DAVE SMITH'S striking photograph of D.H.88 Comet racer G-ACSS Grosvenor House was taken on May 31, 1987 during a display given at Old Warden by BAe test pilot George Ellis.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

Saturday, March 28, 1987 saw the Gipsy engines in D.H.88 Comet G-ACSS Grosvenor House run for the first time after its lengthy restoration - and saw the aircraft taxy under its own power for the first time in 48yr, albeit minus various cowlings and fairings. At the controls was Project Co-ordinator Ron Paine, with restoration team member John Bennett in the back seat to monitor the electrical system. The next series of engine runs should have taken place by the time this issue is published and, says Paine, "We are optimistic about having a flight at the end of April”. For the record, the last time Paine himself taxied in ’CSS was in 1937, just before the King’s Cup race, when he shared the cockpit with Ken Waller.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

Preparing for the first engine runs on Saturday, March 28, 1987, before taxying trials.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

Left, BAe test pilot George Ellis about to down a well-earned glass of champagne minutes after landing G-ACSS after its first post-restoration flight, made at Hatfield on May 17, 1987.
Middle, Ron Paine, the Comet project's co-ordinator - he actually flew G-ACSS with Ken Waller back in 1937.
Right, Bob Roberts, the design authority, looks into the Comet's empty shell at Old Warden in 1984.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

G-ACSS airborne for the first time in 50yr, at Hatfield on May 17, 1987, with George Ellis at the controls.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

Ron Paine carrying out more engine runs at Hatfield on Saturday, May 16, 1987, the day before the first flight.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

Down to the basics - the forward fuselage of G-ACSS stripped right down at Old Warden in 1984.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

These two tanks forward of the cockpit have a combined capacity of 188gal, giving the Comet a comfortable range in excess of 1,200 miles - about half that of the original.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

British Aerospace built this new canopy; Triplex supplied the transparencies for the sliding windows.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

George Ellis taxying in after the first flight, the culmination of 14 years' work by industry and enthusiasts.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

G-ACSS at Hatfield in July 1986, bereft of engine cowlings and markings.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

The Comet's instrument panel was completely redesigned by Bob Roberts, using correct instrument faces.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.88 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934