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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2137.PDF
••"• FLIGHT 30 July 1954 The sleek fuselage, 111ft long, and the "pinion" fuel tanks are distinctive features of the Comet 3, seen here during her maiden flight. THE NEW COMET FLIGHT trials of the de Havilland Comet Series 3 began promisingly last week at Hatfield with three separate trips totalling 2 hr 35 min. The first, of 85 min, was on the evening of July 19th, when the air photograph reproduced on this page was taken from a Dove. In terms of performance and capacity, the new Comet marks an appreciable advance on its predecessors, being designed to carry 58-76 passengers on stages of up to 2,600 miles. Corresponding figafes for the Comet 2 are 44 passengers and 2,200 miles. Firm orders for Series 3s ha*€been placed by B.O.A.C., P.A.W.A. and Air-India International. Some of the more important features distinguishin&me Comet 3 from earlier models are apparent in these photographs. Most noticeable^jtf'the long, shapely fuselage, measuring 111ft 6in from nose to tail, and 15ft longer than^tfiat of the Comet 2. Wing spread remains unchanged at 115ft (although area has beep^mcreased); the tailplane is altogether larger. Cabin windows are now circular instead^" square. The engines are four Rolls-Royce A*6n 521s, each providing 10,000 lb thrust, compared with 7,000 lb from the Avon 503s <Jfthe Comet 2. Fuel capacity has been increased from 6,900 to 8,050 Imperial gallons by the addition of "pinion" tanks, externally mounted on the leading edge of the wing. These tanks contain landing lights, as illustrated here. The new "drooped" leading edge adopted for the Comet 2 at a late stage of production is incorporated as an integral part of the Series 3's wing section. Flap area has been greatly increased, and in addition to the wing flaps there is now a large split flap beneath the fuselage. (Right) Details of the new Comet, photographed while the prototype was undergoing routine checks after the first flight: the starboard external tank and landing light (top); pronounced jet-pipe over hang with flaps down (centre); and, below, the "toed-out" Avon jet-pipes. (Left) The crew of G- ANLO emerge smiling after a successful maiden flight: John Cunningham and Peter Bugge (left) are at the foot of the steps; above them are instrument engineer ]. A. Marshall, flight observer A. J. Fairbrother and fight engineer E. Brack- stone Brown. "Flight" photo;roplw Although both B.O.A.C. and PanAm propose to operate class versions of the Comet 3, the makers emphasize that th craft is fully adaptable for tourist work. A 71-seat version v feature five-abreast seating pitched at 40in and a 14|in gang by reducing seat-pitch to 38in, the complement could be incr to 76. Gangway-width increases to 20in in the 58- and 6, four-abreast tourist versions. It is also possible to offer r travel by mounting the kitchen centrally to separate first- from tourist passengers. The Series 3 prototype is fully uphot and furnished in B.O.A.C. style, employing new double sei D.H. design which weigh-only 50 lb. The first phase of flight trials, now in progress, will m basic performance tests and verification of stability througho- speed range, and will entail some 10-12 hr flying. first- ; air- •ould way; rased -seat nixed class rered :s of :lude t the ^
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