Ken Fern, who initiated the project and introduced it to the current Comet Racer Project Group, has been busy with the engine mount frames and the undercarriage support structures. Jigs have been necessary to hold the steel tubes in position for welding. Undercarriage telescoping tubes have been machined at N and B Engineering at Northampton who have been most helpful with many other tricky parts. The special coil springs have been manufactured and are in stock. Ken has travelled many miles to and from Nottingham with all of the parts requiring welding. Ken is now able to devote yet more time to the project and has completed the ply covering of the tail plane already. Ken’s extra time involvement allows the project to proceed much faster and this is another very significant step forward. Assembly of the elevators is the next job, the first one of which is now complete (as of 08/08/2011, pictures to follow).

Roger Hinchcliffe has kindly volunteered to produce the rudder at his home workshop near Northampton and he is now well advanced. Progress was held up for a while by moving house and workshop. Very traumatic. We wish him well in his new abode.

Ken Fern has managed to persuade Dynea to provide the Aerodux glue for us. The Group is most grateful for this generous gesture. Aerodux glue was developed many years ago specifically for aircraft and it was, of course, used extensively by de Havilland most notably for the Comet’s direct descendant, the incomparable Mosquito. De Havillands’ factories had posters everywhere saying “Whatever you do, don’t spare the glue.” Aerodux has been rebranded as “Prefere.” It is a two glue that is virtually bomb proof and is the industry standard structural adhesive.

The Group is delighted to have received a generous donation from DSC (Aviation) Ltd. Only recently did Duncan Swift the proprietor of the company learn of our project. This lead to a visit to Derby and a donation came within days! DSC (Aviation) Ltd is an aviation consultancy specialising in air traffic control training, aerodrome and arrival procedures, aerodrome safety management and search and rescue procedures. An offshoot is DSC Media which provides digital versions of photographic and videotape material. The Group is also entering discussions with other parties with a view to further financial help. It is likely that invitations to provide for the manufacture or refurbishment of specific parts for the aircraft will be made. The idea is that sponsors will be able to identify with certain key parts – eg . the fuel tanks. No part of the original fuel system survives so that approaches will be made to those who may wish to be sponsors of the fuel tanks. Changes from the original design will be required to meet current airworthiness and safety requirements albeit these will not be visible from the exterior. Other key parts are the cowlings and fairings which require skills currently not available in-house – ie. sheet metal panel beating.