Quick Links What was the Sud Aviation Caravelle? Examining the comparative accident data Some of the notable Caravelle accidents Why was the Caravelle accident rate so much higher? France has long been a critical player in the world of aircraft manufacturing. Today, it is home not only to European juggernaut Airbus but also to turboprop manufacturer ATR and business jet and military specialist Dassault. But if you look a little further back in time, the name Sud Aviation also crops up, for it made history in the 1950s by producing the first jetliner specifically for the short to medium-haul market: the SE 210 Caravelle .
What was the Sud Aviation Caravelle? The Caravelle originated from a request by the French Civil Aircraft Committee for a 55 to 65-seat aircraft with a cruising speed of at least 600 km/h (320 knots), a range of at least 2,000 km (1,100 NM), and the ability to take off from runways of 6,500 feet or less. Sud Aviation submitted a design based around two rear-mounted Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets, and in 1952, it was awarded the contract along with an order for two prototypes and two test airframes. Sud Aviation had previously worked with de Havilland and speeded up its development by licensing designs from the company's DH.
106 Comet jetliner, such as the nose and cockpit designs. By 1955, the prototype took to the skies for the first time, and the aircraft was ultimately placed into commercial service with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) in 1959. It would go on to fl.
