’s hull was too weak to withstand vast changes in cabin pressure within short intervals. The Comet was badly damaged and broke apart during a bout of turbulence after leaving Delhi, killing 43 people. The first fatal crash occurred on – exactly a year after the aircraft’s maiden scheduled flight. Had the controls been designed differently, this could have been avoided.Īs the plane clocked up more flight hours, wear and tear made it even more dangerous.

Because of this, one Comet was unable to take off and ran off the runway in October 1952, after the pilot pulled back too far on the controls and caused too much drag on the wings. An even more dangerous defect was the controls, which pilots reported as giving the same feedback no matter how fast they were flying. The aircraft was the first commercial jet in airplane history to use hydraulic controls, and as there was a defect with the seals in the pipes, pilots needed to bring along extra hydraulic fluid to refill them during service.īut that wasn’t the only problem the Comet faced: the cockpit windows often fogged up and the navigation system was prone to overheating. Unfortunately, the glamorous early days of the de Havilland Comet were short-lived, as pilots began to encounter serious issues during flights. Wanting a piece of the action, other airlines including Canadian Pacific, Air France and the Royal Canadian Air Force began placing orders for the world's first jet airliner. Passengers reported that the flight was smooth, the service was impressive and meals were beautifully presented.īy 1953, the British Overseas Airways Company was operating flights from London to a range of locations including Johannesburg, Tokyo and Singapore. The journey from London to Johannesburg took 23 hours, with stops in Rome, Beirut, Khartoum, Entebbe and Livingstone along the way. The Comet’s first scheduled flight took place on May 2, 1952. It could accommodate 36 passengers, with first class seats centered around tables in the style of a train car while innovative features included a luggage storage area inside the cabin and separate restrooms for ladies and gentlemen. Thanks to its pressurized cabin, the plane was quieter, smoother and far more comfortable than any other aircraft in the sky. Rectangular windows allowed passengers to look out over the world below. The jet airliner’s design was sleek and futuristic, with a mirrored aluminium fuselage and elegant wings that hid its four jet engines. The world’s first commercial jet was powered by four turbojet engines, each offering 22,000 Newtons of thrust, and could fly as high as 42,000 feet at 460 miles per hour – nearly double the speed of contemporary aircraft. Wet, damp (ACMI), dry and hybrid lease contracts for airlinesĪt first, the Comet soared high above expectations. Providing aircraft charter solutions for orchestras Pharmaceutical specific charter solutions adapted for sensitive goods Working together with travel agents and tour operators Tailored aircraft charters for film & media productionĪrranging charters for sporting events, organisations & athletes Personnel and cargo solutions for the industry Providing aircraft charters for the music industries Individual or large charter programmes for governments Supporting freight forwarders with their logistical requirements Time sensitive and secure aircraft charters in emergenciesĪssisting event organisers with their logistics requirements

Aircraft leasing and cargo charter solutionsĬharter for key personnel or time-sensitive cargoĪssisting travel departments around the world