FUSELAGE CREATIONS D.H COMET 1XB

Description

The de Havilland Comet was the world’s first commercial passenger jetliner, developed in Great Britain. When it first flew in July 1949, it marked a pioneering breakthrough that placed Britain at the forefront of the post-war civil aviation industry. Entering service with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) on 2 May 1952, the Comet revolutionised air travel with its speed, comfort, and sleek jet-powered design.

However, within its first year of commercial operations, the Comet suffered three catastrophic accidents. The fleet was grounded while investigators worked to identify the cause. The inquiry ultimately revealed metal fatigue, particularly around the corners of the aircraft’s square windows on early models, exacerbated by repeated pressurisation cycles. This discovery led to an extensive redesign of the aircraft, including structural reinforcement and the introduction of oval windows. In total, 114 Comets of all variants were produced.

The aircraft from which your piece was crafted came from the final Comet 1 ever built. Originally manufactured as a Comet 1A (only 12 Comet 1s and 10 Comet 1As were produced), it first flew in March 1953 and was delivered to Air France in August of that year. Registered as F-BGNZ, it operated on the Paris–Rome–Beirut route.

Due to the well-publicised issues affecting early Comets, the aircraft’s career with Air France was short-lived, and it returned to Britain in 1956. At Chester, it underwent extensive modification to the Comet 1XB standard, receiving strengthened oval windows and de Havilland Ghost Mk.4 engines. Re-registered as G-APAS, it was transferred to the Ministry of Supply (Technology) and used as a flying testbed under military serial XM823 until 1967.

For the remainder of its life, G-APAS was preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford. In September 2025, the RAF Museum transferred ownership to the South Wales Aviation Museum. During dismantling, the team discovered severe wing corrosion caused by decades of outdoor exposure to the damp British climate. The decision was made to preserve the fuselage and repurpose sections of the wings.

From this material, the Fuselage Creations team was able to craft aviation tags—allowing enthusiasts around the world to own a piece of Comet history.