The Caravelle was the first jet airliner to be designed with the engines mounted on the rear of the fuselage. This made the cabin quieter and improved single-engine performance over aircraft with the engines mounted on the wing. It was also the first jet airliner produced in Europe outside of England. The aircraft was designed in response to a French government requirement for a medium range airliner for Air France. The first one flew in 1955 and entered service in 1959. The VI-R (6R) version of the Caravelle introduced thrust reversers and spoilers to improve landing performance. In September 2004, the last known flying Caravelle ended its final flight at Gisenyi, Rwanda.
Wingspan
112 ft 6 in.
Length
105 ft
Height
29 ft 7 in.
Weight
110,230 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed
512 mph
Service Ceiling
39,370 ft
Range
1,450 miles
Engines
Two Rolls Royce Avon Mark 532R turbojets with 12,600 pounds of thrust each
Crew
3
Passengers
80
Manufacturer Sud Aviation
Markings Aero Service Corporation, Houston, Texas, 1990
Designation SE-210
Registration N1001U
Serial Number 86
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