The Sud Aviation (Aerospatiale) Caravelle) was the world’s first short/medium-range jet airliner. Designed to a requirement for a short range jet, SNCASE (Societe Nationale de Constructions Aeronautiques de Sud-Est) responded with an aircraft with engines in pods at the rear of the fuselage setting a trend in commercial aircraft.
The Caravelle first flew in 1955 and entered service with Air France in 1959. Since SNCASE merged with Ouest-Aviation to form Sud-Aviation in 1957, the Caravelle is more well known as a Sud-Aviation product. Another merger brought production under Aerospatiale.
Over 280 were produced through 1972.
- Developing Nation: France
- First Flight: May 27, 1955
- First Delivery: May 12, 1959 (Air France)
- Crew: 2 pilots, 1 flight engineer
- Wing span: 34,30 m.
- Wing area: 146,7 m².
- Length: 33,01 m.
- Height: 8,72 m.
- Engine(s): Caravelle 10B: Two 64,4 kN Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 turbofans Earlier versions had two 48,9 to 56,0 kN thrust class Rolls Royce RA.29 Avon turbojets.
- Weight: Caravelle 10B: Operating empty 30.055 Kg.
- Max. Take off weight: Caravelle 10B: 56.000 Kg. Earlier versions ranged from 46.000 to 50.000 Kg.
- Max. Cruise Speed: 825 Km/h.
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