Air travel has been a dream of humanity since our earliest ancestors gazed up to the heavens longingly. From a relatively earthbound species just a little over 100 years ago, to thousands of airliners cruising the skies daily, our journey to the sky has not been without complication.

The very first jetliner to carry paying passengers was the futuristic, elegant DH 106 Comet. Its streamlined body, innovative engine design, and promise of luxurious travel were a dream come true for a post-war world. However, the Comet’s rise was marked with tragedy that would change the world of engineering forever.