De Havilland Comet of the British European Airways

An interesting film of one De Havilland comet of the British European Airways flight,I hope that you enjoy it.#aviation #planespotting #airport #britishairways #comet #jetliner

[@stevecostello4278]

Love how the steward went through and collected peoples' coats. I'm going to mail Ryanair and suggest they adopt this practice.

[@davidhynd4435]

Or better still, suggest that they start flying Comets. Hmm, Ryanair and Comets. A dangerous combination.

[@snowflakemelter1172]

Ask for luncheon to be served 😂

[@johnhill8529]

About this time I was regularly travelling between school in the UK and Jamaica on BOAC VC10’s. The stewards used to carve a rib of beef next to your seat!

[@jon-ie4li]

You would not want to pay a BEA air fare!!

[@wakeupcall2665]

Collecting coats is still a thing in First and Business Class. And who even dares to consider travelling Ryanair? It is tacky, cheap and a reason why air travel has become a nuisance!

[@activexp]

One of the best looking aircraft ever made.

[@niltonbartalini9837]

I agree.

[@mark-andrews]

Yes, the aircraft has a unique look, but nothing else looks like it did then, these days. I hope my comment is acceptable, without any additional explanation, from me; I hope everyone can watch, be interested, and make their own minds-up? One point I cannot stop myself from commenting upon, the aircraft has completed take-off: immediately "Ladies & Gentlemen- You can now smoke." An amazing piece of film, thanks for uploading.

[@narinoamor]

The comet is sublime. Such a gorgeous aircraft. We might be more technologically advance but they way we treat people has definitely taken a step back.

[@joluqamalta2815]

I agree with you!

[@offshoretomorrow3346]

So has the price. If you pay enough, you can fly first class.

[@Tirana44]

That’s a real video gem! IMO, the Comet 4B was the best looking version of the Comet. The BEA ‘red square’ livery looks stunning on it, the best livery by far. Back in the mid 60s, I flew on a BEA 4B from London Airport to Luqa. The trip home was on a Vanguard. I’m fortunate to own a 1/50 scale model of a BEA Comet 4B. It dates from 1959, and is in mint condition. Needless to say, it’s a very treasured item!

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for your comment!

[@KM-wl1tp]

Bravo Sir

[@markbradley2367]

I flew that route on BEA comets many times in the 60,s. F/O greeting the captain as sir ! When I became a Captain in the 90s, the greeting by your F/o would probably be "Hello mate "😂 wonderful film. Thanks for posting.

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for following!

[@priceyA320]

‘Flight plan for 123, it’s right here sir!’ Those were the days eh. Haven’t seen a flight planner face to face in 20 years. Just a submenu on the iPad now…

[@user-cn6re9jr1t]

Very enjoyable,but i was waiting for Syd James to make an appearance

[@davidjeffreys9063]

Followed by a flying tit hammock

[@maxthelab8457]

The first plane I ever flew on was a BEA Airtours 707 to Palma Spain in 1967, I was 4 nearly 10 at the time, the second plane was a BEA Airtours Comet. I have been an av' geek all my life and even though I was only 4 at the time I can actually recall flashbacks of those first flights. I remember the seats seemed huge, and my legs wouldn't touch the floor. And the windows in the Comet were huge too.

[@markharris1845]

@9.46 'You may now smoke - cigarettes only please but no pipes or cigars gentlemen' ... ah... the heyday of aviation!

[@andrewclark8630]

In the spirit of the gallantry of the age, I suppose ladies could still smoke a pipe on board. Wonderful.

[@andrewabel3927]

Well that brought back happy memories. I joined BEA in 1968 and enjoyed a 13 year career with it and British Airways. Coincidentally my first appointment was in an office very close to where the opening sequences were filmed.

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for your comment!

[@danieleregoli812]

What a splendid short film this is ❤ thanks Jo!

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thank you too!

