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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: de Havilland DH-106 Comet / HS Nimrod
    Latest Model:Comet 4C
    Last Military Serial:XV814 RAE
    Construction Number:6407
    Last Civil Registration:G-APDF
    Compressed ID:de Havilland Comet 4C sn XV814 RAE...
    Latest Owner or Location:Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a Comet 4C.

    11 December 1958

    First flight.

    By 9 April 1959

    To British Overseas Airways Corporation-BOAC with new c/r G-APDF.

    9 April 1959

    Crashed.
    Summary: The airframe was damaged but was repairable. The international scheduled passenger flight departed Beirut Airport (BEY/OLBA), Lebanon. The accident occurred at Beirut Airport (BEY) (Lebanon) while en route. Narrative: Aircraft took off out of Beirut Airport, eleven minutes after a previous take-off attempt was abandoned due to engine overspeed. Nine minutes after take-off, at 13000 ft, the inner rear tyre on the starboard main gear burst, causing damage to the wing structure and affecting controllability...
    For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

    2 May 1959

    To unknown owner with c/r G-APDF (DH106 COMET 4, 6407).

    1 June 1962

    BOAC Flight G-APDF ADEN TO LONDON 8 HRS 15 MIN. 3,950 STATUTE MILES PILOT CAPTAIN J WILLS.

    1 March 1967

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Aircraft Establishment with s/n XV814.

    1 June 1980


    Photographer: C Peter Russell-Smith
    Notes: Photographed at Greenham Common.

    By September 1980

    Transferred to RAE Bedford.

    By September 1980

    Markings Applied: 914
    RAE Raspberry Ripple c/s, 914 on tail.

    26 June 1981


    Photographer: Lewis Grant
    Notes: XV814 DH.106 Comet 4 Royal Aircraft EstablishmentThe RAEs modified trials Comet lands at Greenham prior to IAT 1981 in overcast conditions.

    By 1984

    Transferred to RAE Farnborough.

    18 August 1984


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Notes: at TVS Air Show Hurn

    By 1995

    Assigned to A and AEE, Boscombe Down for storage.
    For recovery of spares.

    August 1997

    Scrapped.
    At Boscombe Down.

    By 1998

    To Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.
    Nose only.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    Military Aircraft Markings by Howard J. Curtis

    Internet Sources
    Aviation Safety Network
    UK Serials Resource Centre by Wolverhampton Aviation Group

    Individual Contributors
    Colin Matthews
    Robert Nichols

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