The Caravelle "Finn Viking" will reopen to the public at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology on July 1. With a new staircase solution, it will be possible to enter the fuselage, move through the cabin, see the cockpit and exit at the back of the plane. This is a real passenger plane from the beginning of the jet age – preserved and prepared for the public.
Jet age
When SAS took the Caravelle into service in 1959, it marked a technological shift in aviation. Jet engines provided higher speeds, greater capacity and shorter travel times than the propeller-driven aircraft that had dominated until then. The Caravelle was SAS's first jet aircraft and a key element in the development of an international network that connected Europe with the Middle East and North Africa.
The history of the Caravelle jet aircraft.
– Video: NTM
After being parked outdoors at Gardermoen, the plane was restored and transported to the museum in 1985. The wings and tail rudder were dismantled to bring the plane into the specially built hangar at Kjelsås. Today, Finn Viking is the museum's largest exhibit. With the new staircase, the plane has been prepared for new public use, and the public can experience the plane's cabin, technology and history up close.
The Caravelle "Finn Viking" is manufactured by Sud Aviation in France and is equipped with two Rolls-Royce Avon engines. The aircraft has a cruising speed of around 800 kilometers per hour, a maximum take-off weight of 46 tons and 81 seats. SAS's Caraveller flew a total of 480,400 flight hours, made 441,000 landings, covered 261 million kilometers and carried 13.5 million passengers.
Interview with former captain of the Caravelle jet, Stein Rolth.
– Video: NTM
On board
To make the aircraft ready for the public, a staircase has been built by the front passenger door, which will serve as an entrance. The row of seats on one side of the cabin has been removed to make way for a continuous public route, while the seats on the opposite side have been cleaned and secured behind plexiglass. Objects in the cabin have been preserved, the carpet has been cleaned, and electricity and lighting have been installed. At the rear, a new staircase solution has been established above the existing staircase, which will become the aircraft's exit.
1. The stairs arrive at the museum.
2. Conservator vacuums the cabin.
3. The staircase takes shape in the exhibition.
4. Inspection of the cabin.
5. The staircase is fully assembled.
6. The staircase is being transported to The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology .
– Photo: Jill Bottolfsen / NTM
When the plane opens its doors on July 1, visitors can once again board the SAS jet "Finn Viking", move through the cabin and look into the cockpit. The reopening is the first phase of a larger communication project. Phase two will begin in the fall with the development of a new exhibition about the history of the plane and its importance for modern passenger aviation, as well as new teaching programs for schools.
