The new jet on the old colonial route to South Africa. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Photo from: Olympia-Kuva (Vilho Uomala) / Finnish Heritage Agency

Delivered to BOAC 4 February 1952. Broken up 1955. Photo from: Helsinki City Museum (Olympia-Kuva).

This very special guest arrived one week before the annual FlightSim weekend 2008 at Aviodrome Lelystad... Originally this is Comet 1 G-ALYW, later converted to a Nimrod MR2 trainer with a complete cockpit and interior

DND photo.

One of 412 Squadron's Comet aircraft stops at the Azores for fuel and servicing during a training flight from Ottawa to Marville, France. This trip is expected to become a regular schedule run in the near future. DND photo.

DND photo.

DND photo.

The prototype Comet emerges from the De Havilland Experimental Shop at Hartfield, UK on 25th July 1949 - two days before its first flight. (De Havilland Photo 4222)

2nd prototype Comet, built 1950. Dismantled at Hatfield March 1957, relocated to Farnborough for RAE radio test work. To aid this, the fin from Comet 1XB XM829 (msn 06021) was fitted, ex-Stansted Fire School. When the RAE purchased Comet 4 G-APDF as XV814, G-ALZK was used as a mock-up to trial test equipment installation. Since it's own cockpit had been stripped it was fitted with that from C.2 XK669 (06024) ex-Brize Norton. It left Farnborough for Woodford in the early 70s for use in the Nimrod programme and was scrapped there c.1975. Note Provost T.1 fuselage WV577 "22" alongside, ex-ETPS.

The second prototype, fitted with an RAF Comet cockpit section and fin for trials work. The fuselage was later scrapped. Provost T1 WV577 lies alongside.

Seen at Palmietfontein in the then Transvaal in 1952, Yoke Peter carried out the very first commercial flight operated by a jet aircraft on 2 May 1952 flying from London Airport (today's LHR) via Rome, Beirut, Khartoum, Entebbe and Livingstone before landing at Johannesburg's Palmietfontein Airport almost 24 hours after take off.

G-ALYU was the airframe put in a water tank for metal fatigue research following the crash of G-ALYP in January 1954. Note that KLM had their own stairs at Johannesburg's temporary airport. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The Comet prototype, rolled out at Hatfield on 25 July 1949 and first flown two days later. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The second prototype built in 1950. Delivered to BOAC in April 1951. This a/c carried out 500hrs of crew training and route proving. PWFU 24th March 1958. Shown fitted with non standard nose and tail plane. For trials work -? Note the Provost T.1 fuselage (WV577/22) alongside Scanned from a colour slide.

The second prototype of the DH.106 Comet during its first visit to Palmietfontein in July 1951, while on proving flights. Note the large single mainwheels and the square cabin windows.

The prototype Comet 1 wearing its initial "B Conditions" G-5-1 on a test flight nine days after its maiden flight. Re-registered G-ALVG. After many test flights, it was broken up at RAE Farnborough in July 1953. Obtained from DH 60 years ago.

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.

The first production Comet 1 at Heathrow North being prepared for another scheduled flight. An Air France Sud Languedoc overflies the airport. From DH 60 years ago.