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Comet! The World's First Jet Airliner
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.
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.
- GenresAviation
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 26, 2018
This is a hagiography, not a serious piece of scholarship. The Comet was undoubtedly a world-leading aircraft, for its time and perhaps for all time, but this book fails to analyze the mistakes that were made, which means that it shines precious little light on the lessons learnt. It also makes no attempt to look at the role of the British government in the story - sometimes positive (the early Ministry of Supply purchases, the RAF purchases during the accident inquiry); sometimes negative (the obsessive focus on the needs of BOAC and BEA, rather than the needs of the global market. As a compendium of fact it is useful, with many rare photos and a large number of diagrams, but with the vast amount of research at his disposal the author could have done so much more to give us and understanding of the challenges faced by the engineers who developed this game-changing aircraft and of the intensely political environment in which they worked. By way of contrast, see Robert J Sterling’s “The Electra Story” - a forensic analysis of what went wrong and why by one of the greatest aviation journalists of the 20th century.
October 29, 2019
Everything you wanted to know!
If you thought you knew everything there was to know about the Comet, then read this book. A couple of reviews say the information is too detailed. I disagree. I started to gloss over the crew and passenger lists towards the end, but other than that I found the information useful.
Prior to this book I thought the story of the Comet was about square windows. In a book I read about Frank Whittle, he said he was shown the Comet. His only concern was the square windows. Whittle by this time is a frustrated man, so take his comments with a grain of salt.
It's clear that Simons loves this plane and gives us it's life from start to finish. In splendid detail.
Like any book about an aircraft and it's manufacturer, I'm saddened that's Havilland went the way of the Comet as a commercial airliner. We've lost so many great aircraft builders.
Happy reading.
If you thought you knew everything there was to know about the Comet, then read this book. A couple of reviews say the information is too detailed. I disagree. I started to gloss over the crew and passenger lists towards the end, but other than that I found the information useful.
Prior to this book I thought the story of the Comet was about square windows. In a book I read about Frank Whittle, he said he was shown the Comet. His only concern was the square windows. Whittle by this time is a frustrated man, so take his comments with a grain of salt.
It's clear that Simons loves this plane and gives us it's life from start to finish. In splendid detail.
Like any book about an aircraft and it's manufacturer, I'm saddened that's Havilland went the way of the Comet as a commercial airliner. We've lost so many great aircraft builders.
Happy reading.
January 29, 2017
A great book for aviation buffs!
A comprehensive history of the first jet airliner. A significant aircraft in the history of civil and military aviation. Enjoyable
A comprehensive history of the first jet airliner. A significant aircraft in the history of civil and military aviation. Enjoyable
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews