Charles Knotek: First Transatlantic Jet Passenger Service

Artist: Charles Knotek
1933 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1984
Image Size: 16.25 by 12.75 inches
Overall Size: 20 by 15 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Cold Press Illustration Board

In May of 1952, Great Britain became the first nation in the world to sport an airborne passenger service powered by jet engines and that accomplishment was soon to be eclipsed by an ever greater feat -- the first transatlantic jet passenger service. On October 4, 1958, the de Havilland Comet 4 flew from London to New York with 67 passengers aboard. The plane had been built by Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, a dignified man who had been undaunted by the seemingly endless problems which had been overcome for the previous historic flight in 1952. By the end of World War II, England had far surpassed the jet engine research and development attempts of the United States, and that lead had given them the chance to bolster the reputation of the British as an industrious people. The powerful jet engine had been difficult to perfect, as it needed to be resistant to extremely high temperatures. During her historic transtlantic flight, the engines of the de Havilland Comet 4 operated at nearly fifteen hundred degrees Fahrenheit. This incredible temperature could weaken and even melt nearly any metal or alloy known at the time of the Comet 4's development and new, higher-nickel content alloys had to be created for the jet engines. But the tribulations encountered by Sir Geoffrey de Havilland were not in vain. For it was his plane -- the Comet 4 -- which established the first transatlantic jet passenger service between Great Britain and the United States.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® Commemorative Cover for the Man's Conquest of the Heavens series issued in 1983.

Artwork Copyright © 1984 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB08989

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