[@AAO342]

The Comet 4 is a beautiful aircraft 🙂

[@devonmoors]

Mid sixties I used to travel to Sweden,usually on the Comet but at times even on the Scandinavian Caravelle.Comet was a great plane and I believe the front part of the Caravelle was from the Comet

[@joluqamalta2815]

Yes actualy it was,they were both great plaines of those days,Thanks for your comment!

[@maxthelab8457]

I flew on Caravelles to Italy ( Genoa ) back in the day. You are correct, I think it was mainly the front of the Comet plane, the cockpit that was adopted by the Carravelle. The windows on the Caravelle were enormous too and triangular which was odd.

[@dcanmore]

@@maxthelab8457 yes, other French aircraft had the same window shape.

[@kieran1844]

What a fantastic video. My favourite aircraft of all time. Thanks so much for posting 🙂

[@joluqamalta2815]

Many thanks!

[@russellbenton2987]

When travelling was a pleasure .

[@stephenholland5930]

Not like today being treated like cattle.

[@goodfes]

what a time to fly. I remember face to face seats on an old Dan Air 727 in the mid 80's. The crowds of people watching the airport at 8 minutes was interesting, must have been a big event to watch movements at the London airport! Having been on a Comet I forgot just how small the door was, seeing the passengers and crew having to bend over to get in.

[@goodfes]

right at the end TWA 707's in the background, the pace of change was astonishing at that time. Thanks for sharing

[@XHR689]

The viewing areas at the larger airports were very popular back then. Coach trips for the general public regularly operated to Manchester Airport to see the aircraft and general activity. The viewing areas were on the open roof of the piers.

[@stephenholland5930]

They were boarding from the service side of the Comet for some reason, possibly due to the filming. Normal sized passenger doors are on the left side, as per convention.

[@stephenholland5930]

​@@XHR689 Those were the days.

[@maxthelab8457]

My family and I flew on a Dan Air 727-100 in 1971 ( I think ). We sat in row 1! No Business Class on Dan Air. It was to Ibiza ( before it became a clubbing drunken hell hole ). We flew back on a Dan Air Comet.

[@richardcrossland8456]

Superb. Spent many a day plane spotting at the top of the Queens Building. Life was tickedy boo !

[@joluqamalta2815]

Yes it was!

[@B1900pilot]

The gentle, golden era of air travel…

[@jjaus]

Hmm, only for the upper middle class at least. The golden age is now.

[@Ben-xe8ps]

I am sorry to say that the Comet was my least favourite jet aircraft. It is so long ago now that it is difficult to remember exactly why but I think it was connected to the location of the engines and the resulting noise in the cabin. I would point out that all interior shots in this video are of the First Class (F) cabin. As the cabin width of the Comet was less than the Trident, VC10 and the Boeing aircraft (707, 727, 737) seating in Y class was 2 X 3 as opposed to 3 X 3 but the 2 X 2 F class seating was narrower (similar to F class on a DC9/MD80 series or BAC-1-11 aircraft) than on aircraft with 3 X 3 Y class seating.

[@richardhunt304]

Had the pleasure of flying to Alicante on a BEA Airtours Comet years ago,nice plane ! Great film,and has that 'Carry On' touch to it even though I know it's the real thing,thanks.

[@joluqamalta2815]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@federicoprice2687]

First flew in one of these in 1961, aged 5. Still have the enamelled BEA pin....somewhere! Don't remember much except visiting the cockpit. Very very exciting!

[@joluqamalta2815]

Nice to be in one those days.

[@waynetetley584]

Beautiful aircraft. Lovely period video 😊

[@joluqamalta2815]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@amazer747]

We don't know what we are missing. Men respectfully dressed for work with suit and tie, manners, slim ladies without tattoos, no rushing, space to breath, English accents, the Queens Building, and most of all Comets, Viscounts, and an F27 of Aer Lingus. I miss it all. (except the smoking onbaord)

[@paulclark4988]

Thank you so much for uploading, that was brilliant.

[@joluqamalta2815]

Our pleasure!

