The Story Of The World’s First (Golden) Executive Jet

In an age when propeller-driven aircraft still dominated the skies, even as the primary means of transport for heads of state, the gilded De Havilland Comet 4C (SA-R-7) was a true sight to behold wherever it touched down for landing. The acquisition of the aircraft by the Saudi Royal Flight was nonetheless a curious decision, as no aircraft of the same type were in use with Saudi Arabia up until that point. In fact, the national airline had only just received two brand-new Boeing 720Bs (a smaller derivative of the ubiquitous Boeing 707), becoming the fourth airline in the Middle East to fly passenger jet aircraft. The range of the Comet 4C and Boeing 720 was roughly the same: some 5.500 km.

Little is known about the interior of King Al Saud's Comet 4C, and sadly no photographs of the interior are noted to ever have been taken. What is known is that the aircraft was fitted with a richly decorated VIP cabin for King Al Saud's personal use in the front section of the plane. This was the quietest area of the aircraft, located well in front of the four Rolls-Royce Avon jet engines buried in the wing roots. The mid and rear portions of the pressurised cabin were for use with the King's entourage, and likely also housed the toilets, complete with gold fittings!

 

A colour profile of Saudi Arabia's Comet 4C. Note an early version of Saudi flag on the right, which unusually has two swords instead of one.

The British de Havilland Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner at its debut in 1952. Disaster struck within a year of operational service however, as three Comets suffered catastrophic in-flight break-ups caused by structural failure resulting from metal fatigue and overstressing of the airframe. [2] The type was retired from service until a solution could be found. As a result, the Comet was extensively redesigned, providing valuable lessons in the construction of jet airlines at the cost of having lost the edge over other aircraft manufacturers, which quickly incorporated the lessons learned with the Comet in their own jet airliner designs (the Boeing 707 and DC-8).

 

The redesign process eventually culminated in the significantly improved Comet 4, which debuted in 1958 and would continue to see passenger service until 1981, and use as a research platform until 1997. The Comet 4 also formed the basis of the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), which remained in service with the Royal Air Force until 2011, over 60 years after the Comet's first flight! The nose section and cockpit design of the Comet were used by the French Sud Aviation Caravelle jet airliner. Though never becoming the commercial success it arguably deserved to be, there is no arguing that the Comet had a profound influence on the development of jet airliners.

 

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