Caravelle
 

Dear friends

I would like to know, if there have been attempts to restore a Caravelle to flying condition (besides the Caravelle 3 in Sweden).

I know it is a tremendous task, but people keep restoring all kinds of aircraft around the world - from DC7s to Lockheed Starliners.

Personally I would prefer the 10B or 10R, but I am not sure, if there are any airframes around, that would suit the project.

Brgds

SE210

I seem to remember a company called Transavia (Baltic? Scandinavian?) offering three low time and well maintained examples about 10 -12 years ago. Think they had just been D checked so they might be candidate airframes. They may even be the Swedish ones referred to.


Conan

What's the story with the Caravelle in Sweden?

Lovely aeroplane the Caravelle, love the chance to go for a ride in one.

Transavia ???

I wonder, what company that could have been. And with complete D-checks ???

I really can not think of any. Sterling sold retired their last 10B in 1992 and then leased a couple of planes to Air Toulouse. Later they were sold to Colombia.

I do not recall, what happened to Air Syria´s Caravelles, but may be those were the ones.

Aero Lloyd had 10R´s, and I know that one was stored outside. And later damaged by another airplane. Do anybody know, if this plane still exists??

Brgds

SE210

The memory is vague - but it might have been that Transavia were flogging the Sterling examples. Dunno... so long ago now...

Conan

I'll also have to confess a shakey memory here, but...

Transavia (Holland) certainly operated Caravelles many years ago - I'm going back to mid 70s before they re-equipped with 737s, but was there not a TRANSAIR in Sweden - or even Transwede? that also operated Caravelles. Might it have been they who offered the aircraft for sale?

It IS a long time ago!

Getting excited at Treadigraphs post here... Yup, it was one of them! Know they had three up for grabs and were I am sure, fine examples of the genre.

It WAS a long time ago... Maybe 89 to 90?

Conan

Would love to see one flying again too - but would they need a noise abatement dispensation? :}

Wasn't their an Air Scibe or Scibe Airlift from the Congo who operated some sub charters for the I/T industry in the 70s/80s with a couple of Caravelles? Colour scheme was red and white as I recall.

Ah the Caravelle - Cockpit and Nose designed by de Haviland, Power by RR Avons. I would love to wander around a restored one as many happy hours and one very scary 10 Minutes despatching Caravelles out of Gatwick in the 1970's.

Although to some extent the Happy bit is due that era being viewed through the rose tinted filter of memory!

At take off power made a 1-11 seem quiet :-)
DIH

Caravelle's
 

Adding to the nostalgia on Caravelle's there is another outfit, need to cast your minds back to Intercontinental of Nigeria who gained that adverse publicity of try to land a DC8 in dense fog at Stansted and flying into the top of a light standing on the old cargo stands.

Saw one at Stansted on a coupl of time, but as you say memories are very hazy, many moons ago !!!

I'm pretty sure, about a year ago, I saw a Caravelle parked at Columbus Ohio airport. Looked all in one piece and in fair nick. Anyone from Columbus?

There was one at CVG (Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky) too - at the DHL freight operation. Maybe it's still there.

I only rode a Caravelle once - on a United recruiting flight in '63 to/from ORD. I remember the crew demonstrating an emergency descent over Lake Michigan!

In regard to the Columbus Caravelle, this must sound a bit sad I know, but if you have Earth Google (mentioned elswhere recently in Jetblast), have a look at position 39.59.26N 82.52.26W. Difficult to say for certain but I wonder if this may be the machine in question. Seems to be lacking starboard engine.

Think the image may date to mid 2002 from evidence elsewhere.

Incidentally my first two flights ever were on SAS Caravelles from Gatwick to Bergen and back in the summer of 1967. One was OY-KRC if I recall correctly.

Duckbutt, I don't see a Caravelle there but thanks for putting me on to Earth Google. Brilliant!!

PS. Apologies Duckbutt. I was looking at the wrong airport! Not the first time. That is indeed the Ohio Caravelle to which I referred. This internet thing is scary!

Carravelle's seen in Africa
 

At Bujumbura [ Burundi ] a "Burundi Airways " Caravelle languishes under a layer of grime.

At Kinshasa -DRC there's another Caravelle.

Time to bring Google Earth out again!!!!

Here's the most accurate list I know on the web of the extant examples (download the spreadsheet)

http://members.chello.nl/s.c.verbrug...html#caravelle

Remember the last one I saw airborne was a chance sighting in 1992 from a suburban train in Berlin one afternoon of a Syrian Airlines one approaching Berlin Schonefeld. Checked their schedule afterwards, seem to recall it was on a Copenhagen - Berlin - Damascus routing. The above site says the two Syrian ones have been sat at Damascus for the last 10 years and were recently offered for sale, potentially airworthy.

But the type/photo index seems to be a work in progress (and not very far along...)

I think this is the one at CVG: 39.02.35N, 84.39.33W

Just recently visited the Caravelle at Ailes Anciennes in Toulouse.
Seems to be in pretty good condition, all instruments still in place, still pressure on two of the three hydraulic accumulators, just slight signs of corrosion. Might be a candidate for restauration to airworthy condition

There is deffo a Caravelle at Colombus Ohio Airport. It is part of a museum there and if I remember rightly it was last used by a freight company.

I have a couple of good pictures of an Altair Caravelle at LGW with its nose sticking in the air whilst on the ground. The Gatwick Handling loaders had offloaded the fwd hold and as all the pas disembarked the a/c tipped up onto its tail. The Captain wanted to fire up the engines to blow ir down again!! Fortunately the fire brigade sent 6 of their heaviest blokes out to jump through the fwd door and redress the balance!