[@vladilenkalatschev4915]

Such a good looking aircraft ❤

[@davidlibby5740]

Flew on G-APMF Comet 4B to Manchester in October 1969. Beautiful aircraft and equally, very powerful. Excellent flight and service. Engineering precision at its best! 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for your comment.

[@pancrazioaquilina7029]

Excellent video

[@johnjephcote7636]

It is the fashions that reminded me of those times...all the overcoats being collected and huge variety of large bags.

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for the visit

[@130rapid]

G-APMA: Comet 4B, cn. 6421. Delivered 12/20/1959 to BEA. Sold 7/8/1972 to Coley Skrap Merchants. Farewell...

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for the info!

[@D66DuCane]

The Comet 4B they are boarding is actually G-APMF! At 07:11 you can clearly see the letters 'MF' on the nosewheel door. What a wonderful film!

[@RodneyStone-ge1te]

Comets not offloaded from BOAC but BEA bought 4B s new 1961 l was in the jumb seat to Athens .wonderful aircraft

[@joluqamalta2815]

An interesting comment,Thanks for following!

[@runawayronnie]

Isn't that Terence Longdon playing the captain?

[@XHR689]

Yes it is. Very reminiscent of his role in this film he played the lead role in 'Garry Halliday' a pilot in a childrens television series (1959-1962)

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

​@@XHR689ah, I recognised him as an actor, just couldn't remember his name. Thanks!

[@David-kh3xp]

A wonderful aviation treasure film. Thank you! Flew on BEA's Trident LHR/CDG in 1969. Missed flying in the Comet😔

[@joluqamalta2815]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stephenholland5930]

Lovely air to air footage of the Comet 4. Jolly good!

[@joluqamalta2815]

Indeed it is!

[@babaji1947]

I always wondered why the Comet's tail was vertical and not slanted as in all jets today.

[@offshoretomorrow3346]

Perhaps sweeping back adds leverage? The further back the tail is, the less area (and drag) is required. The vertical fin does look anachronistic.

[@tangerinedream7211]

The comet 4 variant was a good aircraft, but the damage had been done by the earlier Comet issues. So the Boeing 707 came to rule .

[@joluqamalta2815]

Yes,i agree with you.

[@stephenholland5930]

And the DC-8.

[@lrg3834]

Real jewel piece here.

[@joanne26]

At 3.30 into this video in walks a well known actor from the late 50’s in Britain called Terence Longdon He made quite a few films Flying abroad was so exciting for those around then and could afford to It always seemed so glamorous ❤️❤️😍😍👍 👍 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@AlphaPenComputers]

TL was a WWII Fleet Arm pilot. Starred as Garry Halliday with Terence Alexander. They played the goodies fighting The Voice & his hencemen every week. Cracking TV for kids, at the time !

[@joanne26]

@@AlphaPenComputers he was part of the cast of the early carry on films Also part of the cast of Another Time, Another place with Sean Connery and Lana Turner I think quite a few actors made ‘advertising’ films on many subjects A relative of mine, her late husband did his National service with the RAF in the early 50’s 😃😃👍 👍

[@AlphaPenComputers]

@@joanne26 Indeed he was. Saw him in many films including Ben-Hur as Drusus but for me he'll always be Garry Halliday.

[@karlhoward2737]

I flew as a young boy back in the 60’s many times between England and Cyprus….remember the plane being so smooth in flight…..I did prefer the Super VC10 for that futuristic look and power, but…..my first jet was the Comet…..beautiful aeroplane from wonderful times…

[@PCEngineer2007uk]

The captain looks like the actor Terence Longdon, who was actually a pilot....

[@SS08947]

You are right, I also recognized him and thanks for the name.

[@robertjonas6216]

Anyone else think the tail on these planes looked ridiculous??

[@stephenholland5930]

Beautiful design.

[@mindyourlanguage77]

What a treat! Thanks old fruit.

[@B1970TBronze]

Awesome. Thanks. Subbed!

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for the sub!

[@johnjephcote7636]

I uesed to watch these BEA Comets on approach to Heathrow. I lay on my back on the garden path with binoculars checking the reg. number. The path was inline with their course and watford was a stacking area for Heathrow.

