DH Comet retirement, 1980.

I much prefer the concept of sitting at the back and being able to see everyone seated in front of me dying first. Besides the VC10 wasn’t that comfortable when climbing out as you felt yourself leaning fwd.

Memories of the Comet was being sent out to help do a compass swing at Brize on the Boscombe one, I had to tow the power set around the compass bay plugged into the running comet for about 3 hours plus.

Ex-RAF? Does that explain the rearward facing seats as previously mentioned?

Probably.The RAF seem to favour that idea as no aircraft yet has been known to reverse into a mountain.

Yes, I was there. Seat 19E, still have the ticket. Also have a certificate to prove it, signed by all the flight crew. Captain’s name was Kelly, can’t read half the rest. Like Mr Creosote I remember the rather rapid climb to height. A stewardess in front of me remarked that they called the Comet “The pocket rocket”. I have a vague memeory that there was a low cloud base that day and I saw more of the cloud than the ground. I also did a similar flight on the VC10 when that retired, but seem to recall that BA then flew another one for staff/VIPs later, so it wasn’t the “last” flight.

Sorry Bob, only just seen this reply. I think you and I must have been on both the same Comet and VC-10 flights. If memory serves, the Comet flight was originally advertised by Ian Allen Travel, but someone else took over when they initially couldn’t sell all the available tickets. Must go in the loft and dig my ticket out; who knows, I might even have been sat next to you. Thanks again for the reply.

They had a standard cabin fit out but had some face to face seating particularly by the wing exits, Tridents also had face to face seating but had a table between the rows.

/http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/6700/g-bdix-dan-air-london-de-havilland-dh-106-comet-4c/

Ex-RAF? Does that explain the rearward facing seats as previously mentioned?

I’m the custodian of one of the last remaining parts of G-BDIT, the G-BDI* Comets were all ex RAF Comet C4’s from 216sqn. G-BDIT ended it’s days at Blackbushe with the intention of turning it into a café, that never materialised and it’s last bit of limelight was as a prop for the Madness video for Wings of a Dove.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]234821[/ATTACH]

Yes, I was there. Seat 19E, still have the ticket. Also have a certificate to prove it, signed by all the flight crew. Captain’s name was Kelly, can’t read half the rest.

I just finished Graham Simons’ book about the Comet and the last flight is mentioned in there with the following crew: Captain John Kelly, Captain Simon Searle as co-pilot, Flight Engineer Gordon Moores.

G-BDIW in Hermeskeil Germany

Yes, I was there. Seat 19E, still have the ticket. Also have a certificate to prove it, signed by all the flight crew. Captain’s name was Kelly, can’t read half the rest. Like Mr Creosote I remember the rather rapid climb to height. A stewardess in front of me remarked that they called the Comet “The pocket rocket”. I have a vague memeory that there was a low cloud base that day and I saw more of the cloud than the ground. I also did a similar flight on the VC10 when that retired, but seem to recall that BA then flew another one for staff/VIPs later, so it wasn’t the “last” flight.

I was on the last passenger-carrying flight of the Comet in 1980, and I was wondering if anyone here has any recollections or info to share? It was a special enthusiasts’ Dan Air flight DA8874 from Gatwick on Remembrance Sunday (I nearly missed it because I was caught in the crowds at the Cenotaph that morning) and we made low passes over Heathrow, Brize Norton and Lyneham. Still remember the steep climb-out the Avons gave it. The aircraft, G-BDIW, is now preserved in Germany.

I was on one of the last DanAir passenger/demo flights from Gatwick in 1980. It was an organised school outing. I think it cost £6 per ticket? But our flight included a low pass over Eastleigh (or was it Hurn) and then a swing south and back to Gatwick. All got a tour of the flight deck. I sat opposite a classmate who was in a rear facing seat and promptly puked over himself.

DAI

First jet I ever flew on, Gatwick-Rome-Tel Aviv in September 1972 (G-ARJL, formerly Olympic Airways and then BEA Airtours). My main recollection now is how much noisier the cabin was when aft of the jet pipes.

or 0/400s

I Wonder what they would be flying today if they had stuck to not buying new aircraft, and not gone bust???

My money would be on Boeing 757’s

I remember seeing it as a 10 year old quite low over Reading on the LHR-Brize leg. It was the only time I saw a civil Comet fly as it did not make it to LGW until 1982. Saw the Boscombe and Farnborough Comets fly and do remember some Dan-dair ones at Lasham. Think us airliner enthusiasts owe DA alot for keeping aircraft going beyond their years and then preserving some of them. Wonder what they would be flying today if they had stuck to not buying new aircraft, and not gone bust???

Several memorable flights to Med destinations in the late 60s/early 70s – I have a great fondness for the aircraft which promised so much but delivered so little through circumstances well rehearsed here and elsewhere.

Ahh the Comet, lovely machine, that’s one of the reasons I go to. bruntingthorpe every year to see the Comet do the fast taxy runs. It still lives and breaths albeit in a limited capacity.