flyCaravelle Gotland: The World’s Only Sud Aviation Caravelle Flight Simulator

Flight Simulator Sweden — The World’s Only Sud Aviation Caravelle at flyCaravelle, Gotland

flyCaravelle is one of the most extraordinary flight simulator venues in the world — and the only one of its kind anywhere on earth. Located at Bunge Flygmuseum on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, the simulator is built around the 100% original cockpit of a real Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle — a genuine 1960s commercial jet airliner that revolutionised European aviation when it entered service in 1959. Four years of work and 5,000 hours of loving restoration by one of Europe’s most experienced Airbus captains have produced a simulator that is simultaneously a piece of living aviation history and a cutting-edge flight simulation experience.

This is the only place in the world where you can fly a Caravelle. The type was retired decades ago, its cockpits scattered and forgotten. This one was found, transported to Sweden, and brought back to life. When you sit in the left seat at flyCaravelle, you are in a cockpit that once carried real passengers across Europe — with the same instruments, the same smells, the same sounds, and now a 220° Full HD projection system and state-of-the-art technology that makes it fly with total authenticity.

The Story of the Caravelle and the Man Who Saved It

The simulator is the life’s work of Nils Alegren — 42 years old, one of Europe’s most experienced Airbus wide-body captains with over 13,000 flight hours, and the son of a Lufthansa captain and an Air France stewardess. His mother flew the Caravelle. The family’s entire life has been woven through aviation — from his grandfather through to his wife. When the opportunity came to acquire a real Caravelle cockpit, Nils spent four years and 5,000 hours restoring and reverse-engineering it to the highest possible standard, retaining 100% of its original 1960s equipment while integrating state-of-the-art simulation technology.

The aircraft’s full name is F-BHRU, construction number 058 — nicknamed “Poitou.” It arrived in Sweden in January 2022 and has recently completed a further three-year system overhaul, returning to service in September 2025. The simulator is now at its highest-ever specification.

Nils is also working on a second project — a former Lufthansa Boeing 707, documented at 707jet.com — bringing the same passion and perfectionism to another legendary piece of aviation history.

The Sud Aviation Caravelle — A Revolutionary Aircraft

The Caravelle was the world’s first successful short-to-medium range jet airliner and the aircraft that defined European commercial aviation in the late 1950s and 1960s. Designed and built in France, the Caravelle introduced rear-mounted jet engines to commercial aviation — a configuration that became standard for decades of aircraft design that followed. Charles de Gaulle described it in 1959 as “La rapide, la sûre, la douce Caravelle” — the swift, the safe, the gentle Caravelle. It entered service with Air France and SAS and was operated by airlines across Europe, South America, and the Middle East.

Flying the Caravelle at flyCaravelle is not just a flight experience — it is a connection to one of the defining moments in aviation history. The cockpit you sit in was designed in an era before digital displays, fly-by-wire, and GPS. Every instrument is analogue, every system is mechanical, and every control input requires physical precision and understanding. Flying it is genuinely different from flying any modern airliner simulator.

The Simulator

The Caravelle cockpit retains 100% of its original 1960s equipment — instruments, switches, levers, seats, smell, and texture — combined with a 220° seamless Full HD all-round view projection system that delivers stunning outside-world visuals at airports worldwide. The visual system covers European classics including Bromma, Stockholm Arlanda, Munich, Innsbruck, and Visby on Gotland itself — as well as airports worldwide. Full audio reproduction including authentic engine sounds, cockpit soundscape, and environmental audio adds to the immersion.

There is room for four additional people in the cockpit and cabin behind, all of whom can take turns flying. You decide your route, your departure and destination airports, the weather conditions, and any system failures you want to experience. The instructor — Nils himself or an equally experienced pilot — begins from your experience level and maximises the session for you. Whether you have never flown a simulator before or you are an experienced pilot refreshing your skills, flyCaravelle delivers a session that is entirely unique to you.

Session Options

Décollage — SEK 1,399 (sale from 1,699) for 1 hour 15 minutes. The full introduction to the Caravelle — briefing, takeoff, flight, and landing at the destination of your choice. Named after the French word for takeoff, reflecting the Caravelle’s French heritage.

2h 15min Premium Package — SEK 2,099 (sale from 2,599) for 2 hours 15 minutes. Extended session with time for multiple routes, weather scenarios, system failures, and the complete depth of the Caravelle experience. The choice for aviation enthusiasts, experienced pilots, and anyone who wants maximum time in this unique cockpit.

All sessions include instructor support throughout, full use of the 220° HD visual system, and the unique experience of flying the world’s only operational Caravelle simulator. Gift vouchers are available — a genuinely one-of-a-kind gift for any aviation enthusiast.

Getting to Gotland

Gotland is Sweden’s largest island, located in the Baltic Sea off the southeast coast of the Swedish mainland. Regular flights operate from Stockholm Arlanda and Stockholm Bromma to Visby Airport (about 30 minutes), and ferry services run from Nynäshamn and Oskarshamn (approximately 3–3.5 hours). The simulator is located at Bunge Flygmuseum in the north of Gotland — approximately 40 minutes drive from Visby. A visit to flyCaravelle pairs naturally with a weekend on one of Sweden’s most beautiful and historically rich islands.

Plan Your Visit

flyCaravelle is located at Bunge Flygfältet 500, 624 64 Fårösund, Gotland, Sweden — at Bunge Flygmuseum. Book online at flycaravelle.com or contact by phone at +46 707 711 258 or email info@flycaravelle.com.