[@maxthelab8457]

I did the same, watching the aircraft on approach and departing. They used to go right over our house. I also spent many a day sat by the runway or up the Queens Building ( we never paid to get in, we used to bunk in via the fire escapes! ) We lived in Hounslow West which nowadays is a total shit hole of a place and the only time I 'visit' is when I am 'above it' arriving or departing LHR, which is actually pretty frequent these days now I am retired... We moved to Devon 25 years ago and I do so miss watching the planes.

[@nicklarge007]

Captain Chumley Warner and his crew.......

[@sammysouth8372]

Why the dihedral in the horizontal stabilizer?

[@deparaisoparaud.391]

The best Jet!

[@johannesbols57]

Interesting they used 1R to board. That door has a low ceiling!

[@michaeldean6691]

My first flight on a Dan Air comet to Spain in 1977

[@mebeasensei]

5：20 What is that communication machine with a rolling strip of paper? machine and how does it work?

[@anthonysherry2628]

How tall the people must have been in those days, if they have to duck when passing through the doors..😅😅

[@joluqamalta2815]

I think that they made the doors not very large due to the cabin pressurization,Thanks for following.

[@stephenholland5930]

Those are the service doors on the right side.

[@jamesbrock9200]

Well, that took me back, this is in the region of 5 years before I joined BEA since they are still using the yellow livery (MoA) on the ground vehicles. Flight Planning at around 1:30 mark and, possibly, Load Control later on.

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for following!

[@oceanfroggie]

Oh when air travel was an enjoyable part of ones travel, before low cost hell.

[@joluqamalta2815]

Yes it is true.

[@jonnynevada8915]

Avro of Canada actually had designed a prototype jet years earlier , using the same design concept as the Comet with the engines and cowling incorporated into the wing. They had to abandon the project as the Canadian government was being forced by Uncle Sam to have Avro engineers redirect their focus 100% on military aircraft during the start of the Cold War .. The jet was noted as the C-102 , and had a cruising speed of 800kph . Howard Hughes ended up buying the prototype and flew it for years as his own personal passenger jet ..

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for the info!

[@dcanmore]

Comet 1 flew 13 days before the C-102, so were both designed around the same time, Nene-Lancastrian and Nene-Viking prototypes flew before both of them. If Avro hadn't decided to to change the engine specification, which caused delays, the C-102 would've flown before the Comet. Howard Hughes leased the aircraft for a while before it went back to Avro who then used it for a few months as a camera-ship for CF-100 in-flight testing before being scrapped in 1956.

[@jonnynevada8915]

@@dcanmore You are correct 👍 We should also note that the early version of the Comet had serious structural issues which caused catastrophic mid air decompression killing all passengers 🤷‍♂️

[@andrewjordan4193]

This is clearly the old Heathrow Terminal building, but am not sure what year (?) I assume late 50s or early 60s. Amazing that people could smoke on flights. I remember flying to Amsterdam in 1988 and asking for a no smoking seat. I was given one, but it was right in front of the smoking section. I stank of smoke by the time we landed. Really unpleasant. Things are much better today in every way; not to mention safer.

[@joluqamalta2815]

Thanks for your comment.

[@AlphaPenComputers]

Had the pleasure of flying Pakistan International Airways, circa '92. Left side of fuselage was "Smoking", right side "No Smoking". Long flight. Oxygen depleted !

[@tonyhilliarduk]

A flight time of 2:19 is quicker than today! That’s progress for you!

[@davidwarren202]

Is it possible you could upload the full film again? you did three yeas ago but took it down for some reason. This is heavily edited

[@joluqamalta2815]

I had to due to youtube rules,Thanks for following!

[@MaggsKirky]

There’s a shear lack of diversity in this film and I love it !

[@maxthelab8457]

Lol careful..................the thought Police will be after you.

[@robertwalker2052]

If only BOAC reinforced the window frames of the Comet making a safe plane!!

