Caravelle: WORLD'S FIRST REAR-ENGINE JETLINER

摘要

It happened every day at about 5:15. The distinctive and unmistakable whine of Rolls-Royce turbojets permeated the afternoon air as the graceful shape of a jet airliner slowly came into view from the southwest. In a sky full of recently-introduced four-engined Boeing 707s and Douglas DC-8s, as well as Convair's brand new twins, the 880 and 990, this airplane's plan view silhouette stood out from all the rest, distinguished by its bullet-shaped nose, and only two engines mounted in sleek nacelles fastened to either side of the aft fuselage. Unlike the larger jets with their rakish 30 and 35-degree sweepback, the wings on this airplane were swept back only a mild, but elegant 20 degrees. The year was 1961, and the United States was fully embraced in President John F. Kennedy's magical era of 'Camelot'. Despite persistent fears about the Cold War, we now had men in space, and the world was becoming a better place to live. The reason I mention the overall political and cultural climate at this juncture is simply this: That twinjet flying over my apartment building every afternoon Monday through Friday had just taken off from New York's Idlewild airport twelve miles away, departing at 5:00pm and bound for brand new O'Hare Airport in Chicago. It was a glistening new United Air Lines SE. 210 Caravelle VIR, carrying 66 passengers in an all-first class service known proudly as the 'Chicago Executive'. Having entered service with United in July of that year, United's Caravelle was the first twin-engined jet airliner to be flown operationally in the US, and the first jetliner to be flown by a two-man crew as well. What was unique about this, however, is that the term 'political correctness' hadn't been invented yet. Offering VIP service and complimentary cigars to the passengers, these flights were actually restricted by gender, and were proudly labeled as 'Men Only'. The two lone females on board the aircraft were Stewardesses. Try that one today!