De Havilland Comet (DH.88) Aircraft

Comet, Farnborough 1988. Copyright: Chris Young

Production Details

Design Company:

The de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd, Stag Lane

First Flight:

8 September 1934

DH.88 Comet:

5 - The de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd

Type Specification

Applies to:

De Havilland DH.88 Comet

Type:

Twin engined long range racing monoplane

Wing:

Low wing cantilever taper wing monoplane. Structure consists of three wooden spars with wooden ribs. Wings covered with narrow wooden strips covered with fabric

Fuselage:

Wooden structure with four longerons, built up transverse bulkheads and wooden skin.

Tail Unit:

Monoplane type. All surfaces cantilever and faired into fuselage with filets. All wooden construction

Landing Gear:

Retractable type. Each unit consists of a pair of legs with wheel between. The legs are hinged to the wing engine buckhead and retract upward and backwards

Power Plant:

Two DH Gipsy Six six cylinder in line air cooled inverted engines developing 224 hp

Accommodation:

Enclosed cockpit seating two in tandem with dual controls

Span:

44 ft

Length:

29 ft

Height:

9 ft

Wing Area:

212.5 sq ft

Empty:

3,003 lb

Loaded:

5,550 lb

Max Speed:

235 mph at sea level

Initial Rate of Climb:

1,200 ft/min

Absolute ceiling:

19,000 ft

Range:

2,580 miles

Preserved in British Museums

DH.88 Comet:

G-ACSS - Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome - Restoration

Comet Full Scale Model:

Unmarked - De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre, London Colney - Stored

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