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Old 28th July 2013 | 06:06
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Airways Ed
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 93
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From: Northwest-Southwest
The LH JT8D of this Caravelle lacked the optional 50K mod to the burner and burner cans; the French air force only got around to spending the money for one engine each of the three Caravelle 11Rs that operated in the Pacific -- before sale and moving to Africa.


Although noses from the Comet line were used on the two prototype Caravelles in 1955/56, this section was re-engineered for production Caravelles. The 11R had the further modified cockpit (including new window arrangement) (for the sale to United). So nothing in common left with the Comet except for the diameter measurements. The Caravelle undoubtedly had one of quietest cockpits (quieter than the Comet for some reason).

Windshield design was late 1950s, had to use existing art for the transparencies.

Flight engineer was optional. Caravelle was the first two-man crew jet airliner (with Finnair). Most original operators used three (a few, such as Varig, had a nav = no aids at time in Brasil) .

Not sure about the three female crew on a Caravelle: Air Inter's first three female trip was with a Mercure. AFAIK, there was only one French female Caravelle pilot, but standing by to be corrected.

This particular Caravelle 11R was written off at GYI in 2004, a pity.

Also a shame to see the one at FIH get cut up for no good reason; it looked pretty tidy even near the end.
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