Classic airliner exhibited at Turku Airport
Following the transportation of Sud-Aviation SE210 Caravelle SE-DAF from Arlanda Airport in Sweden to Finland in August 2022, the 1962-vintage airliner has now been reassembled at Turku Airport, where it will be displayed as a memorial to the early jet age in Finland.
Initial restoration work was performed at Pansio by volunteers from the Aviation Museum Society Finland (AMSF). By early June 2023, the wings, fuselage, fin, stabiliser, engine nacelles and various other components had been transported to Turku. Reassembly lasted seven days, being performed by eight FSAM members including Markku Ahokoski, Kari Nyman, Martti Saarinen and four other former mechanics, all of whom had previous experience of working with the Caravelle in Finnair service. Work on the cabin interior is now under way, as are the final touches to the exterior.
The aircraft has been painted as OH-LEA, which was Aero Oy’s first Caravelle. In Aero Oy service, OH-LEA was named Sinilintu (Bluebird). Originally delivered in 1960, it was subsequently sold back to the Sud-Aviation factory in 1964, eventually ending up in Zaire in 1986, where it was later scrapped.
