Comet! The World's First Jet Airliner

A comprehensive, picture rich history of the iconic craft. Includes myriad first hand accounts and photographic illustrations. Features many previously unpublished materials, acquired as a result of the authors complete access to the sprawling De Havilland archive.

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This new volume from the respected and well-regarded aviation historian and author Graham M. Simons is sure to appeal to all aviation enthusiasts, including as it does a wide array of historical sources and archival information drawn together into one consolidated volume the closest to a definitive study of the craft than any produced before.

Extensively illustrated throughout, the book features details lifted directly from enquiry and salvage reports, much of which has never been published before and offers a unique insight into the failures and tragedies that blighted the early days of the Comets development, laying down lessons that were ultimately to benefit later designs. As part of his research into the book, the author interviewed John Cunningham, the Comet test pilot who was the first to experience flight at the helms of the iconic craft. He was also given access to materials belonging to Harry Povey, the DeHavilland Production Manager. Insights gained from these two sources add a deeper level of authenticity to the narrative and a more personalised account of proceedings.

Attention is also paid to the derivative Nimrod design, and the book features an interview that the author conducted with the aircraft commander of the last ever Nimrod operational flight. Interviews of this kind are supplemented by the author's own narrative of proceedings, setting personal experience within historical context and exploring the themes and historical topics that the interviews evoke.