de Havilland Comet
Specs, top speed, range and facts
The de Havilland Comet is a first jet airliner built by de Havilland in the UK. It first flew in 1949 and entered service in 1952. Give passengers jet speed and smooth, high-altitude flight for the first time.
Photo: De Havilland Comet on Wikipedia (free licence)
- Top speed740 km/h (460 mph)
- Range2,400 km (1,491 miles)
- First flight1949
- Wingspan35 m (115 ft)
de Havilland Comet specs
| Top speed | 740 km/h (460 mph) |
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| Range | 2,400 km (1,491 miles) |
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| Length | 28.6 m (94 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 35 m (115 ft) |
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| Max takeoff weight | 48 t (104,939 lb) |
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| Crew and capacity | 36 to 44 passengers |
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| Engines | 4 × Ghost turbojet, buried in the wings |
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| First flight | 1949 |
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| Entered service | 1952 |
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| Built by | de Havilland (UK) |
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de Havilland Comet facts
- The world's first jet airliner, carrying passengers from 1952.
- Investigations into its early crashes taught engineers about metal fatigue. It is why airliner windows have rounded corners.
Quick quiz
When did the de Havilland Comet first fly?
In 1949.
Who built the de Havilland Comet?
de Havilland, in the UK.
How fast can the de Havilland Comet fly?
Its top speed is 740 km/h (460 mph).
How far can the de Havilland Comet fly?
About 2,400 km (1,491 miles).
Photos, a true-scale silhouette, quizzes, flashcards, the Size Lab and the Sky Run game.
de Havilland Comet vs similar aircraft
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