de Havilland DH.110 WG240 2nd prototype
de Havilland DH.110 WG240 2nd prototype at the 1952 SBAC Farnborough air-show, (1-7 September). WG 240 was flown by test pilot John Derry in the air display from 1-5 September, but went U-S on the morning of the 6 September. Derry and Flight Test Observer Anthony Richards rushed to Hatfield to pick-up the first prototype WG236. to replace WG240 in the display. Unknown to anybody a modification to remove the wing fences from the outer wing leading edges left the wings decidedly under strength, due to a design fault. Derry and Richards carried out the same display they had already done with WG240, but the wings failed and the aircraft broke up. The engines fell amongst the crowd and 29 spectators were killed as well as Derry and Richards
Picture No
13156215
Media ID
47773299
Size
5433px x 2726px
(4.3MB)
Credit
(c) The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans
Source
Unattributed photographer - scanned from original negative
Date
1952