Isn't there an ex Hispania machine at Palma as well??

There's one at the Pima Air Museum in Arizona.

http://www.transistor.org/personal/p...0caravelle.jpg

I think there was a variant of the Caravelle powered by P & W JT-8s.
Indian Airlines used to operate Caravelles and I recall a tragedy involving a Caravelle in 1975 or 1976 at Bombay.

Incidentally, just be topical, Air France lost a 747 to fire at Bombay in 1975. Fortunately, no fatalities, just a huge mess.

Caravelle book
 

Passing this on purely for information, not advertising - I have no personal connection with the author or publisher. A 'google' on the author plus title should locate it for anyone interested.

=================================

Caravelle - the complete story - by John Wegg
CARAVELLE - The Complete Story
Published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the Sud-Est Caravelle, this sumptuous book is a celebration not only of a classic airliner but also of the jet age!


The result of more than 30years research by the acknowledged specialist on the subject - both in France and overseas - this monumental work is the first complete account of the post-war development and 45-year operational career of the first aircraft to adopt the now universal rear-engined layout, and the first airliner to prove the turbojet over short- and medium-haul routes.


Illustrated by more than 900 photographs, most of which are in colour and previously unpublished, and 150 drawings, all aspects of the Caravelle’s life are covered thoroughly in nearly 30 chapters. Drawing on the archives of the French Aviation Authority for the first time, a full appreciation of the genesis of this revolutionary design can now be made, along with its evolution and influence on today’s European aircraft industry. The author’s own extensive contacts, documentation, and first hand experience reveal the story of an airliner in world-wide service, sometimes in remarkable roles.


Extensive and detailed appendices offer an unparalleled reference to techinal aspects, use by nearly 150 airlines and several air arms, and the history of each of the 282 Caravelle's produced, from first flight to retirement. Also included is a census of all surviving airframes.

Just been discussing this in the pub: we think - without any reference to books - that the JT-8 Caravelle was the Super 12. Me mate, bless him, thinks that some Caravelles had Speys as well - my younger and well preserved in alcohol brain - or is it atrophied in alcohol, one forgets - can't recall Speyed RR Caravelles, just Ding Dong Avon ones... But perhaps he's right. SE-210, what say you?

Ah, nostalgia!

Catair, Altair, Aero Lloyd, SAM, Transavia, Transwede, LTU - do I recall a Spanish charter outfit? EAS, Sterling. Never mind the flag carriers... And as a spotty anorak I recall an American Caravelle trailing eastbound along Green 1 - N902MW? Something like that...

Last Caravelle I saw is an ex Sabena aircraft in the Brussels museum, hanging from the ceiling. Ah, Sobelair operated them after didn't they?

And then there was was the GE-powered one...

The Rolls-Royce Avon ones had roman numeral marks, the III and the VI. The P&W ones had numeric marks, the 10, 11, and 12.

There was a GE prototype as well but it didn't reach the production stage.

I can only confirm Rhys' view above - if you like the SE.210 you've just got to have this book.

I've just bought it and it's very expensive (£55-00) but THOROUGH.

The Spanish airline was HISPANIA. Remember THREE of them at Glasgow in the wee small hours of a night shift, c.1985

Rgds BEX

Caravelle mini-history
 

There's a fine brief history of the series HERE by Kenneth G. Munson and Nils Alegren

Rhys S. Negative

Thanks for the unsolicited plug.


EGAC

Thanks for buying the book and kind words.


To answer the original query, the answer is, sadly, no, a Caravelle cannot be (legally) returned to the air because the type certificates were cancelled by the holder (Airbus) last December.

The one with Le Caravelle Club at Arlanda will be maintained in potentially airworthy condition.

That said, as far as I am aware, one Super Caravelle (JT8Ds) is still flying in the Congo, 41 years after its first flight.

Vive la Caravelle !

So the Congo Caravelle would be the last flying example? Does any one recall the Caravelle being buried in Mexico after a drug run from further south?:ooh:

That would be this one
Sad end for a lovely looking aeroplane.

Cheers

Yes, the Super Caravelle in the Congo is the last flying example.

Re the link provided by FBF, this Super Caravelle was indeed eventually bulldozed and buried in Mexico.

As mentioned in the book, there may have been another (ex-Sterling) that suffered the same fate.

Some pictures from the sad end of the two Toulouse-Caravelles stored for many years in the south-east corner of the airfield.

That Caravelle in the Congo crashed about 6 months ago, its toast no more, burn't out :{

EGGW.

EGGW

Correct, the former Gabon Express Caravelle 11 R did crash and burn (in August 2004).

However, the Super Caravelle is a different airframe and is still believed flying from Kinshasa; it was certainly active in February and March this year.

Unfortunately must confirm the sad news that 3D-KIK crashed 28/8/04 in Rwanda and was burnt out. Fortunately there were no major injuries.:(

I would very much welcome contact with any crews who flew (or fly!) Caravelles in Africa with the view to improve my historical record of ops; confidentiality assured.

Am I correct that the initial Caravelles did not have drop-down oxygen masks, and they were only introduced on the United Airlines ones because the FAA demanded them. Passengers were dependent on crew handing round portable supplies.

Did any European-certified ones get this later, or did it last until the end of the aircraft ?

What was their service ceiling ? And did they have any significant pressurisation incidents in their lives ?