John Cunningham - de Haviland Comet?

Question

Apparently, John Cunningham was quoted as saying this after first flying the de Haviland Comet prototype: "I assumed that it would change aviation, and so it has proved. It was a bit like Concorde."

Concorde didn't fly until 1969, 20 years after Cunningham's test flight? Please clarify.

Answer 1

You know, he didn't die until 2002 or something like that. He probably said it a few years ago, not right after flying it.

Answer 2

What Cunningham meant was that the Comet - the first commercial jet airliner - was as futuristic when it first flew  as was Concorde when it first flew.  I am pretty sure he was present at Filton for the Concord first flight.

They both represented big steps forward - at least technically - in air travel at the time.  Arguably the 747 was also a step forward, but technically it wasn't anything special, basically a bus.

Answer 3

"It was a bit like Concorde" - it revolutionized air transport similar to the way Concorde would revolutionize air travel 20 years later. He wasn't saying that it flew like Concorde.

Answer 4

What's your question?

If it is this, then the answer is "yes".