SUD-AVIATION SE-210 CARAVELLE VARIANTS

Last updated August 25 2020

CARAVELLE PROTOTYPES - 2 aircrafts

The first prototype of the Caravelle (F-WHHH), christened by Madame de Gaulle, was rolled out on 21 April 1955 and flew on 27 May, powered by two British Rolls-Royce RA-26 Mk.522. The flight duration was 41 minutes. The second prototype flew a year later on 6 May 1956. The first prototype had a cargo door on the lower left side of the fuselage, but this was removed in the second prototype for an all-seating arrangement.

Prototypes

CARAVELLE I - 20 aircrafts

Similar to the original prototypes; first flew on 14 May 1958. This variant was powered by two Rolls-Royce RA-29 Avon Mk.522 and a capacity of 80 passengers. The French certification was obtained on 2 April 1959, and the FAA certification was obtained six days later. The first revenue flight took place in that same year with Air France in the Paris-Rome-Athens–Istanbul route.

AIR FRANCE (9)

#1: F-BHRA, #2: F-BHRB, #5: F-BHRC, #8: F-BHRD, #9: F-BHRE, #12: F-BHRF, #13: F-BHRG, #16: F-BHRH, #17: F-BHRI

SAS - SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES SYSTEMS (6)

#3: LN-KLH, #4: SE-DAA, #6: OY-KRA, #7: LN-KLI, #11: SE-DAB, #14: OY-KRB

AIR ALGERIE (2)

#18: F-OBNG (7T-VAG), #20: F-OBNH

VARIG, BRAZIL (2)

#10: PP-VJC, #15: PP-VJD

AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS (1)

#19: LV-PPR (LV-HGX)

CARAVELLE IA - 12 aircrafts

This variant had the same external configuration as variant I but with more powerful engines, the Rolls-Royce Avon RA-29/1 Mk.526. Obviously, with improved capabilities. The first flight took place on 11 February 1960. Variants I and IA were later converted to the III variant (i.e. upgraded engines).

SAS - SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINE SYSTEMS (4)

#24: LN-KLP, #25: SE-DAC, #29: OY-KRC, #30: LN-KLR

AIR FRANCE (3)

#23: F-BHRJ, #26: F-BHRK, #31: F-BHRL

FINNAIR, FINLAND (3)

#21: OH-LEA, #22: OH-LEB, #27: OH-LEC

AIR ALGERIE (1)

#28: F-OBNI (7T-VAI)

RAM - ROYAL AIR MAROC (1)

#32: CN-CCV

CARAVELLE III - 79 aircrafts

Later improvements of the Avon motors led to the Caravelle III. It first flew on 30 December 1959, beginning service with Alitalia in April 1960. The Caravelle III was powered with Rolls-Royce Avon RA-29/3 Mk.527 and
RA-29/3 Mk.527B.

The version most successfull from a sales point of view.

Construction numbers
33-61, 68, 83, 84, 105, 111-113, 115, 116, 119, 121-124, 141, 142, 144, 145, 147, 148, 152, 154, 170, 172, 177, 178, 191, 193, 195, 206-210, 214, 217, 220, 224, 227, 229, 242, 244-246, 248, 2252, 254, 256, 258 and 260.

CARAVELLE VI-N - 52 aircrafts

Power-improved version with Avon RA-29/6 Mk 531 and RA 29/6 Mk 531B. The capabilities were improved and the weights increased; the payload was reduced. The Caravelle VI-N first flew on September 10, 1960 beginning service with Sabena (Belgium) on January 1961. Of the 79 Series III, 5 were upgraded to Series VI N.

Construction numbers
64-67, 69-82, 85, 106, 127, 128, 130, 132, 134, 135, 139, 143, 146, 149-151, 153, 155, 157, 174, 175, 179, 180, 192, 194, 196, 203-205, 213, 2216, 218, 231, 233, 237 and 241.

