#DE HAVILLAND COMET SKIN#

The lessons learned from the Comet were heeded by manufacturers including Boeing and Douglas.

#DE HAVILLAND COMET SKIN#

The de Havilland company redesigned the aircraft, strengthening the fuselage skin and replacing the square windows with the oval windows we are all familiar with today, the curvature of which eliminates any stress concentration.

The investigation determined that the tragic accidents were attributed to metal fatigue as a result of repeated pressurization cycles, leading to a structural failure.

The aircraft was subject to pressure cycles and, during one of these cycles, the fuselage ripped open. In an attempt to further understand pressure, stress and fatigue, investigators submerged a life-size Comet in a purpose-built water tank. The investigators found significant stress points in the fuselage skin, particularly at the corners of the windows, which were famously square on the Comet. Naval teams salvaged the BOAC aircraft and it was partially reconstructed at Farnborough, England for analysis. In the subsequent inquiry, groundbreaking extensive research and testing was carried out. With no eyewitnesses and a lack of evidence, the Comet was grounded and the production line at Hatfield was halted. The Royal Navy was tasked with salvaging the wreckage and an investigation was launched. Less than three months later, in April 1954, South African Airways Flight 201 crashed in similar circumstances with the loss of all 21 passengers and crew.

On January 10, 1954, 20 minutes after takeoff, BOAC flight 781 crashed into the Mediterranean killing all 35 on board. The newfound success of the de Havilland Comet did not last long. The Comet for example, could fly above bad weather while other aircraft with lower cruising altitudes had to divert or delay flights. The ability to fly at high altitudes was increasingly seen as advantageous and the way forward for commercial aviation. BOAC scheduled flights to Tokyo, Singapore and Johannesburg, with flight times cut by over half compared to other aircraft operators. During its first year, the Comet carried more than 30,000 passengers including HM Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. In 1951, BOAC, who had ordered 10 of the Comets, made its first commercial flight. The absence of propeller engines along with a pressurized cabin made for a quieter and smoother journey for passengers. On board, luxury included large windows, table seating and a galley capable of serving both hot and cold food as well as separate men’s and women’s toilets. With a cruising altitude of 42,000ft, it flew around twice as high and twice as fast as its propeller-driven rivals. The Comet showcased unique design features including swept wings in which the engines were embedded, creating a streamlined, low-drag profile. The man tasked with this was Ronald Eric Bishop, who had previously designed the famous de Havilland Mosquito combat aircraft.

The specifications of DH.106 were so advanced that de Havilland had to design and develop the airframe and the engines from scratch. This new jetliner was given the title DH.106 and would go on to be styled as ‘The Comet’. Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, who was on the committee, championed the idea of a commercial jet and, by 1945, the de Havilland company had been awarded the contract. The committee defined several types of aircraft, with varying specifications, one being the Type IV which was envisioned as a jet-powered, high-speed aircraft capable of flying non-stop transatlantic and carrying a generous payload. In March 1943, the British Government set up the Brabazon Committee to plan for the country’s commercial aircraft requirements in a post-war era. Nevertheless, various investigations helped aviation to understand concepts such as pressurization and metal fatigue thereby shaping the future of aircraft design. While it remains one of the most iconic aircraft ever to grace the skies, and propelled advancement within the industry, there is also a story of great loss and design flaws. The story of the Comet is one of triumph and tragedy. The Comet was the world’s first pressurized commercial jet airliner, offering a heightened level of comfort and promising a new era for aviation as well as Britain’s future within the aircraft manufacturing sector. On July 27, 1949, the de Havilland Comet prototype flew for the first time, taking to the sky from Hatfield Aerodrome in Hertfordshire, UK.

De havilland comet