AviationGeeks.com - Sud Aviation Caravelle

Manufacturer: SNCASE (later Sud Aviation)

Status: retired (2005)

First flight: 27^th of May, 1955

Entered service: 1959

Number built: 282

Specification

Crew: 3

Passengers: 80 – 140 (max over reduced range)

Length: 31 meter (102 feet)

Hight: 8.7 meter (29 feet)

Wingspan: 34.5 meter (113 feet)

Wing area: 146.7 sq meters (1,580 sq feet)

Max take-off weight: 46,000 (101,413 lbs)

Empty weight: 22,200 kg (48,942 lbs)

Max payload: 8,400 kg (18,519 lbs)

Powerplant

Type: RA-29 (Rolls Royce) and JT8D (Pratt and Whitney),

Thrust: 10,500 – 14,500 lbf

Performance

Max speed: 805 km/h (435 knots) for Caravelle III

Range: 1,700 km (1,060 mi) for Caravelle III

Ceiling: 12,000 m (39,370 ft) for Caravelle III

The France Civil Aircraft Committee felt that there was a need for short to medium range aircraft in the market. So, the France Civil Aircraft Committee published a specification that required an aircraft that had a range of about 2,000 km (1,200 mi) with between 55 and 65 passengers and 1,000 kg (2,000 lbs). It was also required that would have a cruise speed of 550 – 600 km/h (340 – 370 mi/h). Sud Aviation answered the request with the Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle. Sud Aviation licensed several designs in the aircraft from the de Havilland for example the cockpit layout.

The France Civil Aircraft Committee received and assessed several proposals before deciding on the Rolls Royce RA-29 powered Sud Aviation Caravelle. The aircraft made its first test flight on the 27^th of May, 1955 and four years later first delivery was made to Air France.

Air France made the first order for the Caravelle and SAS followed soon. The Caravelle has been operated in Europe, South and North America, Asia and Africa. Amongst the operators of the Caravelle are Egypt Air, Alitalia, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swissair, Iberia and Finnair. In addition, there were several governments and militaries such as Mexico, Sweden, France and Argentina.

Several variations of the Caravelle were made during the production period offering different engines and thrust output. All in all, 200 Sud Aviation Caravelle were delivered in addition to 2 test aircrafts produced.