This 1960 color film was produced by the Societe Nouvelle Pathe Cinema and directed by Jean-Jacques Languepin. A see-through model of the Sud Aviation Air France Caravelle jet airliner is shown. The two engines are uniquely located in the tail fuselage (1:08-1:35). A view of the cockpit instrument panel is shown (1:36-1:47). Behind a network of tubing is a turbine with blades cut as fine as diamonds, shown up close (1:48-2:02). More of the cockpit is shown (2:03-2:13). Stewardesses serve well-dressed passengers large trays of food and drinks from a rolling cart. The stewardess cuts the meat for a child and another hands out deserts (2:14-3:15). A steward turns on a tape recorder to play soothing music in the cabin. A stewardess hands out magazines, an elderly couple play cards on their tray tables, and a man smokes a cigarette while sharing a magazine with a woman (3:16-4:15). The ground through clouds is seen through the window (4:16-4:25). The Caravelle is shown flying (4:26-4:35). The camera takes artistic license to show many of the various manufactured pieces and parts of a Caravelle (4:36-5:29). A steel carving machine and a riveting machine are shown in action. Workers install parts with a black background. The camera artfully moves through the mass of metal in the factory (5:30-6:24). Engineers test parts (6:25-6:40). A line of Caravelle airplanes being built are shown (6:41-6:49). Each plane’s wings and body are entirely submerged into a giant tank of water to test it under pressure. A worker in a wetsuit, mask, and flippers is shown inspecting it (6:50-7:40). A worker carries in a control and hands it up into the plane to another worker. Other pieces are shown being installed (7:41-8:29). A test pilot dressed in a suit and long overcoat dramatically approaches and climbs the stairs. He moves the controls to test the wing flap reactions. He is then shown wearing a flight helmet testing it in flight. Parallel footage is taken of the plane flying (8:30-10:45). The air brakes are shown being activated with levers inside the cockpit and outside on the wing (10:46-10:56). More views inside the cockpit and of the plane flying before landing on a runway, shown from the side and back (10:57-14:29). The retractable stairway opens out the back (14:30-14:40). Passengers wait at the terminal and pilots walk past carrying bags (14:41-15:18). Passengers are shown at foot level walking to the plane and boarding (15:19-15:42). The pilot requests permission to take off and inside the control tower is shown (15:43-16:15). The plane taxis and takes off, and shown in flight (16:16-17:20). On board, the couple are shown again and a woman wearing pearls lights and smokes a cigarette (17:21-17:45). The plane is shown in flight and then the view from the cockpit (17:46-19:03). A male passenger in a suit and smoking a cigarette picks up and drinks his iced beverage (19:04-19:11). Two children play with a toy on their trays (19:35-19:43). The plane’s contrails streak against the sky at sunset (19:55-20:15).
The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was a French short/medium-range jet airline and the world's first jet-powered airliner to be developed for the short/medium-range market. Development began during the early 1950s under SNCASE. In order to achieve this, SNCASE formed partnerships with British companies such as de Havilland (who provided designs and components which had on their jet-powered airliner, the de Havilland Comet) and Rolls-Royce Limited (from whom the Caravelle's Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engines were sourced). While much of the airliner's development, including its maiden flight on 27 May 1955, was conducted under SNCASE; by the time that the Caravelle entered revenue service on 26 April 1959, the firm had been merged into the larger Sud Aviation conglomerate. Within a few years of commencing passenger services, the Caravelle became one of the most successful European first-generation jetliners. The airliner achieved substantial sales to operators throughout Europe and had even managed to penetrate the United States market, United Airlines placing an order for 20 Caravelles.The Caravelle established the aft-mounted engine, clean-wing design configuration that is still used by smaller jetliners.
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