DeHavilland DH 106 Comet - Variants
| Comet 1 | 13 Built | Production aircraft remained very close to the prototypes, they differed by a main landing gear with 4 wheels. They were powered by 4 Ghost 50 Mk 1 engines and could carry more than 40 passengers. |
| Comet 1A | 8 Built (1 scrapped) |
Updated Comet 1 with higher weight and fuel capacity with water-methanol injection. An updated Comet 1A was offered with higher-allowed weight, greater fuel capacity and water-methanol injection for the engines and ten Comet 1As were produced. In the wake of the 1954 disasters, with the exception of the RCAF aircraft, all Comet 1s and 1As were brought back to Hatfield. They were first placed in a protective cocoon and then retained for further testing /disposition. Most of these remaining aircraft either damaged beyond repair in further testing or were ultimately scrapped. |
| Comet 1X | 2 conversions | Comet 1A's rebuilt with heavier-gauge skins to a Comet 2 standard for the fuselage. |
| Comet 1XB | 4 conversions | Comet 1A's upgraded to a 1XB standard with a reinforced fuselage structure and oval windows. |
| DH 111 Comet Bomber | Not built | A nuclear bomb carrying design which received a negative evaluation from the Royal Aircraft Establishment. |
| Comet 2X | 1 Built | Limited to a single modified Comet Mk 1 powered by four Rolls-Royce Avon 502 turbojet engines and used as a development aircraft for the Comet 2. |
| Comet 2E | 2 Built | Comet 2 fitted with Avon 504's (Inner) and Avon 524's (Outer) and used by BOAC for proving flights during 1957–1958. |
| Comet T2 | 2 Built | Comet 2 for the RAF as crew trainers, with the firstaircraft (XK669) flying for the first time on 9 December 1955. |
| Comet C2 | 8 Built | Comet 2 originally for commercial use but completed for use by the RAF and assigned to No. 216 Squadron. |
| Comet 2R | 3 Built | Three Comet 2s were modified for use in radar and electronic systems developments, and were assigned to No. 192 and No. 51 Squadrons. The 2R series was also equipped to monitor Warsaw Pact signals traffic and operated in this SIGINT role from 1958 |
| Comet 3 | 1 Built | Initial designation for development aircraft (G-ANLO) but never put into production. |
| Comet 3B | 1 Conversion | G-ANLO was converted to Mk 4B specification and redesignated Mk 3B. |
| Comet 4 | 28 Built | Modified Mk 3 design with different alloy for the fuselage and BOAC put the Mk 4 in service in 1958. |
| Comet 4A | Never built | A short range version of the Comet with longer fuselage and reduced wing span - Launch customer cancelled the order so none were built. |
| Comet 4B | 18 Built | Intended for shorter range operations, the shorter wing was kept but the pinion tanks were removed, resulting in a smaller fuel capacity. The fuselage was stretched further. This short-haul variant was originally developed for Capital Airlines as the 4A, the 4B featured greater passenger capacity (up to 101 seats) and a shorter wingspan with no wing mounted“slipper tanks”. A total of 18 aircraft were produced | Comet 4C | 23 Built | A combination of theMk 4B and the Mk 4. This variant featured larger wings (with wing mounted “slipper tanks” for additionalfuel) plus the 4B's added capacity. 23 of this variant were produced. |
| Comet 4C | 1 Built | A single VIP Comet 4C (SA-R-7) was ordered by Saudi Arabian Airlines with eventual dispositionto the Saudi Royal Flight for the exclusive use of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz. Extensively modifiedat the factory, the aircraft included a VIP front cabin, a bed, special toilets with gold fittings and was distinguished by a resplendent green, gold and white colour scheme with polished wings and lower fuselage that was commissioned from aviation artist John Stroud. Following its first flight, the special order Comet 4C was then described as "the world's first executive jet." After flying just 168 hours, on 20 March 163 while enroute from Nice to Geneva, sadly this aircraft crashed intothe Alps killing all the crew onboard. |
| Comet C.4 | 5 Built | The Mk C.4 was the Mk 4C operated by the RAF. A total of 5 Mk C.4s were built. |
| Comet 5 | Never built | Project to counter the success of the DC-8 and the B-707 but never built. |
| HS801 Nimrod | 2 built | Comet 4C modified as prototypes for a maritime patrol for the Royal Air Force. |
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