The British company de Havilland built the world’s first commercial jet airliner, the Comet.
The de Havilland DH.106 Comet was developed in Britain after World War II, when most passenger aircraft still used piston engines. Its clean, pressurized design and four buried turbojet engines represented a major technological leap. The prototype first flew from Hatfield on July 27, 1949.
The Comet entered scheduled passenger service with BOAC on May 2, 1952, opening the jet age for fare-paying travelers. It was faster, quieter, and smoother than contemporary propeller aircraft, carrying passengers at high altitude above much of the weather. The first Comet carried 36 passengers and could travel about 2,500 miles.
Early Comet models suffered catastrophic metal-fatigue failures linked to the square windows and repeated pressurization cycles. The fleet was grounded, and later versions incorporated redesigned, rounded windows and stronger structures. Although American rivals eventually surpassed it, de Havilland’s pioneering aircraft established the basic commercial jetliner concept.