page_title: De Havilland DH.88 Comet
section_title: Cultural influence
hierarchical_section_title: De Havilland DH.88 Comet / Cultural influence
caption_attribution_description: de Havilland DH.88 Comet racer G-ACSS Grosvenor House.
context_page_description: The de Havilland DH.88 Comet is a British two-seat, twin-engined aircraft built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was developed specifically to participate in the 1934 England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race from the United Kingdom to Australia.
  Development of the Comet was seen as both a prestige project and an entry into modern techniques. It was designed around the specific requirements of the race. Despite being made of wood, it was the first British aircraft to incorporate all the elements of the modern fast monoplanes in one airframe.
  Three Comets were produced for the race, all for private owners at the discounted price of £5,000 per aircraft. The aircraft underwent a rapid development cycle, performing its maiden flight only six weeks prior to the race. Comet G-ACSS Grosvenor House emerged as the winner. Two further examples were later built. The Comet went on to establish many aviation records, both during the race and in its aftermath, as well as participating in further races. Several examples were bought and evaluated by national governments, typically as mail planes.
context_section_description: The MacRobertson Air Race was an event of world-wide importance and did much to drive aeroplane design forward. The triumph of the Comet and its high-speed design marked a milestone in aviation.
  The Comet Hotel, Hatfield was begun the year before the race, as one of the first modernist inns in England. Located close to the de Havilland factory, when it was finished it was named after the Comet Racer. War artist Eric Kennington was commissioned to create a 9 feet (2.7 m) carved column in its car park, which was erected in 1936. On its top is mounted a famous model of the Comet, currently in the livery of Grosvenor House.
  Full-scale but non-flying replicas of Grosvenor House and Black Magic were constructed for the 1990 TV two-part Australian-produced dramatisation Half a World Away, which was also released on DVD as The Great Air Race. The G-ACSS replica was taxi-able and has since been partially restored in the livery of G-ACSR and is on static display at the De Havilland Aircraft Museum, Salisbury Hall, UK.
  Comets have also appeared in fiction, see Aircraft in fiction#de Havilland DH.88 Comet.
caption: A cigarette card featuring G-ACSS Grosvenor House
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