The first production Comet 1 (nearest) first flew on 9 January 1951. It was delivered to BOAC on 13 March 1952 and performed the world's first scheduled jet airliner flight Heathrow-Johannesburg on 2 May 1952. It crashed on 10 January 1954 after structural failure near Elba after take-off from Rome. DH's Comet 1 prototypes G-ALVG and G-ALZK (far) complete the then world-beating formation of this, the most beautiful jetliner built. Each has a slightly different fin scheme. Obtained from DH 50 years ago.
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