F-BNKK ¦ MPL 12.06.1979
Sud Est SE.210 Caravelle 3 (c/n 256)
Air Inter (Linges Aériennes Intérieures)
Montepllier-Fréjorgues (MPL/LFMT)
12 June 1979
Formed in 1954 as Lignes Aériennes Intérieures, but generally known as Air Inter, this company became the mainstay of French domestic air travel, operating from Paris-Orly to all major french cities. Air Inter was the launch customer of the Dassault Mercure jetliner, and was also an early operator of both, the Airbus A.300 and A.320.
In the sixites and seventies, a substantial fleet of Caravelles was being operated, including 12 of the early model -3, Air Inter's first jet aircraft. Included was F-BNKK, built in 1969 and delivered to Air Inter in December that year. The Caravelle 3 had no thrust reversers, but a tail mounted drag chute instead, which could be deployed on short, wet or icy runways. Otherwise the Caravelel 3 was relaying solely on its wheel brakes.
F-BNKK was captured basking in the sun at Montpellier, ready to take another passenger load for the return flight to Paris. F-BNKK continued in Air Inter service until April 1981, when it was sold to Intercontinental Airways as 5N-AVO, a short-lived Nigerian operator which acquired several ex Air Inter Caravelles. 5N-AVO was eventually retired at Lagos, and broken up there in July 2002.
F-BNKK ¦ MPL 12.06.1979
Sud Est SE.210 Caravelle 3 (c/n 256)
Air Inter (Linges Aériennes Intérieures)
Montepllier-Fréjorgues (MPL/LFMT)
12 June 1979
Formed in 1954 as Lignes Aériennes Intérieures, but generally known as Air Inter, this company became the mainstay of French domestic air travel, operating from Paris-Orly to all major french cities. Air Inter was the launch customer of the Dassault Mercure jetliner, and was also an early operator of both, the Airbus A.300 and A.320.
In the sixites and seventies, a substantial fleet of Caravelles was being operated, including 12 of the early model -3, Air Inter's first jet aircraft. Included was F-BNKK, built in 1969 and delivered to Air Inter in December that year. The Caravelle 3 had no thrust reversers, but a tail mounted drag chute instead, which could be deployed on short, wet or icy runways. Otherwise the Caravelel 3 was relaying solely on its wheel brakes.
F-BNKK was captured basking in the sun at Montpellier, ready to take another passenger load for the return flight to Paris. F-BNKK continued in Air Inter service until April 1981, when it was sold to Intercontinental Airways as 5N-AVO, a short-lived Nigerian operator which acquired several ex Air Inter Caravelles. 5N-AVO was eventually retired at Lagos, and broken up there in July 2002.