This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the De Havilland Comet article. This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject.
This article is written in British English, which has its own spelling conventions (colour, travelled, centre, defence, artefact, analyse) and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. According to the relevant style guide, this should not be changed without broad consensus.
This article is within the scope of the Aviation WikiProject. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see lists of open tasks and task forces. To use this banner, please see the full instructions.AviationWikipedia:WikiProject AviationTemplate:WikiProject Aviationaviation articles
This article is within the scope of the Military history WikiProject. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. To use this banner, please see the full instructions.Military historyWikipedia:WikiProject Military historyTemplate:WikiProject Military historymilitary history articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject United Kingdom, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the United Kingdom on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.United KingdomWikipedia:WikiProject United KingdomTemplate:WikiProject United KingdomUnited Kingdom articles
Comet (aircraft) redirects here, and we have a dab note to de Havilland DH.88 Comet (and vice versa). But the Japanese dive bomber Yokosuka D4Y also was called "Comet" (in Japanese, but also sometimes in translation). Should we create a suitable disambiguation page? I was looking for the Japanese Comet, and only found it via Google... --Stephan Schulz (talk) 13:48, 17 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]
You can add the other aircraft to the dab hatnote, much more effective than setting up disambig. GraemeLeggett (talk) 14:54, 17 June 2022 (UTC).[reply]
The article could probably do with a bit more on the service of Comet C2s and C4s in the RAF. For instance, the first jet non-stop transatlantic crossing was not made by BOAC's Comet 4s in autumn 1958 but by 216 Squadron's C2s a year earlier, flying from Belfast Aldergrove to Gander in about five hours. https://www.cometra.uk/?page_id=19802 It's of some interest that the Comet cruised 10,000 feet higher than the all-conquering Boeings and that RAF crews were able to stretch the Comet's range considerably on occasion, not only by operating at lower payload than commercial airliners but, even with 86 troops on board, using an unorthodox 'cruise-climb' technique, with climb power applied only to a certain altitude (around 35,000) according to air temperature on the day, then cruise power with climb trim, so that the Comet naturally ascended to its 42,000ft ceiling as the fuel weight burned off, the engines attaining greater efficiency all the time. The 'VIP pack' which could be installed on 216 Squadron's aircraft at short notice for Royal or Prime Ministerial trips is also of some interest, with twin beds, a dining area and four 'first-class' reclinable sleeper chairs, plus a wardrobe and dressing area, replacing much of the normal seating towards the front. https://www.dh-aircraft.co.uk/news/files/fa57bc46c09a48f01079159d125485b3-98.html This would allow, for instance, the PM and a few ministers to travel up front, with secretaries, assistants and press further back in 'steerage'. Presumably Prime Minister Macmillan flew to the Nassau Conference of December 1962, at which he got the historic Polaris missile agreement out of a reluctant Kennedy (leading to the Trident agreement still in place), aboard one of 216 Sqn's new Comet C4s. This would have required a fuel stop at Bermuda after 3,500 miles with 1,000 still to go, meaning a flight time around ten hours including an hour's stopover, but it's hard to see how else it could be done. Khamba Tendal (talk) 19:08, 17 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]
level-5 vital article is rated GA-class on Wikipedia's content assessment scale.
.svg)
