De Havilland DH–88 "Comet"

Flight Notes - how to fly the de Havilland DH–88 "Comet"

The Comet's entire reason for being was to race. It was specifically designed for the McRobertson race from England to Australia in 1934 and it was a winner, taking first place and fourth place. Remarkably, the aircraft was designed, built, and tested within nine months. Of five examples built, only two survive: Grosvenor House (restored to flying condition, and flown in 1987 and 2002) and Black Magic (awaiting restoration at this writing).

It's difficult to see over the long nose of the Comet and you have to take this into account during taxiing, takeoff, and landing. The flight controls are very powerful but not as responsive as a smaller aerobatic plane like the Extra. It requires a long runway when fully loaded and the Comet has a nasty habit of swinging wildly during ground handling with the power applied.

Specifications

 

	U.S.	Metric
Maximum Speed	237 mph 206 knots	382 km per hour
Cruise Speed	188 mph 163 knots	302 km per hour
Engine	Two 230 horsepower de Havilland Gipsy 6R
Propeller	Ratier pneumatic airscrews
Maximum Range	958 mi	1,542 km
Service Ceiling	22,800 feet	6,950 meters
Fuel Capacity	258 gallons	1,032 liters
Empty Weight	2,930 pounds	1,329 kilograms
Maximum Gross Weight	5,250 pounds	2,381 kilograms
Length	29 feet	9 meters
Wingspan	44 feet	13.4 meters
Height	10 feet	3 meters
Seating	2
Useful Load	2,320 pounds	1,052 kilograms