Unknown Twinjet at BOD
 

Hi folks. This question is a bit anorakey, but I was in Bordeaux at the weekend and I noticed a twinjet parked on the hanger side of the runway (didn't get which runway) that I didn't recognize.

It's about the same size as an A320 with similar config (engine under each wing, tall-ish gear and conventional tail) but it's pretty old looking, painted in the old Air Inter livery and looks derelict. The engines are interesting in that they look (from a distance anyway) like JT8s.

It's not a Caravelle, it's not a 737 or an A320. Any ideas?

Could it be a Dassault Mercure ?? - similar in configuration but only 10 (I think) built for Air Inter.

Would it have been something like a Dassault Mercure?:confused:

http://www.airtransportbiz.free.fr/A...t/Mercure.html

Mercure
 

Try this photo:-


Mercure

Mercure, the prototype for the A320.

At least they have essentially the same fuselage diameter. The A320 surely has better engines, better aerodynamics, better ....

Seriously, I wonder if there is any commonality between the proposed follow-on to the original Mercure and the eventual A320.

That's the bunny. Thanks guys. Makes pretty good sense given the Dassault presence at BOD too......

paulc.......You're right in saying there were 10 production Mercures (regs F-BTTA-BTTJ), however the prototype F-BTMD was brought up to production standards sometime in the early 80's & put into service with Air Inter.. I worked on them as cabin crew in the late 80s/early 90s & remember them well esp. doing AF CDG-LGW flights on them for a couple of years round about 90-91. They were well liked by cabin & flight crew alike.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to remember reading that the Mercure was the first civil aircraft to be fitted with a Head up display.

ramsrc.........10/10!! The Mercures were fitted with HUDs on both sides of the flight deck.....Air Inter later fitted HUDs to the A320s on the left hand side only.