DH88 Comet. G-ACSP

DH88 Comet G-ACSP is one of 3 aeroplanes built by de-Havilland in 1934 to compete in the MacRobertson air race from England to Australia. It was flown By Amy Johnson and her husband Jim Mollison, two of the most famous aviators of their time. It was painted Black with a gold stripe down the side and bore the name ‘Black Magic'.

Sadly they were leading the race when a major engine problem forced them to retire. The race was actually won by another Comet G-ACSS which still exists and is airworthy with the Shuttleworth Collection; see www.shuttleworth.org for details of this and other vintage aeroplanes all airworthy and flown during the year.

After the race the aeroplane was repaired and sold the Portuguese government for use as a long distance mail plane and was registered as CS-AAJ with the name Salazar. It completed a number of long distance flights then nothing was heard from it till it was found in a barn in Portugal by John Pearce in the 1980's and brought to England for restoration.

Restoration was started by John but a fire at his workshop destroyed a few of the original parts and John abandoned the project. It went through a number of owners until I acquitted it in the 96. I did a lot of work on the project until financial problems forced me to pass it on the Martin Jones at Derby Flying Club.

Martin has erected a purpose built restoration building for the Comet and the restoration is on going all on a voluntary basis. There is a dedicated web site see www.cometracer.co.uk.

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contact details.

86A Brisbane Road
Mickleover
Derby
DE3 9JY
United Kingdom

Tel/Fax: (01332) 513288
Mobile: (07790) 943137

Email: ken@kenfern.com