Special thanks to Gatwick Handling for their assistance.
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| Comet 4B (6422) G-APMB copyright Martin painter 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| back to main news page | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Many people often asked, what is that old white aircraft doing at Gatwick without any wings ? Well the aircraft concerned a Comet 4B registered G-APMB belonging to Gatwick Handling. The aircraft was sadly scrapped two years ago, with nothing being saved. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On April 1st 2000 this historic aircraft celebrated the 40th year since entering service with BEA, thus becoming the very first jet aircraft to enter service with BEA which later went on to become the European division of British Airways. As the many BA aircraft go about their business at Gatwick, I am sure that most are unaware of the part this aircraft played in the history of British Airways. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G-APMB was ordered by BEA in 1958, the Comet was first flown on August 17th 1959 and was then subjected to 49 hours of test flying from Hatfield. During September John Cunningham demonstrated G-APMB at the Farnborough Air Show of that year resplendent in it's gleaming BEA colours. In November the aircraft was awarded a C of A and was then delivered to BEA a few days later. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G-APMB was scheduled to commence route proving flights in December, however these were delayed several days due to bad weather. Route proving continued whilst negotiations with striking pilots caused a delay in the start of commercial flights until April 1st. The Pilots Supertax Strike was a result of proposed changes in hours and pay in association with the start of Comet services. The pilots who had been asking for a �700 pay increase finally settled with the airline and a date was set for the first service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wednesday April 1st 1960, G-APMB became the very first jet aircraft used by BEA (today's British Airways European division) on a passenger flight. Under the command of BEA captain John Affleck G-APMB started the jet services when it left Tel Aviv at 8:00hrs GMT enroute for London Heathrow via Athens and Rome. Later that day the sister ships of G-APMD and G-APMF flew from London Heathrow to Istanbul and Moscow respectfully. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| June 25th 1970, the aircraft was sold to Channel Airways after 11 years with BEA having flown a total of 20,579 hours and 12,747 flights before being sold to the Stansted based charter airline for IT holiday work. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 27th 1970, Channel's desperate need for aircraft resulted in G-AMPB entering service on Saturday June 27th only two days after purchase from BEA, having had a minimal paint scheme change with the BEA logos being painted out. G-AMPB retained its BEA colour scheme throughout its career with Channel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972, during service with Channel Airways the Comet flew a further 2,154 hours before Channel Airways collapsed in 1972 and G-APMB was withdrawn from passenger service on January 17th 1972. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| April 9th 1972, sold to Dan Air with airframe hours of 22,682 and having made 13,841 flights. G-APMB flew the 50 minute ferry flight from Stansted to Lasham on Thursday 9th to undergo servicing and receive a new Dan Air paint scheme. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G-APMB at Gatwick 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 1972, four weeks later on May 19th the Comet was flown to Gatwick and commenced regular passenger service the next day on May 20th 1972. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 25th 1978, during flight DA 1052 from Manchester to Milan, Captain Bryn Wyat was forced to divert to Gatwick following a double engine fire warning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 28th 1978, Dan Air withdrew G-APMB from service, that day making two return trips to Gatwick. With airframe hours of 33,454 and having made a total of 19,185 flights G-APMB was grounded and sold to Gatwick Handling (GHI) for use as a training aircraft. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979, G-APMB's outer wings were removed and in 1982 and subsequently was repainted all over white. GHI use the Comet for aircraft towing and cabin service duties and shortly after acquisition had its wings clipped just aft of the engine bays. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stripped of its interior fittings and cockpit equipment G-APMB had been parked on the Gatwick apron painted all white until along with the Trident, its was scrapped at Gatwick, a very sad end :( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Inside the cabin of G-APMB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flight Deck in 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extracts taken from my book on Comet histories. Copyright Martin Painter 2000 Special thanks to Gatwick Handling for their assistance. |
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