G-APMF de Havilland
D.H.106 Comet 4B
(c/n 6426)
Even before the tragic accidents which
spelled the doom of the earlier Comet 1s and 2s, de Havillands
had
begun work on a 'stretched' version. Hence all the
knowledge gained in analyzing the failures of
the early machines was incorporated into the new Mark 4 and this, along
with the availability of Avon
502
engines produced a small, but viable intercontinental airliner.
BEA opted for 14 of the even further
stretched Mark 4B. This image of G-APMF in typical "Red Square"
livery was taken by Jennifer
Gradidge
in 1960 when this Comet ("William
Finlay") was brand new. Like several other BEA
Comets it wound up with Dan Air in 1973 and was scrapped three years
later.