Frequently asked questions - FAQ

We have collected some questions into this section and by answering them we hope to correct some misunderstandings.

Is there something about the project you would like to know? Feel free to ask!

Can the SE-DAF be transported to Finland around the Bay of Bothnia or by ferry via Vaasa?

As far as we know the Swedish authorities restrict the routing of oversized highway transport and the cargo has to be transported to the nearest appropriate harbour. In this case it is Kapellskär. To transport the aircraft sections by land via Tornio (around the Bay of Bothnia) or by sea from Umeå to Vaasa is not possible.

How many Caravelles are there in Sweden?

At the moment there are four. In addition to the SE-DAF (frame number 112), at Arlanda there is Le Caravelle Club’s SE-DAI (210) and SE-DAA (4) without the nose section. The nose part is in a private collection in Finland. Furthermore, there is an air force reconnaissance Caravelle at Linköping, it is the former SE-DAG (172).
The SE-DAI was used as a scenery item in the Finnish Kaappari (Hijacker) movie. It was taped into Finnair colours used in 2012-2013 and modified into OH-LSB. The aircraft bore the Finnair taping long after the filming had ended.

Is the collection policy limiting SE-DAF’s possibilities to go into a museum?

The Finnish aviation museums don’t have a shared collection policy. The Aviation Museum Society Finland doesn’t have a collection policy either. Each aviation museum has its own policy and as far as we know, the SE-DAF wouldn’t meet the requirements of the Finnish Aviation Museum’s existing collection policy.

The collection policy is a long-term guidance for each museum, and it is updated every now and then. Its content is not defined in the law or “carved in stone” and it can be changed according to the museum management’s consideration.

In Finland we have generally been very precise that the aircraft must be what it appears to be. The aviation museums abroad are not so particular about this, especially the WWII fighters have often been restored to the appearance of some more distinguished aircraft. However, there is a domestic example of this: the glider LET L-13N-10 Blanink, suspended from the ceiling of the Finnish Aviation Museum, bears the registration OH-VLK although it has never been registered in Finland. The glider was imported from Estonia in 1992.

Where will the Caravelle be placed?

On October 1st 2021 we could say that the Caravelle will be placed at Turku airport, on the south-west side of the terminal. Later the precise location was moved slightly away from the terminal. The tenancy agreement of the 1 415 m2 area was approved at the Aviation Museum Society board meeting on January 4th 2022.

This is a good thing for us, a pity for the neighbours

Yes, we agree about the beginning of your sentence. For the rest we have to remember that after this there will still be two whole Caravelles in Sweden: The reconnaissance Caravelle (former SAS SE-DAG) at the Swedish Air Force Museum and Le Caravelle Club’s SE-DAI.

Why go across the sea to get a former Finnair aircraft to a Finnish museum?

We are aware that Finnair is going to have two of its oldest Airbus A319 aircraft scrapped. In the existing economic situation Finnair decided to write off prematurely the oldest aircraft and dismantle them to spare parts. As far as we know, the aircraft were still worth “several million euros” – which naturally has some meaning for Finnair in this financial situation.

The question includes the thought that the alternative for saving SE-DAF would have been to save some aircraft which had a background in Finland. No – the alternative for saving SE-DAF would have been the scrapping of SE-DAF. Furthermore, this was in practice the last opportunity to get to Finland a 1960s passenger jet, which represents the type used by Finnair.

We think that if in the future we want to save an aircraft which has been used by Finnair, into a museum or otherwise, it is advisable to get it from Finland and not from abroad afterwards.

What did the SE-DAF cost?

SE-DAF is transferred by the Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums into the possession of the Aviation Museum Society Finland without a charge.

What is the cost of the Caravelle-project?

The preliminary budget estimate is 0,5 million euros, but more accurate calculations have only been possible for the first phase of the project (dismantling and transporting the aircraft to Finland), which is estimated to cost 160 000 euros. The costs of the second phase (restoring the aircraft) and third phase (exhibiting the aircraft) haven’t been estimated yet. If cost-effective solutions are found, the total cost may remain well below the roughly estimated 0,5 million euros.

So a genuine Finland-jet couldn’t be found and saved?

Finnish Aviation Museum Society is not actively looking for aircraft to be saved, but it can seize the opportunities when they appear. In a way the question is not right: the alternative for saving SE-DAF is not saving some other aircraft, the alternative would have been the scrapping of SE-DAF.

The latest attempts for saving a Caravelle with a background in Finland were made in late 2005. The attempts were not successful, and the aircraft was scrapped. There are only three remaining Caravelles with a background in Finland: one in the aviation museum at Montelimar in France, one in a Mexican aquapark and one on the edge of a Libyan airfield, where it has been standing since 1975. In the 2-2013 issue of the Aviator-magazine a thorough survey of the fate of the Caravelles was published on pages 58-67, the article is written by Perttu Karivalo. https://www.lehtiluukku.fi/lue/aviator/2-2013/2828

Out of Finnair’s and Spear Air’s Douglas DC-8 aircraft only the OH-LFT still exists, as far as we know it still flies relief flights in the colours of Samaritan's Purse International Disaster Relief.

Out of the Douglas DC-9-10 series aircraft the DC-9-15MC OH-LYH is still flying in South America. Also the East African Safari Express is using two DC-9 aircraft, and one of them may be the OH-LYD which was attempted to bring to Finland in 2015. A couple of the aircraft are stored in Kenya (OH-LYC), Columbia (OH-LYK) and Mexico (OH-LYG), but they may have been scrapped already. The rest have been scrapped without a doubt.

Out of the Douglas DC-9-50 aircraft which have a background in Finland none are flying any more, but four may be stored in Venezuela (OH-LYN, OH-LYO, OH-LYT and OH-LYO) and two in Ukraine (OH-LYV and OH-LYX) and one in Beirut (OH-LYW). At least two of them have been stored after an accident. All the other DC-9-50 aircraft have been scrapped.

Out of the newer 1980s McDonnell Douglas DC-9-80 series aircraft (MD-8X) none are flying any more. The aircraft are mainly stored in the United States, but the OH-LMP has been last seen at Norrköping in Sweden and the OH-LMA at Billund Denmark. All the others have been scrapped.

Out of McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft the OH-LHB flies as a fire-bomber in North America, the OH-LHE is stored in Miami and the rest have been scrapped.

Out of the McDonnell Douglas DC-11 aircraft the OH-LGC, OH-LGD and OH-LGG are flying as cargo versions, the rest have been scrapped.

This report is based on the book Ohjaamot – Suomen liikennelentokoneet (Cockpits – The Finnish Commercial Aircraft), written by Reino Myllymäki and Benjamin Helander. The book can be purchased in the webshop section of this website.

Is the Aviation Museum Society Finland planning to establish its own museum now that it is getting an aircraft?

No, this is not the plan. The Aviation Museum Society can collect items into its own collection without establishing a museum. The Society is not limited by the collection policy of any domestic or foreign aviation museum. The Society doesn’t have a collection policy or program, it can decide case by case whether it seizes the opportunity to save an aircraft which becomes available.

Where will the Caravelle be placed?

It will be placed on display at Turku airport, on the south-west side of the passenger terminal.

Is this the aircraft which appeared in the Finnish movie Kaappari (The Hijacker)?

No, it isn’t. The aircraft seen in the movie was the Le Caravelle Club’s SE-DAI taped into Finnair colours modified into OH-LSB.