[@johannesbols57]

BOAC didn't manufacture the Comet, Einstein.

[@NatJB]

Over 18 tonnes of fuel for a flight to Rome. Immense.

[@campacolasworkshop6042]

2:08 I often wonder what bacteriological tests would reveal on all those open & complex food dishes, of that flying era 😊

[@javiergilvidal1558]

That all passengers enjoyed their food, and many would go on to live to this very day!

[@campacolasworkshop6042]

@@javiergilvidal1558 Do you have any science for that statement ;)

[@javiergilvidal1558]

@@campacolasworkshop6042 The WHO has the "science", and so have the idiots who believed them and got poisoned with the vaccine. I only have the common sense that derives from experiencing what used to be a very good catering service. At 64, I know what it used to be like in airliners, when you were treated as a human being .....

[@jameshatfield1194]

It started at the Base at TBE Heathrow has certaintyl

[@scotty6346]

If those pilot's had an alcohol breath test like they do these day's they would be saying 'Come on old Chum i only had 12 pint's of bitter last night in the 'Fox and Hound's pub in my village! Let's not make a Wizard bang out of it, I need to fly this cabbage crate over the old Briney and need to keep my children off of Scrooge's Gruel! Arf, Arf!' 😂 The Comet is a graceful aircraft though! 👍

[@krystiantucker7702]

what year would this of been

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

The hangars were there when I joined BA in 1983, however the Comet with BEA entered service at the end of the 1950’s but the film had no sign of the Trident which entered service in the mid 60’s, so likely very late 50’s/early 60’s.

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

@@bfc3057 I did, was lucky enough to spend from 1997-2003, time in Concorde Engineering. Seven flights on that aircraft.

[@jamesbrock9200]

@@grahambuckerfield4640 I would agree with your estimate since the ground vehicles are still in the yellow Ministry of Aviation livery.( BEA/BA Load Control 1967-1980. )

[@jamesbrock9200]

@@bfc3057 No, BOAC did not offload the their Comets to BEA, the BEA version was the 4B, BOAC used the 4 and 4C.

[@jasonbrown4610]

Wonderful, before the plebs were allowed to ruin it!

[@anthonystevens104]

Flying was ruined when they let the working class fly 😂😂

[@razorheadinjapan73]

Standards are in the toilet now

[@DaleSteel]

I was expecting it to explode mid flight like all the other comets

[@joluqamalta2815]

Well it was the first ,so anyone could exept something to go wrong unlike Boeing the 737 Max they had issues as well.

[@stephenholland5930]

Wrong Comet. This was the much safer Comet 4.

[@roverchap]

Sponsored by Brylcreem, and Rothmans cigarettes!

[@chikinli1944]

今英國航空公司！

[@RayhanAhmed-qr3vz]

Bullocks - ACTOR’S

[@snowflakemelter1172]

Well done Sherlock

[@federicoprice2687]

Bollocks - NO APOSTROPHE

[@johannesbols57]

Stop complaining - it's Allah's will.

[@dmcnamara9859]

Name 1 British aircraft that has garnered large commercial success globally and made money doing so? I'll answer it for you, ZERO.

[@dcanmore]

what do you determine as 'large commercial success' ?

[@dmcnamara9859]

​@@dcanmoreHaving buyers for your product that are not bankrolled by British government. Last time I recall,DC8, and 707 variants steamrolled the Comet. Had acceptable range ( for the times); and damn near every country had them.

[@dcanmore]

@@dmcnamara9859 really, nobody cares.

[@BR-bj3ot]

Nice to see people respectfully dressed and acting like human beings. One only need see this short film to recognize the moral decline and progression of mankind’s Sin through the years!

[@johannesbols57]

Keep your sin to yourself and don't speak for me.

[@BR-bj3ot]

@@johannesbols57 What a Darkened heart you have. You have no idea what you are headed for! I pray God will have mercy on you!

[@keithbloomfield1341]

Back in the day 😂

[@joluqamalta2815]

The glory days!