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Famous De Havilland DH.88 Comet Racer Damaged in Nose-Over

Rare aircraft, part of the Shuttleworth Collection, was performing at an airshow when the landing accident occurred.

Jonathan Welsh
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Jonathan Welsh

De Havilland DH.88 Comet of the Shuttleworth Collection [Credit: Shuttleworth Collection]

The de Havilland DH.88 Comet known as “Grosvenor House,” famous for winning the MacRobertson Trophy Air Race from England to Australia in 1934, sustained serious damage after nosing over while landing during a weekend airshow at Old Warden Aerodrome (EGTH) in Bedfordshire, England. The pilot was hospitalized and later released.

The sleek, red, twin-engine monoplane, with registration G-ACSS has long been a jewel of the Shuttleworth Collection, which is based at the aerodrome. The organization is renowned for keeping its many aircraft airworthy and flying them regularly.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is a private pilot and lifelong aviation enthusiast who has been a reporter, writer and columnist for 35 years. His career includes stints with the Wall Street Journal, Flying Magazine and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He recently returned to Firecrown to lead Aviation Consumer.