Lynehams Comet

I was a kid at Henlow in the early 80’s when Henlow was an absolute treasure trove of aircraft, I remember the Comet well. It would be wrong to scrap her, especially when she could be gifted to a preservation group, sooner rather than later.
I reckon that she would not be relocated to Brize, as there was talk not so long ago to stick a VC10 on gate once a suitable example becomes available

gatwick lied indeed this is sad.

I read elsewhere that the Comet and Trident were scrapped several weeks ago. A preservation group tried to save the Trident nose and other parts but they were not allowed to use the cutting gear they had, so both aircraft were scrapped. 🙁
mmitch.

Regarding Gatwick’s Comet, I can confirm that as of August 25th this aircraft is still alive and well…

On 17th August I emailed the following to Gatwick Press Office:

Hello

I’m writing concerning both the Comet and Trident (both grounded airframes) located at Gatwick. I have been informed that both of these aircraft have been scrapped. Question: can you confirm this? I’m very much concerned about the future of our aviation heritage and accordingly I hope that these rumours are just that…

I look forward to your reply.

Kind Regards

Phillip Rhodes

On 25th August they emailed the following

Hi Phillip

Sorry for the delay in responding to you. The Comet and Trident had to be removed from our viewing platform as we’ve started construction work up there. They’ve been put on the airfield for safekeeping until a permanent place has been found for them. They’ve not been scrapped – please don’t worry!

Kind Regards

Karen (Gatwick Press Office)

It’s quite obvious that Gatwick Press Office know nothing about aircraft and are referring to the Comet NOSE and Herald on the viewing terrace roof.
If you had elaborated on the ‘Comet used for ground handling’, they might have understood. Am sure both the Comet 4B and Trident have been scrapped!

The Comet on the viewing platform, and G-APMB are both completely different airframes…

XV148 would know – he had been promised parts for his airframes.

Bruce

But they were never on the viewing balcony…. There was however a Comet nose up there…..

Comet and Trident ALIVE and WELL @ Gatwick

Regarding Gatwick’s Comet, I can confirm that as of August 25th this aircraft is still alive and well…

On 17th August I emailed the following to Gatwick Press Office:

Hello

I’m writing concerning both the Comet and Trident (both grounded airframes) located at Gatwick. I have been informed that both of these aircraft have been scrapped. Question: can you confirm this? I’m very much concerned about the future of our aviation heritage and accordingly I hope that these rumours are just that…

I look forward to your reply.

Kind Regards

Phillip Rhodes

On 25th August they emailed the following

Hi Phillip

Sorry for the delay in responding to you. The Comet and Trident had to be removed from our viewing platform as we’ve started construction work up there. They’ve been put on the airfield for safekeeping until a permanent place has been found for them. They’ve not been scrapped – please don’t worry!

Kind Regards

Karen (Gatwick Press Office)

Interesting photo’s thanks for posting them. So it would seem that this aircraft might well face the inevitable 😡 . It would be a real shame as this is the last remaining of its type. Let’s hope someone, somewhere sees sense and rescues her before she’s really beyond preservation.
Anyone know how accessible to the general public the aircraft is? It would be nice to go and have a good close look just to get an idea of the level of corrosion in existence.

Plazz

It’s only just inside the main gate and you can see it from the road. If you call in at the gate office and asked nicely for someone to escort you over to it, I’m sure they will oblige.

Interesting photo’s thanks for posting them. So it would seem that this aircraft might well face the inevitable 😡 . It would be a real shame as this is the last remaining of its type. Let’s hope someone, somewhere sees sense and rescues her before she’s really beyond preservation.
Anyone know how accessible to the general public the aircraft is? It would be nice to go and have a good close look just to get an idea of the level of corrosion in existence.

Plazz

when I photographed for my book on the Comet by Air Britain back in 1998, she was looking very good and I was very impressed at the condition. I know that exposed to the elements, certain areas become a danger, landing gear being one of these.

Thanks for that. Thought this might be a good opportunity to go my archives and post some photos at different stages in XK699’s life, so you can see what we’re all talking about. First, here it is in service with 216 Squadron during a visit to London Airport in 1960. Next is a shot of her 26 years later, arriving at Lyneham on a lorry from storage at Henlow on 16th October 1986.
Finally, a shot as she is now on the gate at Lyneham, although I took this 12 years ago in March 1992! Paintwork is deteriotating and she looks pretty sad now as no one wants to look after her!

sorry guys for the out of date list as my site needs updating. The changes are that G-APMB was indeed scrapped several months ago (very sad, all gone) and XV147 (penultimate Comet) was scrapped last year in early 2003. My nose section XV148 (last Comet) is now just up the road from Lyneham in Wiltshire. To lose this Comet 2 would be crimnal as it is the only Comet 2 surviving.

That list is fairly accurate, with just a couple that need updating.
#13 G-APMB is the white Comet 4B that has now been scrapped at Gatwick and #14 N888WA is almost completely restored to its original Mexicana livery as XA-NAR. Apart from that, you can see that XK699 at Lyneham is the sole Mk.2 survivor.

Have to admit that I kinda like the Comet. Hope something can be worked out, so that it will survive. Found this survivor list on the net. Although a little outdated, would you say it is fairly accurate?
http://www.geocities.com/cometmp/survivors.html

T J Johansen

You have to forgive an ignorant Norwegian here, but is this a complete airframe, what is it doing at Lyneham, etc? I understand from the thread it’s still MOD property, has anyone tried to lobby for its survival? Just wondering, how many Comets survive today, both military and civil? Seem to remember an example sitting wingless (all white?) at a London airport (Heathrow, Gatwick?) when we taxied by. Am I totally wrong or has there been one like this?

T J Johansen

Yes, this is a complete airframe and it stands on the gate at RAF Lyneham as this is where it flew from during the 1950s up until it retired in 1967. Quite a few Comets survive – Comet 1 at Cosford, Comet 4 at Duxford, Comet 4C at East Fortune and Bruntingthorpe, Comet 4C at Seattle, Comet 4B at Wroughton,but this is the very last surviving Comet Mk.2. The all-white wingless Comet you saw at Gatwick was a Mk.4B, which was used for ground handling and got scrapped only very recently.

You have to forgive an ignorant Norwegian here, but is this a complete airframe, what is it doing at Lyneham, etc? I understand from the thread it’s still MOD property, has anyone tried to lobby for its survival? Just wondering, how many Comets survive today, both military and civil? Seem to remember an example sitting wingless (all white?) at a London airport (Heathrow, Gatwick?) when we taxied by. Am I totally wrong or has there been one like this?

T J Johansen

I have also heard that when Lyneham closes, the Comet may be scrapped! This would be a tragedy, as there is no other Comet Mk.2 surviving. Not only that but I flew in XK699 when I was an ATC cadet. The obvious answer is to transfer it the short distance to Brize Norton, where 216 Sqn currently resides. Has anyone suggested this to them?

We would love to save it, but it will be a huge job. When it was moved there, they did a huge conservation job on it. I would like to have a closer look, but have yet to arrange anything.

Bruce

Hi Plazz, A couple of the guys at Lyneham have told me fairly recently that if nothing is done soon, the Comet will not be long in succumbing to the scrap man, major deterioration is wide spread especially in the undercarriage bays and this is a cause for concern in itself without considering the general condition of the rest of the aircraft.
Lets hope that something is being done to stop the rot!