United began operating the first short range jet, the Caravelle, in 1961. The Caravelle was used on a variety of short to medium routes including a New York to Chicago "all men" flight. United purchased Capital Airlines in the year making it the largest airline in the free world. Flights were extended to Florida and Atlanta for the first time with the merger with Capital. With its DC-8s, Boeing 720s, and Caravelle's, United operated the largest jet fleet in the world at the time.