The New Comet paint scheme

Spot on Avgas.

I only worked for Dan Air for a very small period of time, however for me Dan Air = Comet 4, they operated the largest fleet in history of the type.

Yes it does look good in BOAC colours but for me………….it should have remained in Dan Air Colours.

crikey, a rather old debate rears its head!

I dont deny that Dan Air and the Comet were very closely associated.

There are Comets preserved in Dan Air colours in Germany (Hermeskeil), Scotland (East Fortune), and at Wroughton.

The reason that G-APDB is a historic aircraft in its own right (as opposed to being just another preserved Comet), is that it was involved in the first passenger jet service across the Atlantic – in BOAC colours. When BOAC sold it, it had plenty of life left in it; it doesnt change its history.

Bruce

Sorry, dont see your problem – they do represent Dan Air, and a number of the other independents. APDB was built for BOAC, and was the flagship of its time, so I really dont see the issue here.

Bruce

The issue is that Dan Air donated the aircraft and that was a proviso of the donation. BOAC flogged it – didn’t want it, so why should it be displayed in their colours? In my opinion the Comet and Dans go hand in hand.

…….you mean the A&AEE colours!!!:rolleyes:

Of course I did 😀 😮

In the Feb 07 edition of another UK aviation monthly publication that might or might not have “Illustrated” and “Aircraft” in the title, there is, by coicidence, an article entitled “Phoenix From The Ashes” and subtitled “How the Comet turned the world’s first jet liner into a winner”.

“……….on 4 Oct (1958) Comet 4 G-APDC took off for New York……the west bound flight was made in 10hr 22 min. The corresponding eastbound flight, made two hours later, in ‘Delta Bravo’ was flown…in the record time of 6hr 11min”.

That seems fairly authoritative and gives ‘DB the honour of being the first aircraft to complete a transatlantic jet airliner service.

IMHO the new paint job looks even more immaculate close up 🙂 …. here are a couple of pix from last sunday.

cheers Cliff

Yes…RAF scheme!!! Although all of those are appropriate for G-AOVF, word has it on the grapevine that very soon G-AOVF is to be repainted into RAF colour scheme as a civil airliner on display at Cosford (the Comet flew with the RAF) does not fit in with the collection.

For obvious reasons, we at XM496 preservation society are not best pleased with this as it’ll detract much deserved attention from the only real RAF Brit.

Will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months.

….oh no, here we go again, wrong schemes on the wrong aircraft at Cosford again!! RAF Comet in ‘BOAC’ colours, RAF Belfast in ‘Heavylift’ colours and now a civvie Britannia in RAF colours. I wonder what serial they’ll dream up for it? What’s next – repaint the Dutch Neptune in RAF colours or pretend the Danish Catalina is a RAF one???:(

Well if they are going to give it a fictitious military scheme (which would be a real shame) then the RAE colours that appeared on Britannia 312 G-AOVM would be most appropriate.

…….you mean the A&AEE colours!!!:rolleyes:

Sad to say but she is not in great order and I wonder if cash would be better spent trying now to get in indoors rather than glossing over some quite advanced corrosion.

Plenty of spare hangars available for the Britannia at Cosford shortly. 🙁

Sad to say but she is not in great order and I wonder if cash would be better spent trying now to get in indoors rather than glossing over some quite advanced corrosion.

Yes…RAF scheme!!! Although all of those are appropriate for G-AOVF, word has it on the grapevine that very soon G-AOVF is to be repainted into RAF colour scheme as a civil airliner on display at Cosford (the Comet flew with the RAF) does not fit in with the collection.

For obvious reasons, we at XM496 preservation society are not best pleased with this as it’ll detract much deserved attention from the only real RAF Brit.

Will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months.

