Summary
The Sud Aviation SE.210 Caravelle was an important early jet airliner which introduced a number of innovations in aircraft design and passenger comforts.
It was the forerunner of many other early jet airliners, like the Hawker Siddeley Trident, Douglas DC-9 and BAC One-Eleven.
The Caravelle introduced concepts such as the T-tail design and rear-mounted engines.
Over the course of its development, Sud Aviation introduced nine different variants of Caravelle, each catering to different needs and upgrading the previous generation of engine power and avionics. Some 282 Caravelle aircraft were built.
The Last Caravelle
The final Caravelle to roll off the production line in Toulouse was a Caravelle 12 variant.
Part of an order for French regional airline Air Inter, it was given the registration F-BTOE and had construction number 280.
The aircraft took to the skies for the first time on 8th March 1973.
F-BTOE was delivered to Air Inter only eight days later, on 16th March, and began serving on the airline’s domestic route network, as well as on international services across Europe.
The Caravelle 12 was the largest variant, and offered the most seats of any Caravelle. It was therefore useful on Air Inter’s trunk routes, as well as leisure and holiday services.
Over the course of almost 20 years, F-BTOE continued in service with Air Inter and never flew for any other airline.
It wore two different liveries over this period.
Retirement
Air Inter retired the last Caravelle in July 1991 as these older jets were being replaced by more modern Airbus types like the A320.
The aircraft was initially stored at Paris Orly, and its registration was cancelled on 22nd April 1993.
Preservation
The status as the last Caravelle aircraft was not lost, and Airbus planned to acquire and preserve F-BTOE as a symbol of French aircraft development.
In 1993 it was ferried to Toulouse Blagnac Airport, where it had been built, and initially painted in Aerospatiale house livery.
It was placed temporarily on display in 2002 alongside the Concorde prototype preserved at the airport.
In 2008 it was decided to repaint the aircraft in Air Inter’s final colours, despite initial plans to paint it in the colours worn by the Caravelle prototype. This eventually happened in 2014, making use of the painting facilities at the adjacent Airbus factory.
F-BTOE was eventually placed on display, again alongside a Concorde aircraft, at the new Aeroscopia museum at Toulouse Blagnac, and can still be seen there today.
This museum is a place which tells the story of French aircraft development and displays many important airframes – including an Airbus A300 and Beluga.
You can visit Aeroscopia at Toulouse every day from 9.30am to 6pm.
See https://www.aeroscopia.fr/en
Sud Aviation Caravelle Timelines
The new hardcover book, Sud Aviation Caravelle Timelines, charts the history of this iconic jet airliner from its development and through decades of service.
See the airlines around the world that flew the Caravelle, and learn of the survivors still around today, like F-BTOE in Toulouse.
