FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1812.PDF
57ft FLIGHT, 3 November 1010 DAY-TRIP TO TRIPOLI De Havilland Comet Proves its Powers as a Fast, Medium-long-range Airliner SINCE the concerted voices of itsfour Ghost turbojets were firstraised at Hatfield earlier this year, the de Havilland Comet has proved a source of increasing hope and promise to British aviation. A further encouraging moment in the rapid tempo of its development programme was reached last week, when the Comet flew from London to North Africa, landed and returned the same day. For many weeks, of course, it had been obvious that the first jet airliner could make such a journey at such a speed, but clearly this was an action which spoke louder than words. It demonstrated a pace of airline travel which the Comet, and the class of aircraft it introduces will, within the next few years, establish as an accepted routine. Last week Flight recorded that on Thursday, October 20th, the Comet completed a 2,000-mile, high-altitude cruising flight which extended as far as the South of France. Shortly afterwards, the airliner transferred temporarily to London Airport and made a series of landings and take-offs in darkness. Testing progress had by now reached a point where the makers' examination of operating characteristics —with particular emphasis on fuel consumption—required the experience of a stage flight on a representative airline route. Since the B.O.A.C. Comets now in production are likely to begin airline life on the Empire routes, London to Castel Benito (Tripoli) was selected as an appropriate proving-run. Accordingly, the Comet took off from London Airport at 0633 hr on Tuesday, October 25th. It was captained by " Flight " photograph. Quick return : the Comet on its final approach at LondonAirport. (Below) The extent of the flight to Castel Benito does not, of course, represent the ultimate range of thede Havilland jet airliner. Underwing replenishment of the kerosene tanks by a localShell representative. This photograph, and that on page 577, were flown back in the Comet. John Cunningham, chief test pilot of the de Havilland Aircraft Company, and his crew consisted of Peter Bugge, co-pilot, George Blackett, navigator/radio-operator, and Brackstone Browne, flight engineer. The aircraft was by no means flying "light," but, carrying several hundred gallons of excess kerosene, was in fact loaded to a repre- sentative operating weight. It is officially stated that, on landing, the Comet contained "about half the fuel supply at take-off." Consumption calculations are still taking place, and will contuse for several months; at present, the company is not prepared to publish figures relating to either the fuel capacity or the endurance of the Comet. In this connection, they say, unofficial figures published in the daily Press since thg. London-Tripoli flight may be considered inaccurate. Both legs of the round trip were flown at an altitude of 35,000ft. To ensure crew comfort the fuselage was pres- surized to a moderate degree, but oxygen was also used. Weather was generally good and there was no sign of gusts; no "stacking" difficulties were encountered, control clear- ances being given promptly both at London and Castel B 6
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
