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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0296.PDF
Comet 1A (C.P.A.). Commercial Aircraft 1953 DE HAVELLAND COMET • Comet hours are now approach ing 20,000 and the batch of 21 Mk 1 and tA aircraft is nearly complete. B.O.A.C. have received nine; the remainder are for U.A.T., Air France, the M.o.S., the R.C.A.F. and C.P.A. Con struction is proceeding on Mk 2s for B.O.A.C., B.C.P.A., J.A.L., L.A.V. and other operators, and parts are being made for the first Mk 3 aircraft, which is due to fly next year. Exceptional care has been taken to ensure that the first Comets are safe and reliable aircraft. No machine has been subjected to a more exacting pro gramme of trials and proving flights. The fact that Mk is are operating at very high load factors, and alone of all transports attract a long passenger waiting list, is not due merely to novelty value so much as to their genuine and widely recognized passenger appeal. Contrary to some predictions, they are making money for B.O.A.C. on the South African and Far Eastern routes, and they will soon be operating over France, West Africa and the North Pacific between Vancouver and Hong Kong. The Comet is fortunate in that a whole range of excellent engines is becoming available to keep in step with developments in the basic airframe. As the engine power available increases so does the fuel consump tion; bat the greater working rates of the Mks 2 and 3 more than offset this. In fact, on a ton-miles per gallon basis, the Mk 3— which will weigh as much as a Stratocruiser—should prove twice as efficient as the Mk 1. Above all, it cannot be over-emphasized that the Comet is a straightforward, modern transport, capable of operation from almost all major airfields and posing no special problems in the maintenance, aerodynamic or operational fields. Altogether, it is thoroughly worthy of its historic role as the first of the new era of transport aircraft. Comet iA (foui Ghost 50, total 20,000 lb thrust).—Span, 115ft; length, 93ft; wing area, 2,015 sq ft> gross weight, 110,000 lb; wing loading, 54.5 lb/sq ft; range 2,700 miles at 465 m.p.h. at 35,000ft with 12,000 lb pay load. Comet 2 (four Avon 500 series, total 26,000 lb thrust).—Span, 115ft; length, 96ft tin; wing area, 2,015 SQ, ft; gross weight, 120,000 lb; wing loading, 57 lb/sq ft; range, 3,600 miles at 490 m.p.h. at 40,000ft with 13,5001b payload. Comet 3 (four Avon, total 36,000 lb thrust).—Span, 115 ft; length, 111ft; wing area, 2,015 sq ft; gross weight, 145,000 lb; wing loading, 72 lb/sq ft; range 4,500 miles at 520 m.p.h. at over 40,000ft with 17,500 lb payload (estimated). HANDLEY PAGE HERMES 4 • Regarded by many as the most comfortable of all piston-engined transports, the Hermes is being progressively replaced by Comets on B.O.A.C. routes. Of the Corporation's 25, 19 are left of which some (perhaps as many as a dozen) are for sale. Airwork have used Hermes on trooping work, with over 60 aft-facing seats apiece. Hermes 4 (four Hercules 763, total 8,400 h.p.).—Span, 113ft; length, 96ft ioin; wing area, 1,408 sq ft; gross weight, 86,000 lb; wing loading, 61 lb/sq ft; range 2,600 miles at 235 m.p.h. at 13,000ft with 15,000 lb payload. Comet 2 (Panair do Brasi/). Comet 3 (B.O.A.C.). SAUNDERS-ROE PRINCESS • Biggest and heaviest air craft ever built outside America, the Princess is a magnificent engineering achievement. It is, therefore, doubly unfortunate that no firm decision has yet been announced for operational use of these great boats. One has been flying since last summer with Proteus 605 series engines; the remaining two have been stored in a protective coating awaiting the availability of the more power ful Proteus 3. At the moment, although Princess No. 1 is pro ducing very valuable research data, it is not certain that the type will see scheduled commercial service. Princess (ten Proteus 705, total 40,000 h.p.).—Span, 219ft 6in; length, 148ft; wing area, 5,000 sq ft; gross weight, over 315,000 lb; wing loading, over 63 lb/sq ft; range, 4,200 miles at 355 m.p.h. at 35,000ft with 40,000 lb payload. SHORT S.45 SOLENT • Last main-line survivor of the great Short airline flying-boat family, the Solent is giving fine service on the routes of T.E.A.L., T.O.A., and Aquila. The Universal
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