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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1356.PDF
I2D FLIGHT AUGUST 4TH, 1949 That the D.H. artist's impression o,r the ComeJ, published in our preceding issue, was a realistic rendering of the machine in fight, is proved by this impressive photographic study. - ~ COMET IN THE SKY Surprise Maiden Flight of Britain's Most Advanced Air Liner , ON Wednesday, July 27th, at 6.17 p.m., the deHavilland Comet made its first flight. Aftertake-off, John Cunningham took the aircraft up in a steady climb to 8,000ft, thence carrying out some general handling trials, including tentative explorations of the low- speed characteristics. He then brought the beautiful new aircraft down for a low-level run along the runway to sweep into a quite steep turn into the landing circuit. His landing was, as usual, exemplary, and the Comet had been airborne for 31 minutes. Preliminary details of this latest and most advanced of British airliners were included in our last week's issue, and there is little more of a specific or technical nature to add. One of the more interesting features of the Comet's debut is that it emerged from the shops for the first time at 11.30 on Monday morning, the 25th, for engine running, and in the evening did a few preliminary taxi runs up and down the runway. On Tuesday it was hoped to do the first "hop," but one or two minor snags arose and the day was devoted to engine runs, together with various items of groundwork. However, at 8 o'clock on Wednes- day morning, John Cunningham took the aircraft out to continue taxying trials and wheel-brake checks. Then, at 9.50, starting with the tail almost in the hedge, Cunning- ham opened up all four Ghosts and, after a run of only about 200 yards, "nodded" the Comet off for a 500-yard Perhap: better than any previous pir'.rait, that above conveys the exceptional beamy cf line which characterizes the Comet. A 12
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