Well also for the Comet is one of the sexiest classic jets ever created.

excellent cockpit 360, van. seat covers look like they were made by my Gran! Love it!

As far as I know. De Havilland fixed the problems with the metal fatigue that caused the disastrous accidents. The square windows were replace with oval windows. Unfortunately, it was too late, Boeing had stormed onto the market with the 707 and De Havilland had well and truly lost the advantage they had with the Comet.

Mark

Van Isle Pilot wrote on Jan 6^th, 2011 at 3:30am:

I think the only ones actually flying in a Comet basis (but sadly don't looking that nice though) are these guys http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod.

Mark is right, the original Comet suffered from at least two disasters where the plane disintegrated at cruise level because the fuselage suddenly "exploded" as the compressed air inside found a weak spot to exit its prison. There wasn't any sign of weakness before and no chance to be prepared, it just happened "now".
They later improved the structure (successfully) but the market is hard when the thing has the same name as the tragic predecessor and the competitors are already offering completely new planes, also jet driven. So the Comet sales went down.

I think the actual cause for the fuselage problems were some not proper attached rivets (they weakened the material too much) and those sharp edges at the weak spots (which are the openings, like windows) of the fuselage which seem to focus (or "collect") some fatigue forces then and therefore make them strong. Stronger as calculated to happen on the thin aluminum skin.

They undertook quite some time- and money-consuming investigations on these cases of the Comet. They built a huge watertank for the whole fuselage   to simulate the constant pressurization and depressurization of the structure and tested it for weeks or so 24/7 until it broke and they could prove the design and manufacturing to be the cause for all problems.

A good but sadly live threatening learning process in aviation industry (you won't see sharp edges on modern airplanes flying high and maintaining a relatively low cabin pressure) there to be experienced on the Comet.
I must admit that she gets even more interesting to be done in FSX then.

Van Isle Pilot wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 9:28am:


Excellent! Thanks!
You know, there is an excellent Comet4 and 2D Panel (plus VC but no so good) by David Maltby
http://www.dmflightsim.co.uk/dh106_comet.htm

CoolP wrote on Jan 9^th, 2011 at 11:56am:


The Comet4 was perfect and flawless.
The tragedies in series I and II were due to a weak square bolt that induced early fadigue and a crack. This was corrected. Few remember that the Electra and the Boeing 727...yes, the 727, also had early accidents that required them to be grounded in the 60s.

I flew the Comet my whole infancy, it was a second home to me as my father was a Captain. So many long transatlantic flights I made in it...it was so comfortable and silent in a world populated by noisy props. And here I am...alive and kicking.

The Comet Series 4 was a very different aircraft from the original Series 1 of 1952: it was larger, twice as powerful, with better instruments and totally revised structure and materials. It inaugurated the World's first trans-atlantic jet service, and was in service from 1958-1980.

Check this preview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrRwLJKCJ7w

I second the motion that DM's Comet 4 series is excellent - also in FSX - there are notes with the model on how to adjust the config to optimise certain aspects for FSX - or you could check out their forum at CBFS, where it has been discussed.

Don't forget that it was from the Comet 4 that the excellent Nimrod was forged - and Simshed have released an excellent freeware version recently.

JD