Comet Firsts

Comet in Flight
  • First use of medical forensics to solve an air accident (G-ALYY).
  • First commercial airliner to use turbojet engines.
  • First commercial airliner to use totally hydraulically actuated controls.
  • First large commercial airliner to have glued skin panels (Redux).
  • First commercial airliner to have a highly pressurised cabin (8.25 psi).
  • First commercial airliner to use high pressure refuelling.

Following the accidents to G-ALYP and G-ALYY a number of events took place which were also unique:

  • First use of underwater cameras in the collection of wreckage.
  • First large scale reconstruction as part of an accident investigation.
  • First use of a water tank to encase and test a whole aircraft.
  • First use of medical forensics to solve an air accident (G-ALYY).