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| The Comet 1 was the world's first turbojet powered airliner, & was developed into the Comet 2 a year later. The Comet 2 had a Rolls-Royce Avon axial-flow turbojet instead of the Comet 1's de Havilland Ghost centrifugal-flow engines. After two accidents with the Comet 1 in early 1954, airlines using the Comet lost confidence in the aircraft. The cause of the accidents was the square windows of the aircraft, which had broken & caused explosive decompression. The RAF bought 10 Comet 2s which had the square windows. Other Comet 2s were being modified on the production line, with circular windows. These 10 Comets had not been modified, however, & had the windows reinforced before delivery. These 10 Comets entered service with No.216 Squadron, designated Comet C.Mk2s. These were the world's first jet-powered military transport aircraft. No.216 Squadron took delivery of five Comet C.Mk4s in 1962 with round windows, a longer fuselage & an increased passenger capacity (94 passengers). The Comet C.Mk4s also had new Rolls-Royce Avon RA.29 engines, boosting the aircraft's speed from 480mph to 542mph. The Comet was later used as the basis for the BAe Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft. | ||
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