Seconds from touch-down on 28R, this Caravelle was delivered to the Belgian flag carrier in 12.64 and sold to Minerve as F-GATZ in 12.78. Stored and scrapped at Nimes by 1994

Formerly JY-ACT of Alia, this fine looking machine was acquired by SATA in 3.73 but crashed into the sea five miles short of the runway at Funchal, Madeira on 18.12.77 after the crew failed to set the altimeter to the correct QNH. In October 2011 the wreckage of the Caravelle was found by two Portuguese divers at a depth of 110m, having broken into two sections

Doubtless no stranger to Athens during its previous ownership by Syrian Arab as YK-AFC, this Caravelle was initially Sterling's OY-STA prior to that, being operated by them 3.65 - 6.71. Acquired by EAS 10.82 and lsd to Air Toulouse Int 4.91; sold to Waltair as 9Q-CPI 8.92 and used for freight but wfu at Kinshasa by 12.96 and deteriorated rapidly, being finally broken up by early 2001

First registered F-WLKS then F-BLKS by Sud in 1965 and delivered to Iberia as EC-BDC in 4.66, going across to Aviaco as EC-CAE in 4.72. Bought by Aero Lloyd 5.80; stored at Bordeaux from 1991 and became derelict, eventually being b/u in 2005 (front section taken for private display at a country house)

Showing off her classic lines to advantage, one of four Caravelles flown by Transeuropa taxies out for Gatwick's runway 08. Delivered to Alia in 7.65, sold to Air Afrique in 12.73 then to Spain 6.78. After operation by Hispania, sold to EAS in 12.87 and eventually broken up at Perpignan late nineties

Delivered to SAS in 4.60, leased to Thai International as HS-TGH between 10.65 and 3.70, last service 9.74 and used as fire trainer at Arlanda. B/u 9.89

Named 'Mine' and on a very rare but welcome visit to London, this Caravelle is now preserved in the museum at Istanbul-Yesilkoy. Relatively late-build aircraft delivered to SATA in 1970 as HB-ICN.

Aerosucre operated a fleet DC-6s and a couple of ex-BAF Heralds, later adding Caravelles before moving on to the current mix of Boeing 727 and 737 freighters. This Caravelle, originally Iberia's EC-BIF, is seen here in its ex-Aerolloyd colours and is one of a number that went on to perform often nefarious duties down in Colombia in their twilight years. Indeed she went on to Transapel and a drug smuggling career with Aerogolfo, being seized by the Mexicans in 1994 and landing up with the Mexican AF as 10507 (stored at Santa Lucia AB but now b/u).

With a minute serial number, only my logbook confirms the identity of this aircraft. Callsign F-RAFG, but not carried.

Another Caravelle with a well-known European flag carrier start to its service life, this was Finnair's OH-LSA 'Helsinki' from 7.64. Bought by EAS 3.81 and leased to ACI then Air Toulouse Int from 6.91 to 3.97 when wfu at TLS; apparently offered for sale for $1.5m in 2001 but completely scrapped on 11.03.04

A splendid array of Caravelles could be seen at Athens in the Eighties - I was fortunate enough to catch 10 different examples on camera over my two visits. This one was originally Sabena's OO-SRE delivered in 3.61 and sold to Catair in 5.76, passing on to EAS (still in SN colours) then Corse Air just over a year prior to this shot. Wfu at Chateauroux 2.87 and preserved by the airport but later scrapped

Bought from Trans Europa, the first owner, four months prior to this photo and sold to Istanbul Airlines as TC-ALA in 9.89. Later to SERCA, SEC and Lineas Aereas Suramericanas as HK-3837X and eventually scrapped at Bogotá in 10.01

This aircraft form part of the Musee de l'Air collection at Le Bourget. The backdrop is the old terminal building which now houses part of the museum.

Two SATA Caravelles sit on the ramp at Geneva. As a long-haired student I hitch-hiked across Europe and took a few photographs with a small compact camera.

This photograph gives an indication of how different things looked in the early 1970s at Heathrow. Also visible in this shot are a DC8 of Alitalia, A Boeing 727 of Air France and a Boeing 707 of Olympic

Flew for JAT, Aérotour and Corse Air International until 1987. Ended up with the ORY fire brigade.