The Comet, Britannia and Viscount all came at a time when there was nothing else in that class
The Comet was unfortunate, The Britannia was forced to use an unsuitable engine that was designed to have wing le intakes in the Barb and princess and the Viscount they got right.
It's a pity that momentum could not have been maintained.
The Vanguard was unfortunate as it seemed to be close in the mid fifties but was being timed to when BEA needed to replace the Viscounts. A version out in the mid fifties and perhaps a combi with the Merchantman type freight door and seats might well have been a different story especially if the Bristol Orion had been developed earlier and put into production as that would have sorted the Britannia out as well as given the Vanguard a better powerplant, allegedly as it only flew in one position on G-ALBO...but it was better than the Proteus. TCA wanted their Vanguards to be Orion powered and the wing was built to take the extra power as TCA decided to accept the Tynes and re engine at the earliest opportunity.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it does look like heels were being dragged in the fifties as the Corporations changing needs were met, and blinded to the greater market.
Nice to have such a wonderful record of the time when the British were in their glory.
Them old fingers still do what they like when I least expect it. 
Serves me right for not reading it before committing 
