Curtains in the Caravelle's cabin

Suomeksi

The Caravelle SE-DAF came to Finland in 2022 with window curtains in the passenger cabin, made from yellow-toned wool-blend fabric. They had probably been in place since the 1960s, and some of them had faded badly while the aircraft had stood parked at the edge of the Arlanda airfield for decades. The curtains in the poorest condition had to be thrown away, but the rest were washed and ironed. After the curtain rail roller glides and stops had been repaired a little, the refurbished curtains were assembled in spring 2025. There is a quite tidy-looking set for the front of the passenger cabin and for a few windows at the rear as well.

Photo: Erja Reinikainen

While rummaging through the wooden crates brought from Arlanda, we found a large, thick, double-layered curtain made from the same, yellow-toned fabric as the window curtains. Based on its dimensions, it was thought to belong in the aircraft’s rear galley, where there are curtain rails on both sides of the aisle. The curtain did not need any repairs, but it was washed and ironed. Along the top edge of the curtain there are pairs of press studs, by which it had been attached to the roller glides on the curtain rail.

Photo: Martti Saarinen

It was decided to place the curtain on the left side of the rear galley, that is, on the side with the service trolleys and galley table. On the other side, in the baggage and storage area, there would be a risk of the curtain getting dirty, since materials and supplies belonging to the aircraft restoration team are still being stored behind the baggage net.

In accordance with Murphy’s law, the curtain’s press studs naturally did not fit the holes in the curtain glides - but no problem: new loop hooks were improvised from paper clips to connect the press studs to the glides. The curtain is now in place, but the stiff roller glides do not allow it to be moved very much.

Photo: Ismo Matilauri

The wooden crates from Arlanda also contained two greenish-yellow door curtains, which had probably been used in the doorways at the front and rear of the passenger cabin to separate the galleys for the cabin crew to work in. Both curtains had several small holes, which were darned before the curtains were washed and ironed.

Photo: Erja Reinikainen

These curtains are probably from the 1970s, as there is a curtain tape along their top edge for fastening hooks. Such a tape is unlikely to have been used as early as the 1960s. The door curtain in better condition was hung in the doorway between the rear part of the passenger cabin and the rear galley, where the original doorway panel with its curtain rail has been installed. New plastic glides were fitted to the curtain rail, and plastic hanging hooks were attached to the curtain tape to fasten the curtain to the glides. The curtain looks good and nicely completes the appearance of the rear part of the passenger cabin.

Photo: Erja Reinikainen

Two cabin doorways are still without curtains. The other greenish-yellow curtain can be fitted in the doorway between the seated front section and the open rear section once a curtain rod has been installed above the doorway. The doorway between the entrance area and the front passenger cabin will need to be considered more carefully — there is no longer a curtain of the same colour available, but a dark blue one we have in storage.

Translation to English: Erja Reinikainen