The De Havilland Comet 3 (G-ANLO) flew for the first time on 19th July 1954 and was in reality an extensively developed aircraft, derived from the earlier Comet 1 and 2.
Fuselage length was increased by 15' 5" to provide accommodation for up to 58 passengers (although this was further increased with the introduction of the Comet 4) plus the addition of wing pinion fuel tanks which were introduced to provide extended range capability.
Many regard the Comet 3 as the most attractive in appearance of all the Comets although trials indicated that it lacked the range required for North Atlantic operations. Further modifications were introduced to generate the Comet 4, the main production variant utilised by BOAC. The Comet 4 had the required performance for non-stop services from London to New York, this service being inaugurated on 4th October 1958.
In addition to the BOAC fleet, export sales were also made to Aerolineas Argentinas (6 aircraft) and East African Airways (3 aircraft).
However, the need for a higher capacity aircraft was identified by Capital Airlines in the USA (although their order was subsequently cancelled). The aircraft that duly emerged was the Comet 4B which was specifcially for BEA operations. This variant can readily distinguished by its longer fuselage section (118 ft compared with 111 ft 6 in) and the lack of the wing pinion fuel tanks. 18 were built: 14 for BEA and 4 for Olympic Airways.
The final version the Comet 4C combined the fuselage of the Comet 4B with the wings of the Comet 4 to produce a long fuselage variant with pinion tanks. The Comet 4C was notably successful in the export market with sales to Misrair, Mexicana, Aerolineas Argentinas, Sudan Airways, Kuwait Airways and Middle East Airlines.

Variants
Comet 3 1 Built |
Initial designation for development aircraft (G-ANLO) but never put into production. |
Comet 3B 1 Conversion |
G-ANLO was converted to Mk 4B specification and redesignated Mk 3B. |
Comet 4 28 Built |
Modified Mk 3 design with different alloy for the fuselage and BOAC put the Mk 4 in service in 1958. |
Comet 4A Never built |
A short range version of the Comet with longer fuselage and reduced wing span - Launch customer cancelled the order so none were built. |
Comet 4B 18 Built |
Intended for shorter range operations, the shorter wing was kept but the pinion tanks were removed, resulting in a smaller fuel capacity. The fuselage was stretched further. |
Comet 4C 23 Built |
A combination of theMk 4B and the Mk 4. |
Comet C.4 5 Built |
The Mk C.4 was the Mk 4C operated by the RAF. A total of 5 Mk C.4s were built. |
Comet 5 Never built |
Project to counter the success of the DC-8 and the B-707 but never built. |
HS801 Nimrod 2 built |
Comet 4C modified as prototypes for a maritime patrol for the Royal Air Force. |
HS801 Nimrod is dealt with under Hawker Siddeley
Specification (Comet 4)
Powerplant | Four 10,500 lbst RR Avon 524 jet engines |
Span | 114 ft 10 in |
Maximum Weight | 160,000 lb |
Capacity | 60 to 76 passengers |
Cruising Speed | 503 mph |
Range (full load) | 3,225 miles |
Survivors
Comet 4c (G-BDIX / XR399) |
National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, Scotland, UK
|
Comet 4 (G-APDB) | Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambs UK www.das.org.uk |
Comet 4b (G-AYPD) | Science Museum, Wroughton, Wiltshire, UK www.sciencemuseum.org.uk |
Comet 4c (G-BIDW / XR398) | Flugausstellung Hermeskeil, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany www.flugausstellung.de |
Comet 4c (G-CPDA / XS235) | Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Brunting Thorpe, UK www.bruntingthorpeaviation.com |
Comet 4c (N888WA) | Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington, USA www.museumofflight.org |
A number of nose and fuselage sections are also preserved.