F-BGNX

F-BGNX, constructor's number 06020, was the first of three Comet 1As built at Hatfield in 1953 for Air France. The Comet 1 and 1A fleets were taken out of service after the fatal break-ups of 1954.

The fuselage was then assigned to RAE Farnborough as the standby airframe for the water-tank pressure tests that investigated those accidents. It was never needed. Because it was earmarked for this work, it was not rebuilt to Comet 1XB standard with the later rounded windows. It later carried the British registration G-AOJT but did not fly again.

Farnborough offered the unused fuselage to the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Trust, and the museum took it in 1985. By then it was little more than a bare metal tube in faded Air France colours. A sponsor came forward around 2009 to fund a return to Air France livery.

On 27 November 2019 the fuselage was moved into the museum's new hangar. Volunteers led by Eddie Walsh replaced the badly corroded skin and recreated the cabin and flight deck, using 3D printing to reproduce the moulded light fittings. The wings are not fitted.

The centrepiece of the Sir Geoffrey de Havilland Hangar, opened in 2020. Visitors can walk through from the rear door past first class and the galley to the flight deck.