DH.88 Comet Racer

MarkH

MarkH

Charter Member
HOLY COW!

Last Sunday
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TODAY!
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This is the one that beat the Uiver DC-2 to Melbourne in 1934. The real one, not a replica!
 
What fantastic news to have heard today! I know the engineers have been working hard to achieve this for quite some time. For those not up-to-speed on DH.88's, this is the original aircraft, and is owned/operated by the Shuttleworth Trust at Old Warden. It has been something like 12 years since it has last flown, and as many a 2-decades since it has last flown on a public display. This aircraft should not be confused with the full-scale replica that flies in California (but which hasn't flown in around 3-years).

Here is an image that Darren Harbar has shared on the Key Publishing Forum from its second flight today. It sounds like there will be more images posted here soon: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?128498-Old-Warden-update/page5

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I've seen her hangared at Old Warden on a number of occasions, but nice to see her in the air again where she belongs. Very jealous MarkH, as that is virtually on your doorstep so you may well see her overhead.
 
Beauty in every line and a real classic. I hope I get to see her in the air sometime!
 
I always enjoy when events like this take place and it can be recreated so well in FSX.

Here are some shots with Craig's FSX-converted Comet over/around ORBX's Old Warden and England scenery.







 






I've always enjoyed that this detail was included, illustrating that Microsoft actually went out to this very aircraft to get the resources needed to reproduce to it.

 
If the flight dynamics are anything to be believed, the most challenging thing about flying it is perhaps getting it slowed down enough on approach, and keeping the airspeed low. Especially when landing at Old Warden, I want to ensure I make a three-point landing so that I get that tail skid digging in the ground right away to get the aircraft slowed to a stop, and if landing too fast the tail won't be low enough on touch-down. If I'm remembering correctly, one of the Shuttleworth engineers once commented on the Key Publishing Forum, regarding the challenge of operating this aircraft from Old Warden, that it is one of the very few aircraft in the collection which requires the use of the extension at the end of the main runway (requiring the closure of the minor road that separates the main runway from the extension). Skillful pilots, flying the collection's Spitfire Mk.V and Sea Hurricane, don't even need that extension. I've even seen Peter Teichman land his P-51D on the main runway at Old Warden without needing the extension.
 
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