Color Scheme: Delivery Colors

Registration: HB-IDA

Composition: An Original Douglas Factory Polished Aluminum Model

Dimensions: Length: 35.5" (91cm), Wingspan 34" (86cm)

Condition: Near Mint

Model History: Produced in the early 1960s by the Douglas Aircraft Model Shop. I Acquired it on January 23, 2004 from an eBay Seller in Switzerland. For over 30 years I've wanted a Douglas Factory Polished Aluminum DC-8 model of Swissair and I've never seen any before this one appeared on eBay. Nearly all of the Metal 1/50 Swissair DC-8 Models were produced by Raise Up Models and unfortunately their mold for the DC-8 wasn't very accurate. Acquiring this model is Truly a Dream Come True!

Swissair's DC-8 History: Schweizerische Luftverkehrs-AG, better known to the public as Swissair, began operations in 1931 & was created by the merger of Switzerland's two largest airlines - Ad Astra Aero AG & Basler Luftkverkehr (aka Balair). The airline expanded services within Switzerland and to various European destinations during the 1930s but was forced to cease all passenger operations during World War II, even though Switzerland was a neutral country during the war. After the war ended Swissair resumed services throughout Europe and in 1949 began transatlantic flights to New York from Switzerland via Gander, Newfoundland using Douglas DC-4s. During the 1950s Swissair continued to grow and upgraded their fleet to Douglas DC-6 & DC-7C aircraft which were pressurized, held more passengers and flew faster & farther. In 1960 Swissair took delivery of their first Factory Delivered DC-8 and as additional DC-8s were delivered they replaced the older prop liner equipment on their long haul routes. During the early 1960s Swissair and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) formed an alliance which enabled these two smaller carriers to share aircraft & maintenance with each other and thus reduce costs. Consequently, Swissair & SAS purchased similar aircraft and each airline specialized in maintaining a specific type of aircraft. This alliance was later expanded to include KLM Royal Dutch Airlines & UTA French Airlines and became known as the KSSU Group (KLM/SAS/Swissair/UTA). All 4 of these airlines operated DC-8s, and later - DC-10s & 747s, and 3 of the 4 operated DC-9s & Caravelle's. The DC-8 became the "backbone" of Swissair's long haul fleet during the 1960s with the DC-8-32 & DC-8-53 serving the medium to long haul routes and the ultra long range DC-8-62 serving Swissair's longest haul routes. Although they were eventually replaced by wide body DC-10s & 747s in the 1970s, the DC-8 continued to serve the airline into the 1980s with the last DC-8 being retired in 1984.
Click Here to See Swissair's DC-8 Fleet Information.

Click Here to View a Photo of the Actual Aircraft*
*Swissair's Livery had changed slightly by the time this photo was taken. The polished metal on the lower half of the tail was now painted white on all of their DC-8s from the early 1960s onward.
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Photo Courtesy Of & Many Thanks To: AIRLINERS.NET and Photographer Peter de Groot.