Sir - I refer to the entry for the Aerospatiale (Sud Aviation) Caravelle in the Ageing Airliner Census 1997 (Flight International, 9-15 July, P37).
At the time of the survey there were only seven (not 24) Caravelles in commercial service (five in Colombia with two operators and two in Zaire, with one operator). Another aircraft is due for delivery to Africa from storage in Belgium and perhaps another dozen are in airworthy condition, including two with the Swedish air force and two with the Mexican air force.
The youngest operational aircraft is a mere 28 years old, not 37. Although 282 Caravelles were built, this number includes three prototypes which were never delivered.
Finally, the original design life was 30,000h, but fatigue tests much later in the type's life revealed that the structure was good "indefinitely", subject to appropriate modifications.
John Wegg
Sandpoint, Idaho, USA
[The fleet data in the Census include aircraft which are believed to be in temporary storage. Ed.]
Source: Flight International