Early Comets under construction at Hatfield. A notice in the roof says: “Sheet metal must be handled with care to avoid scratching the surface”.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.106 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

Early Comets were powered by four 5,000lb-thrust turbojet engines buried in the wing roots. The Comet 4 series had double this power and were fitted with four Rolls-Royce.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.106 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

The prototype Comet seen during trials following the replacement of the single mainwheel undercarriage with four-wheel bogies. Although the bogies reduced the Comet’s fuel capacity - by 6 1/2 gal on each side! - they weighed less than the single mainwheels.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.106 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

Royal approval The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret leave Comet I G-ALWY at Heathrow having arrived from Salisbury, Rhodesia on July 17, 1953.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.106 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

A BOAC Comet seen after it ran off the runway at Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta in 1953.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.106 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

This piece of wreckage recovered from the Elba Comet revealed cracks and drill holes in the skin at the starboard front corner of the rear ADF aerial window.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.106 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

Comet G-ALYZ seen at Ciampino Airport, Rome on October 26, 1952 after over-rotating.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet / D.H.106 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949

Even 30 years on, the elegant lines of the Comet 4C have hardly dated. This example, XA-NAS, was delivered to Cia Mexicana de Aviation and flown on the Golden Aztec service linking Mexico City with Havana, Chicago and Los angeles.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet 3 / 4 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1954

On April 28, 1958 the first of 19 Comet 4s for BOAC made its first flight at Hatfield. Standing in front of G-APDA may be seen John Cunningham, “Pat” Fillingham, E.Brackstone-Brown, J. L. Johnston and J. Marshall. The Comet took off at 1815hr, and the test flight lasted Ihr 23min. Cunningham reported that the aircraft behaved splendidly.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet 3 / 4 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1954

Aerolineas Argentinas Comet 4 LV-PLM makes a fighter-like take-off in 1959.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Comet 3 / 4 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1954

Retaining some of the Comet's classic lines, the Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft was developed as an Avro Shackleton replacement. The prototype made its first flight on May 23, 1967.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod MR.1 / R.1 / MR.2 / HS.801 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1967