At one time in the early 1990’s Duxford was the home to two comets:

XK695 cn 6030 Mk.2 arrived in 1975 – this aircraft was scrapped because of it’s poor condition.

However, Ex Dan Air Mk.4 G-APDB cn 6403 has been fully restored and can be seen today in BOAC livery. See IWM Duxford

G-APDB at Duxford – Image © Ian Haskell 

G-APDB was presented to the East Anglian Aviation Society, Duxford 12th Feb. 1974. The galley below show it in Dan Air colours in October 1990.

The aircraft is a Mk.4 and was first registered 27/07/1958 to de Haviland Aircraft Company.

Delivered to BOAC in September 1958. 

Sold to Malaysian Airways in September 1965 where it was re-registered 9M-AOB. 

Malaysian Airways and Singapore Airlines merged in December 1966 it retained registration. 

Sold to Dan Air in October 1969 where it served until its last flight on 23/11/73. 

G-AMXH was registered to the de Havilland Co. 08/01/1953, It was then converted to a C.2.

Registered XK695 joined RAF 216 Sqd, as ‘Perseus’ on 14/09/1956. It returned to de Havilland on 17/06/1960.

It was converted to 2R spec. and on 08/03/1963 joined 51 Sqd. Withdrawn from service in December 1974.

Donated to Duxford in 1975.

The gallery below was from October 1990. There was a great deal of work being undertaken to determine the extent of the aircraft’s deterioration. Sadly it proved to be beyond restoration and was later scrapped.

East Fortune Comet