66 RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS
T
he Comet was one of the most
important aircraft in British
aviation history. Not only did
it introduce passengers to the ‘jet-
age’, but it also transformed military
transport flying.
De Havilland’s airliner was
famously beset with a tragic series of
accidents during its early life, but the
Comet Series 2 airframes emerged in
1953, complete with a heavier gauge
skin and oval windows to counter
the fatigue cracking that had caused
earlier crashes. The aircraft also had
a slightly larger wing, higher fuel
capacity and more powerful Rolls-
Royce Avons (in place of the earlier
de Havilland Ghosts)... and the
potential was obvious to the RAF.
The British Overseas Airways
Corporation (BOAC) ordered 12
Comet 2s but received just two. The
remaining ten were allocated to the
RAF, with the first (XK670) joining
216 Squadron at RAF Lyneham on
July 7, 1956. Two were designated
as T.2s for crew training, and the
remaining eight were classified as
C.2 transports. Compared to the
civilian version, the RAF Comet 2s
had Rolls-Royce Avon engines in
place of de Havilland Ghosts.JET TRANSPORT
SQUADRON
When it received its Comets, 216
Squadron became the world’s first
military jet transport unit and
XK670 performed its inaugural
international flight on June 23,
1956, when it carried the Air
Minister to Moscow for the Soviet
Air Force Day.
Later, Comet C.2s operated
emergency services to Malta and
Cyprus during the Suez Crisis, as
well as performing regular services to
Australia in support of nuclear testing
on Christmas Island in the Pacific.
The 12,000 miles (19,312km)
to Australia was covered in 38hrs
30mins (of which 28 hours was spent
in the air) and troops needing to
reach the Far East could be delivered
within 24 hours of leaving the UK.which immediately began flying
operational Electronic Signals
Intelligence (ELINT) flights. A
third example joined the unit a
month later and in August it was
redesignated as 51 Squadron.STRETCHED AND
IMPROVED
An updated and improved version
of the Comet was soon availableModifications to the interiors
allowed the Comet 2s to be used in
a number of different roles. It could
seat up to 44 passengers, but the
configuration could be altered for
VIP transport. Provisions for carrying
medical equipment including ‘iron
lungs’ were also incorporated.
In early February 1958, 192
Squadron at RAF Watton received
two examples of the Comet C.2R,COMET
DE HAVILLAND
1918 2018Type: Five-crew military transport aircraft
First fl ight: July 27, 1949 (Comet 1); entered RAF service July 1956
Powerplant: Four 7,350lb st (32.69kN) Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets
Dimensions: Span 115ft (35.05m), length 96ft (29.26m)
Weights: Empty 63,870lb (28,971kg), all-up 120,000lb (54,432kg)
Max speed: 480mph (772km/h) at 38,000ft (11,582m)
Range: 2,200 miles (3,540km)
Capacity: 44 Passengers,
Replaced: Handley Page Hastings
Taken on charge: 22 (Eight C.2, two T.2, three C.2R, fi ve C.4 and four Comet 4C)
Replaced by: Vickers VC10DE HAVILLAND COMET C.2
Top right
XK695 was delivered
to 192 Squadron
at RAF Watton as a
C.2R in 1958. Upon
retirement it was fl own
to the Imperial War
Museum at Duxford for
preservation, where
it was put on exterior
display... until severe
corrosion forced it to
be scrapped. ANDY HAY/
WWW.FLYINGART.CO.UKRight
Comet C.2 XK697 was
delivered to the RAF
in 1956 and was later
converted to C.2R
standard. It was retired
in 1972 and eventually
succumbed to the
scrapman in 1987.1956 TO 1975
COMET
“C.2s operated emergency services to
Malta and Cyprus during the Suez Crisis,
as well as performing regular services to
Australia in support of nuclear testing on
Christmas Island...”