The Rise of the Caravelle 3
The popularity of the “Caravelle” in Western Europe grew even further with the introduction of the “Caravelle 3” in December 1959. This improved version featured more advanced “Avon” 527 engines, delivering a thrust of 5170 kgf, and a passenger cabin designed to accommodate 65-80 people.
The prototype of the “Caravelle 3” first took to the air on December 30, 1959. The initial “threes” entered regular service painted in the livery of the Italian airline “Alitalia,” primarily flying the Rome-London route from May 1960 onwards.
Initial Operations and Modernization
Many early variants, including models 1 and 1A, were upgraded to the Model 3 standard. As a result of these modernizations, “Air France” eventually operated 41 “Caravelle 3” aircraft in its fleet.
Impact on the French Industry
By the end of 1960, the number of firm orders for the airliner exceeded one hundred. The steady growth in the “Caravelle’s” popularity favorably reflected on the prestige of the French aviation industry, despite increasing American competition.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | Caravelle 3 |
| Wingspan, m | 34.30 |
| Length, m | 32.01 |
| Height, m | 9.00 |
| Wing area, m2 | 146.70 |
| Empty weight | 23075 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 46000 |
| Internal fuel, l | 19000 |
| Engine type | 2 Rolls-Royce Avon RA.29 Mk 527 Turbojets |
| Thrust, kgf | 2 x 5170 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 805 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 776 |
| Practical range, km | 2340 |
| Range with maximum payload, km | 1700 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 12000 |
| Crew, crew members | 3 |
| Payload: | 64 passengers in two-class cabin or 80 in economy class |
Image gallery of the Caravelle 3