Well if they are going to give it a fictitious military scheme (which would be a real shame) then the RAE colours that appeared on Britannia 312 G-AOVM would be most appropriate.

now that BA have pulled out the Britannia at Cosford has some great choices, British Eagle, Lloyd Intl, Donaldson, IAS Cargo & Invicta Intl. I am sure there must be others too

Yes…RAF scheme!!! Although all of those are appropriate for G-AOVF, word has it on the grapevine that very soon G-AOVF is to be repainted into RAF colour scheme as a civil airliner on display at Cosford (the Comet flew with the RAF) does not fit in with the collection.

For obvious reasons, we at XM496 preservation society are not best pleased with this as it’ll detract much deserved attention from the only real RAF Brit.

Will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months.

Yes, I agree. What next? The Monarch Britannia in BOAC coulours?

Not if I’ve got anything to do with it…;)

Looks like the landings at the respective airports were within a few minutes of each other, and it certainly seems that the intention was that the two aircraft made the crossing together.

Bruce

This was certainly the case – the BA History website (http://www.bamuseum.com/museumhistory50-60.html) states the following:

4 October: BOAC opened the first jet service across the North Atlantic to New York using the Comet 4; G-APDB operated the eastbound flight and G-APDC operated the westbound. The two aircraft passed about 300 miles apart at 47degW at 1335Z; Sir Gerard d’Erlanger, BOAC’s Chairman, in the westbound aircraft and Basil Smallpiece, Managing Director, in the eastbound exchanged messages.

I can’t see how DB can be taken out of the equation as “first transatlantic service jet” no matter what the exact timing was.

NB – Bruce, I wonder if the times quoted by Painter are overall time or just time in flight? If the latter, DC’s refuelling stop would put DB on the ground well before DC…

I have gone through my references with mixed results!

Martin Painters excellent DH Comet Illustrated History states that G-APDB and G-APDC made history as the first two jet aircraft to cross the Atlantic with fare paying passengers.

Later, it states that G-APDB set off just over 2 hours after G-APDC left London. It goes on to say that G-APDC took 10 hrs 22mins to reach New York, after a refuelling stop at Gander, and that G-APDB made the flight without refuelling in 8 hrs 29 mins.

Looks like the landings at the respective airports were within a few minutes of each other, and it certainly seems that the intention was that the two aircraft made the crossing together.

The de Havilland gazette just mentions that the two carried out the flights simultaneously.

Birtles mentions only G-APDC.

Regardless of who touched down first, G-APDB was without doubt involved in the first schedule crossing of the atlantic by jet airliner!

Bruce

Also – just because of the British Airways debacle at Cosford, it doesn’t mean their history should be ignored. It rather reeks of how the ancients chiselled out the faces of family members who had fallen out of favour!

Must admit I agree with HP81. Besides…

Actually, it wasn’t. G-APDC flew the first westbound trans Atlantic service, whilst G-APDB flew the first eastbound flight, both admittedly on the same day. However, the westbound flight (‘DC) operated somewhat before the eastbound flight.

Andy

I think we need to find some definitive source, as my recollection of the story was that the east and west bound flights were simultaneous but that ‘DB was the first to touch down at its destination because headwinds meant that ‘DC had to refuel at Gander.

On the scheme however I love the look of the new paint job. This scheme is, for many, the definitive Comet scheme and (IMHO) far more elegant than the rather clumsy Dan Air scheme.

Well, there you are – learn a new thing every day!

I am sure thats how it was reported in the de Havilland Gazette – must dig it out later.

Bruce

Must admit I agree with HP81. Besides…

G-APDB was the first passenger carrying jet to cross the Atlantic

Actually, it wasn’t. G-APDC flew the first westbound trans Atlantic service, whilst G-APDB flew the first eastbound flight, both admittedly on the same day. However, the westbound flight (‘DC) operated somewhat before the eastbound flight.

Andy

Without getting too involved in the COsford debacle, I think the blame can be equally shared there. BA have never had their say on the subject; we have only the Cosford side of the coin.

BA had their press release and media statements at the time, and had plenty of chance to refute what RAFM said if it wasn’t true.