What was France's first commercial jet airliner?

Short answer

The Sud Aviation Caravelle, born from the medium-range specification that the Comité du matériel civil published on 12 October 1951 for a 55-to-65-passenger airliner. Its first prototype flew on 27 May 1955, for 41 minutes, with two British Rolls-Royce RA-26 Avon Mk.522 engines.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

What was France's first commercial jet airliner?

Thai Airways International Sud Aviation Caravelle (OY KRE) at Stockholm Arlanda AirportLars Söderström (CC BY SA), vía commons

The 1951 specification

On 12 October 1951 the Comité du matériel civil published a specification for a medium-range airliner. The text, later sent to industry by the Direction Technique et Industrielle, called for an aircraft able to carry between 55 and 65 passengers. A total of 20 different designs were received. On 28 March 1952, after studying the submitted entries, the Comité announced it had drawn up a shortlist of three contenders. Among them was the three-engined Avon Sud-Est X-210.

The prototype's first flight

On 27 May 1955 the first prototype made its maiden flight, powered by a pair of British-built Rolls-Royce RA-26 Avon Mk.522 engines. That first flight lasted 41 minutes.

Tail-mounted engines and series production

SNCASE judged that the savings did not justify the effort of relocating the engines from their rear position, a decision that proved beneficial for the design because cabin noise ended up greatly reduced. Across all Caravelle types, 282 aircraft were built: two prototypes or pre-production aircraft and 280 production aircraft.