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The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the world's first short-to-medium-range jet airliner, produced by the French Sud Aviation company. It was also the first jet airliner to be designed with the engines mounted on the rear of the fuselage.
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- Lockheed JetStar. While these days focused on military aircraft rather than civilian, Lockheed formally introduced the world to the private business jet when it introduced its JetStar in 1961.
- Learjet 23. After looking closely at the potential of the Swiss FFA P-16 fighter jet, William Powell Lear decided to produce a twin-engine powered business jet.
- Gulfstream II. Built initially by Grumman and then later by Gulfstream Aviation, the Grumman Gulfstream II business jet was designed to offer high-speed, long-range performance without sacrificing airport performance.
- Cessna 500 Citation. In the early 1960s, American private plane makers Cessna, Beechcraft, and Piper were worried about losing their market share to light business jets like the Learjet 23 and the Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander.
In 1965, Air France established its headquarters in Montparnasse. At the end of the 1960s, traffic rose spectacularly – over 5.5 million passengers travelled with Air France in 1969, twice as many as in 1959. The fleet was now exclusively made up of jets, significantly improving the airline's productivity. Air France's finances were also excellent.
- Lockheed JetStar. FIRST FLIGHT: September 4, 1957. IMPACT: The Lockheed JetStar was literally the first in its class. It was the first business jet to enter dedicated service.
- Learjet 23. FIRST FLIGHT: October 7, 1963. IMPACT: Invented the light-jet segment for corporate travel. VERDICT: Introduced in 1964, the first Learjet model became an instant icon, creating a new market for small-but-fast business jets.
- Grumman Gulfstream II. FIRST FLIGHT: October 2, 1966. IMPACT: First large business jet with an exquisite cabin and extended range. VERDICT: This twin turbofan business jet was capable of flying transcontinental flights with its 3,580-nautical-mile range with a maximum cruise speed of 420 knots.
- Dassault Falcon 50. FIRST FLIGHT: November 7, 1976. IMPACT: Dramatically extended range in the super-midsize category. VERDICT: The Falcon 50 was the first aircraft from the French airframer with transatlantic range.
- A New Requirement
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- Entering Service
- An Evolving Industry
- Across The Continents
The SE 210 Caravelle was designed following the French Secretariat General of Commercial and Civil Aviation's need for a transport that can perform at a range between 1,600 km and 2,000 km (865 NM to 1,080 NM). An aircraft with this ability would allow for greater connectivity between France and North Africa. So, at the beginning of the 1950s, Soci...
Marignane, which became a notable Airbus site, played a crucial role in the construction of the Caravelle. For instance, the building of the first 28 equipped nose sections began here in 1955. However, the contribution ran far deeper. “Production of the engine nacelles, including their titanium and stainless steel air intakes, also started here at ...
All in all, 282 Caravelles were produced between 1958 and 1972. The first airline to deploy the aircraft was Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) on April 26th, 1959. Even though it was SAS that gave the plane its debut, the first airline to order the type was Air France, which flew 54 units and was integral to the testing process. The carrier was a ...
As Air France highlights, the Caravelle soon got pushed to the side by more efficient solutions that emerged. For instance, the Boeing 727 and 737 became favorites among the industry. Thus, Sud Aviation, which became Aerospatiale, and then Airbus EADS, revised its focus. One factor that contributed to the decline of the program was the ambition of ...
Swissair and Finnair were two other primary users of the Caravelle. Regardless, it could be seen all across the globe. Some of the 100+ airlines that held the plane were Air Algérie, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, Alitalia, United Airlines, and Tunisair. Even though the likes of Douglas DC-8, de Havilland Com...
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Aug 12, 2023 · The French manufacturer SNCASE developed the Sud Aviation Caravelle, a twin-engined, short- to medium-range airliner. The prototype (F-WHHH) took its maiden flight on May 27, 1955, and entered revenue service with the Scandinavian Airline System (SAS) on April 26, 1959.
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On 1 November 1950, a Russian MiG-15 pilot, Lieutenant Semyon F. Khominich, became the first pilot in history to be credited with a jet-versus-jet aerial kill after he claimed to have shot down an F-80.
