The Comet Affair

This is an article critique – second of two – written for my Aviation Legislation class. It is a one-page review of an Air and Space Magazine's article. I hope you enjoy
-Joel

The Comet Affair: Why the cold war forced the British government to choose between keeping a friend and arming an enemy.

www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/cit-engel.html

In this article, the author discussed how the de Havilland Comet caused security risks for America during the cold war and resulted in diplomatic negotiations with Britain. This security risk was substantiated by the MiG-15: Russia’s implementation of Britain’s superior engines that resulted in an aircraft out performing the U.S. fleet of that cold war era. With the Comet revolutionizing the aerospace industry with its superior performance as the first jetliner including its pressurized cabin, its technology posed security risk for the United States who was steeped in the heat of the cold war.

The author’s main assumption was in Soviet Russia’s interest in the aircraft. Though it was indeed a giant leap for mankind, its utility for hostile conflict was minimal. Furthermore, it was a relatively new technology, and there were errors yet to be work out. Indeed, on the edge of the horizon of time lurked cataclysmic airplane explosions: events that nullified American negotiations and apprehensions about the sales of the Comet. Thus, there is no substantiated evidence mentioned to assume that Soviet Russia was truly interest in the Comet; meanwhile, a counter-argument can be made against Russian interest.

To conclude, the author’s position - advanced technology was susceptible to Soviet infiltration - is plausible and indeed posed security risks. Overall, the authors assertions are filled with great historical fact including coherent rational. I agree in the security risks associated with the development of the de Havilland Comet; though, no evidence is presented to confirm Soviet Russia’s interest.