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Comet
DH88
A Golden Age Racer
The
DeHavilland D.H.88 Comet, GACSS,was winner of the 1934
England to Australia MacRobertson air-race.
Piloted by Charles Scott and Tom Black. The aircraft
was named "Grosvenor House" after its sponsor, a luxury
hotel in London, financed by
millionaire Australian Sir MacPherson Robertson.
The 11000 mile race was part of the 100th anniversary
of the founding of the Australian State of Victoria.
DeHavilland delivered three Comets to the starting
line. The comets were two place,
all wood twins powered by special D.H. Gipsy Six R engines,
capable of producing 230 h.p. each.
Total fuel capacity was 213 Imperial gallons, with an
economy cruise of 223 mph at 10,000 feet,
they had a potential range of 2,850 miles.
Top speed was 235 mph at 10,000 ft.
The Comet was the first British airplane with
retractable gear, flaps and
controllable propellers.
The
MacRobertson Trophy, won
by the Comet in 1934
The Replica
Comet pictured above, belongs to Tom Walthen who commissioned
Bill Turner to build it. The
aircraft was completed in under two years and was first
flown by Bill in November of 1993 and has appeared at the
EAA Fly-in at Oshkosh numerous times since.
This Comet is powered by two Gipsy Queens.
The original G-ACSS, has
been restored and survives in England,
and is a priceless, flyable
artefact of Aviation's Golden Age.
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October 20-23, 1934 |
C.W.A. Scott and T.Campwell Black went from Mildenhall,
England to Melbourne, Australia (11000 miles) in 70 hrs
55 min. |
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November 14-16, 1937 |
A.E. Clouston and Mrs
Kirby-Green went from London to Cape Town (7091 miles) in
45 hrs 6 min. |
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November 18-20, 1937 |
The return trip was completed
in 57 hrs 23 min. |
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March 15-20, 1938 |
A.E. Clouston and V. Ricketts
went from London to New Zealand (13179 miles) in 104 hrs
20 min. |
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March 20-26, 1938 |
The return trip was completed
in 140 hrs 12 min. Here the times to and from Sydney,
Australia en route to New Zealand were also confirmed as
records. |
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