The DH 88 Comet "Grosvenor House" aircraft, was built to compete in the Centenary Air Race between London, UK, and Melbourne, Australia in 1934. It won first and in the photo below is being put on display in Martin Place, Sydney, 1934. NSW Parliament and Sydney Hospital can be seen in the background. The plane would go on to be used by the military during World War II for a short time before being retired after a hard landing. It would be rebuilt to fly again, but later was destroyed in a fire.
A full-scale replica of the DH.88 Comet was built in 1993 by Bill Turner of Repeat Aircraft at Flabob Airport in Rubidoux, California (Color Photo Below). It was built for Thomas W. Wathen of Santa Barbara, CA. N88XD flies wearing the full colors and registration of G-ACSS Grosvenor House.
Records
20–23 October 1934 C. W. A. Scott and Tom Campbell Black went from Mildenhall, England to Melbourne, Australia (11000 miles) in 70 hrs 55 min. Held until 2010.
14–16 November 1937 A.E. Clouston and Mrs Kirby-Green went from London to Cape Town (7091 miles) in 45 hrs 6 min.
18–20 November 1937 The return trip was completed in 57 hrs 23 min.
15–20 March 1938 A.E. Clouston and V. Ricketts went from London to New Zealand (13179 miles) in 104 hrs 20 min.
20–26 March 1938 The return trip was completed in 140 hrs 12 min. Here the times to and from Sydney, Australia en route to New Zealand were also confirmed as records.
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