Airfix 1/144 De Havilland Comet

[Eric Mc]

They got more conservative the more they realised how radical the concept of a jet airliner was. In the end, not only did they go with a more vertical tail fin, they also reduced the wing sweep back considerably. Despite all their concessions to known principles, they still came unstuck.

The DC-6 is a good analogy as it dates from the same period.

[Dr Jekyll]

The original Comet 1 looks a lot more futuristic than the Comet 4 IMHO.



Also someone did have a got at building the 1944 version 20 odd years later, but I don't think it got any further than a mock up.

[Evangelion]

I flew in a Comet in 1966. My dad was in the RAF and while we were living in Aden, we went to Kenya on holiday for two weeks. From Aden to Nairobi by Comet 4, then from Niarobi to Mombasa in a Fokker Friendship. Did it again in reverse a fortnight later.

Both aircraft operated by East African Airways. First time I'd ever faced the way I was going in an aircraft - all airliners chartered by the RAF had their seats turned to face backwards as they believed it was safer.

[Eric Mc]

The Comet 1, although flawed, was extremely elegant.

[AER]

Eric Mc said:

They got more conservative the more they realised how radical the concept of a jet airliner was. In the end, not only did they go with a more vertical tail fin, they also reduced the wing sweep back considerably.

Wing sweep destroys maximum lift capability so the more sweep you use the larger the wing you need which is all high-speed drag (C_D0xS), in the end.

[Dr Jekyll]

What other aircraft types were used by both BOAC and BEA? The only one I can think of is the Viscount which was a slightly special case.

[Evangelion]

Dr Jekyll said:

What other aircraft types were used by both BOAC and BEA? The only one I can think of is the Viscount which was a slightly special case.

The BAC 1-11 was used by both BEA and British Airways if that counts. Also by BUA and Caledonian.

(And Dan-Air, Ryanair, Laker, Channel Airways and Aer Lingus. It was quite ubiquitous.)

Edited by Evangelion on Monday 21st August 11:31

[Dr Jekyll]

Evangelion said:

Dr Jekyll said:

What other aircraft types were used by both BOAC and BEA? The only one I can think of is the Viscount which was a slightly special case.

The BAC 1-11 was used by both BEA and British Airways if that counts. Also by BUA and Caledonian.

That doesn't count.

I remember my first ever flight was on a British Midland BAC 1-11. Had an argument years later with someone who insisted it must have been a DC9, had to point out that a 9 year old aviation geek in the early 70s could definitely tell the difference at a glance.

[Eric Mc]

The DC-3/C-47 was used by both BEA and BOAC.

Like with the Viscount, some of BOAC's affiliates used Vickers Vikings - although BOAC themselves did not.

That's all I can think of, off hand.

Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 21st August 11:56