the DC-7 in front is former Spantax EC-BSQ, at the time WFU and later broken-up in 2008

Installed in 1977 - must have been a real challenge

Delivered to Air France in 1960 and flown from Orly to Merville on 4th December 1979, used as an instructional airframe by the Institute Aéronautique Amaury de la Grange since, somewhat constrained by space.

Several of Transavia's Caravelles received attention from ATEL at Southend in the early 1970s and here is PH-TRH in their hangar. Formerly United's N1011U, it was damaged beyond repair not long after this photo on 22nd June 1974, when the left wing tip struck a blast fence while taxiing at AMS following an aborted night take-off. The stripped hulk was sold as scrap and broken up by February 1976

Another Transavia Caravelle that came to Southend for maintenance with ATEL, PH-TRO is a registration they had previously used on a DC-6. Originally Swissair's HB-ICW, it was bought in October 1969 and was wfu in November 1975 being scrapped early next year, although the nose was saved for the Aviodome at AMS and is now at the Aviodrome, Lelystad.

Another of the ex-United SE.210s, first registered N1015U and bought by Transavia in November 1970. Leased to Air Afrique for summer 1994, it is seen here in primer before being painted white overall with Transavia titles for return to service. In April 1976 it went to the République du Tchad as TT-AAM. After damage and expiry of CoA in May 1980, it was abandoned at N'Djamena, the airframe later being used as a restaurant till burned out at the end of 2001

Seen fairly early in its tenure by Le Caravelle Club, initially there were hopes of returning this ex-Swedish AF aircraft to flight, but although it remains well looked after at Arlanda and has taxied under its own power in recent years, such intentions look unlikely now. First delivered to SAS as SE-DAI 'Alrik Viking' in February 1966 and transferred to the R Swedish AF as 85210 in September 1971, it was ferried from Malmen to Stockholm on 28th January 1999 for its new owners. In the process it conducted the last ever flight of a Caravelle in Europe.

The engines may not be right but at least it is preserved. Compliments my photo of TC-ABA on a rare visit to Heathrow in 1992 at database ref #1996

Delivered new in Syrian Arab Airlines' earlier colours in June 1966 and wfu at Damascus in 1996 carrying the newer (third) livery. Unfortunately broken up in 2012

Not a great image as it begins its take-off roll on 10R in the winter gloom at Heathrow, but my only Tunis Caravelle. Delivered new in March 1964 and wfu October 1977 at Tunis. Preserved at Bordj El Amri aerodrome near Tunis from 1978 for ground instruction.

Formerly serving UTA in West Africa and the Pacific as F-BNRA, this aircraft was leased to Air Afrique between September 1975 and April 1976 and again from November 1976 to January 1977. In November 1977 it joined the French Air Force with callsign F-RAFH (my 1990 photo at LHR #738375). W/o as HK-3932X in 2001

Seen in Transwede's earlier colours, this Caravelle was later painted in their new livery. Ex OH-LSF and I-GISI, it was bought from Altair in November 1985 and was leased to Turkey's Sultan Air in Aug/Nov 1989 before going to STAIR (my pic #739246). Scrapped as HK-3957X at Bogotá in 1997

Still carrying the Alitalia colours adopted from the end of the 1960s, in April 1973 this Caravelle was bought from the Italian flag carrier to whom it had been delivered new as I-DAXE in January 1960. It was wfu at AMS in April 1975 and after use as an emergency trainer, was b/u in 1982

Yet another Caravelle that found its way to Colombia for its final days of service, sold to Aerogolfo in August 1993 as HK-3957X. It had first been delivered to Sterling in June 1970 and was leased to Air Toulouse International for summer 1992 as F-GHKP. The ultimate fate of the aircraft is uncertain but was likely given false identity HK-3869 for a drug run to Mexico in mid-1994 and is said to have been buried there. The genuine HK-3869X was c/n 232 which has been preserved by the Fuerza Aérea Mexicana.

Lovely scene at Gatwick from the old roof terraces, including an Austrian Caravelle and BUA VC10. OY-STI joined Sterling new in May 1969 and on 15th January 1992 flew their last Caravelle commercial flight CPH-LUX-CPH. Leased to Air Toulouse International as F-GHKN in February 1992, it returned in September for storage at Kastrup. In August 1993 it was sold to SEC Colombia as HK-3855X but was written off on 15th March 1994 on take-off from Bogotá carrying explosives when a tyre burst. It returned after burning off fuel but overran the runway, the pilot retracting the landing gear to halt it.

Still sporting the early blue tail trim when seen here in 1971, OH-LSB was new with Finnair in August 1964. To Europe Air Service in March 1981 as F-GDFY, operated for Air Charter International from 1982 to 1990. Leased to ZAS all white with 'ZAS Airline of Egypt' titles and tail logo, wfu at Perpignan in March 1991 but sold to SERCA Colombia as HK-3835X in April 1993. On 6th May 1993 it was damaged beyond repair in a hard landing at Cayenne-Rochambeau, causing the undercarriage to collapse and the fuselage to break fore and aft of the wing.

Finnair's first Caravelle 10B3, delivered in July 1964. Sold in October 1980 to Europe Air Service as F-BMKS and operated by Air Charter from 1981 to 1990. Transferred to Air Toulouse in June 1991. Stored at Toulouse from June 1997 with TT 57713, broken up in March 2004