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Comet!: The World's First Jet Airliner
"A masterpiece of the most diligent research and extraordinary detail and surely represents the definitive study of the Comet . . . a terrific book."--Royal Aeronautical Society
This volume from the respected and well-regarded aviation historian and author Graham Simons is "a solid book of such scope that you'll probably consult it for a lot more than just Comet material" (SpeedReaders.info).
Extensively illustrated throughout, Comet! features details lifted directly from enquiry and salvage reports, much of which have never been published before and offers a unique insight into the failures and tragedies that blighted the early days of development, laying down lessons that were ultimately to benefit later designs. As part of his research into the book, the author met and interviewed Harry Povey, the De Havilland Production Manager and John Cunningham, the Comet test pilot who would be the first to experience flight at the helms of the iconic craft. Both of these first-hand accounts are relayed in the book, adding a deeper sense of authenticity and a more personalized account of proceedings than facts and reports alone are able to achieve.
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.
"An outstanding account of the life of the Comet . . . all readers will find inspiration and achievement in the tale."--Firetrench
This volume from the respected and well-regarded aviation historian and author Graham Simons is "a solid book of such scope that you'll probably consult it for a lot more than just Comet material" (SpeedReaders.info).
Extensively illustrated throughout, Comet! features details lifted directly from enquiry and salvage reports, much of which have never been published before and offers a unique insight into the failures and tragedies that blighted the early days of development, laying down lessons that were ultimately to benefit later designs. As part of his research into the book, the author met and interviewed Harry Povey, the De Havilland Production Manager and John Cunningham, the Comet test pilot who would be the first to experience flight at the helms of the iconic craft. Both of these first-hand accounts are relayed in the book, adding a deeper sense of authenticity and a more personalized account of proceedings than facts and reports alone are able to achieve.
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.
"An outstanding account of the life of the Comet . . . all readers will find inspiration and achievement in the tale."--Firetrench
- GenresAviation
970 pages, Kindle Edition
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