The first Caravelle flew secret missions

Positioned near the Basilique Saint-Sernin in Toulouse, France, lies a unique aircraft with a surprising secret. This Sud-Aviation SE 210 Caravelle, although the fourth produced, was the first version of this model to be equipped with double-flow Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines, offering increased capacity and improved performance. This particular Caravelle was used in clandestine operations by the French military during the Cold War, making it the first Caravelle to fly secret missions.

The French government approved the design of the Caravelle on October 12, 1951. The conception for the Sud-Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was favored over other contenders, being the only competitor in the competition launched by the SGACC. Today, the Sud-Aviation SE 210 Caravelle is recognized as a pioneering program for French and European civil aviation, and is considered a 'ancestor' of aircraft manufactured by Airbus.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons