FlyerTalk Forums - Model and operator of Flying Unicorn?

The one that Emmanuelle begins with?
I´ve heard of Emmanuelle long ago... but it was only recently that it was actually translated and printed in my language... and I saw some surprises.

Emmanuelle is published in 1959.
The jets then in service were:
Tu-104 (since September 1956)
Comet (resumed service 4th of October, 1958)
Boeing 707 (entered service 26th of October, 1958)
Caravelle (entered service sometime in Spring 1959)
DC-8 (entered service in September 1959)

Now, to the details of the flight:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuelle

The steward led her to her seat. It was what would normally have been a window seat, but there was no window. She could see noting beyond the draped walls. It made no difference to her. She did not care about anything but abandoning herself to the powers of that deep seat, drifting into drowsiness between its woolly arms, against its foam shoulder, on its long, mermaid lap.

Emmanuelle might not have cared about windows at that moment, but other passengers might have been differently inclined? Which passenger airline ever blocked up all windows with drapery? For DC-8, the size, and for Boeing 707 the number of windows certainly was an advertising point!

Even bigger surprise soon:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuelle

The awakening of the jet engines was indicated by a murmur and a slight quivering of the soundproof walls.

Um, 1959? Pure turbojets? (First turbofan would be Conway in 1960)
And even more:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuelle

Emmanuelle was not even aware that the plane was moving along the runway. And it was a long time before she realized that she was flying. She did not realize it, in fact, until the red light went off...

Um? Missing the acceleration of the takeoff run?

Some time later, Emmanuelle inquired a stewardess:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuelle

"Isn´t it possible to take a bath on this plane?"
"Of course. But...

We see the shower later.
Meanwhile the size of the cabin is estimated:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuelle

...and put her down beside him in his seat, on the aisle. She was less than three feet away from the English children...

(the children, ages 12...13, were their neighbours across the aisle.)
And when she visits the shower:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuelle

...she turned on the shower, let the water flow over her...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmanuelle

... and brushed her hair. Her image was reflected on three sides by long mirrors.

So. Which airline offered that service in 1959?
The route was London-Bahrein-Bangkok-Tokyo. Emmanuelle got off at Bangkok, the man went on to Tokyo.