BOAC’s Comet, London to Tokyo in the jet age
In 1953, the De Havilland Comet brought BOAC into a new age: long-range jet travel. Michel Lagneau uses the London-Tokyo service as an ambitious route, modern for its time but still tied to technical stops.
The plan is ideal if you enjoy comparing the promise of jet speed with a route still broken into stages: Mediterranean, Levant, Gulf, India, Burma, Thailand, Philippines and Japan.
BOAC links London and Tokyo with the Comet.
Jens B. Kristensen’s model fits the spirit perfectly.
The jet is fast, but the route remains a chain of stops.
A historic journey between prestige and technical limits.
Understanding the flight
The article is not only a route: it shows the transition from post-war aviation to the dream of international jet travel.
The many stops give the simulator a strong rhythm. The world opens up, but each long leg still needs to be prepared.
Before departure
- Use the Comet if possible, or an early jet with similar performance.
- Fly the legs like an airline timetable, with departures and stops.
- Keep realistic fuel reserves on the longer branches toward the Gulf and Asia.
- Use radio navigation when available: it gives the flight much more character.
Suggested route
Experience tips
The pleasure comes from contrast: modern speed, but a route that is still highly segmented.
Do not skip the stops. They give the route its first-generation jet flavour.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2014