DE HAVILLAND COMET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27404, 1 June 1950, Page 7

DE HAVILLAND COMET

Aerial Refuelling Tests TRANS-ATLANTIC ROUTE NZPA—Special Correspondent Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, May 31. A de Havilland Comet is soon to undergo a series of aerial refuelling tests in preparation for its use on the North Atlantic route, says the aeronautical correspondent of The Times. As a preliminary, the Comet will fly in formation with a tanker aircraft of Flight Refuelling, Ltd., to ascertain the problems of transferring fuel to such a fast aircraft. Afterwards, either the first or second prototype Comet will be fitted with the necessary equipment for aerial refuelling.

It is believed that if the airliner is refuelled twice on its westward run across the Atlantic, off the coasts of Eire and Newfoundland—and once during the eastward journey, it would be able to carry throughout the year its capacity payload of 14,0001b —and 48 passengers and their baggage—instead of between 7000 and 80001 b. This estimate is based on the Comet’s present stage of development, but before it ( is used on the North Atlantic route its performance will be improved by increasing the fuel capacity and by stepping up the power of its Ghost turbo-jet engines and reducing their specific consumption.