CARAVELLE VI-R - 56 aircrafts

First Caravelle with thrust reversers. The cockpit windows were made bigger with redesigned layout and more powerful brakes were introduced. It first flew on February 6, 1961, obtaining the FAA certificate on June 5 that same year. It began service with United Airlines on July 14 the same year. Caravelle VI-R was powered by Avon Ra-29 Mk, 533R and Mk 535R (R for Reverse).

Construction numbers
62, 86-104, 107-110, 114, 117, 118, 120, 125, 126, 129, 131, 133, 136-138, 140, 156, 158-168, 171, 173, 197, 198, 221, 226 and 234.

CARAVELLE VII - 1 aircraft (converted variant III)

This was a Series III, (c/n 042), which was purchased by General Electric, ferried to the United States as Santa Maria and equipped with General Electric CJ-805-23 aft-fan engines, becoming, in effect, the engine test-bed for the Caravelle 10A. Flight tests with the new engines began on December 29, 1960.

It was later converted back to version III and eventually sold to Air France.

GENERAL ELECTRIC, U.S.A.

#42: N420GE

CARAVELLE 10A - 1 aircraft

Based on the Series VII, but intended for the US market, the 10A was 1 metre longer than the Series VI, with the windows located 200 mm higher on the fuselage. The sole prototype was powered by two General Electric CJ-805-23C aft-fan engines and flew for the first time on August 31, 1962. A modified wing with improved flaps was fitted to meet FAA requirements, as was an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) in the rear fuselage. However TWA cancelled its order for 20 aircraft due to financial problems, and by the time TWA was in a position to purchase new aircraft, the Douglas DC-9 was preferred. After testing the prototype was scrapped.

SUD AVIATION, FRANCE

#63: F-WJAO

CARAVELLE 10B - 22 aircrafts

Based on the Series 10A, this variant offered many modifications in respect to other series. It introduced the LEX or "Leading Edge Extension" (a fillet added to the front of an aircraft wings in order to provide usable airflow at high angles of attack). The wing mounted split flaps and the fuselage was extended 1.40 m, with an increase in passenger capacity to 105. The engines used were the new Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan engines.
The 10B first flew on August 31, 1964.

Construction numbers
169, 181-190, 211, 212, 238, 249, 257, 259, 262 and 265-268.

CARAVELLE 10R - 20 aircrafts

A combination of the 10B's engines on the Series VI-R fuselage, creating a smaller but higher powered plane. Maximum weight at take-off was increased to 52,000 kg. It first flew on January 8, 1965 and received the FAA certification on May 23 of that same year.

Construction numbers
176, 199, 200-202, 222, 223, 225, 228, 230, 232, 235, 236, 239, 243, 247, 250, 253, 255 and 263.

CARAVELLE 11R - 6 aircrafts

The 11R had an increased fuselage length compared to the other variants and incorporated a cargo door in the port side. This enabled it to carry a mixed load of passengers and cargo.
First flight of the series 11R was on April 21, 1967.

AIR AFRIQUE

#215: TU-TCO, #219: TU-TCY

AIR CONGO (later AIR ZAIRE)

#240: 9Q-CLC, #251: 9Q-CLD

IBERIA, Spain

#261: EC-BRX

TRANS EUROPA, Spain

#264: EC-BRY

CARAVELLE 12 - 12 aircrafts

This was the last version of the Caravelle to appear, the most advanced of them all which first flew on March 12, 1971. The Series 12 was a 10B with a noticeably longer fuselage, stretched by 3.2 metres (10 ft), and a newer upgraded version of the JT8D engines. This allowed for up to 140 passengers over a reduced range. The 12 was aimed primarily at the charter market. 12 aircrafts were produced starting in 1972.

STERLING AIRWAYS

#269: OY-SAC, #270: OY-SAA, #271: OY-SAB, #272: OY-SAD, #273: OY-SAE, #275: OY-SAF, #276: OY-SAG

AIR INTER

#274: F-BTOA, #277: F-BTOB, #278: F-BTOC, #279: F-BTOD, #280: F-BTOE