Unless you had the good fortune to experience Swissair as a passenger or an employee, I think it’s difficult to put into words the kind airline it was. The fact that over twenty years since its demise people still talk about Swissair is a testimony to the airline’s brand recognition. Of course, I’m aware that, as a former employee of Swissair, I am likely a bit biased in my opinions. But that’s okay, and I’m willing to stand by them.
Swissair went bankrupt in 2001. I think in hindsight it’s difficult to single out what caused the airline to hemorrhage huge amounts of cash in the last few years of its existence. Most commonly, CEO Philipp Bruggisser and his ruinous hunter strategy take the blame for the sad demise of the airline. But I think that’s not quite fair. After all, the hunter strategy was only put in place as the result of Switzerland not being a member of the European Union.
But enough about that. The Verkehrshaus Luzerns is Switzerland’s national transport museum. It houses a large collection of cars, ships, trains and airplanes that influenced the development of transport infrastructure in Switzerland.
As far as I’m concerned, the two best exhibits are outdoors, in the guise of an old DC-3 in the Swissair livery and a decommissioned Convair CV-990 Coronado, also of Swissair. Both aircraft are open to the public.
The Convair CV-990 Coronado
At the dawn of the jet age of airline transport, three American manufacturers went head to head in the race to build a commercially viable airline passenger jet. Boeing started work on the fabulous B 707, while Douglas got to work on designing what would later become the elegant DC-8. Meanwhile, in San Diego, Convair started work on the CV-880.
The CV-990 was not a commercial success. In fact, it was everything but. The aircraft was designed as an larger version of the CV-880. However, the aircraft suffered from the fact that while it was considerably faster than its rivals by Boeing and Douglas, it was also considerably smaller, even in the stretched version.
From the outside, the Coronado is most easily recognisable by the huge shock-absorbers that were fitted on the wings’ trailing edge and that were intended to reduce drag. However, the only added to the airliner’s woes, because they increased its weight considerably.
To access the Coronado at the Verkehrshaus, you need to enter the main building with the space and aviation exhibition and then go up to the second floor.
The Coronado had one lavatory at the rear of the aircraft, and another at the front, which seems adequate given that it only had a seating capacity of just over 100 passengers. What is noticeable, it just how much bigger the lavatories were compared to today’s microscopic loos.
The cabin of the aircraft is still very well preserved, especially considering how many people visit it every years. I just love the old signage.
The main galley is located in the rear of the cabin. It’s interesting how many of the containers haven’t really changed all that much over the years. What is also interesting, is that there was no room for trolleys. Even in Economy Class, passengers were served their tray directly from the galley.
The aircraft is configured in a two-class cabin. In Economy Class, there are five seats abreast in a 2 + 3 layout. This was the Coronado’s main problem, because the B 707 had six abreast in Economy.
Back in the day, there was no Business Class. Instead, the aircraft was equipped with a small First Class cabin of three rows in a 2 + 2 layout. By today’s standard the seat is a far cry from what we might consider First Class. But you have to keep in mind that the aircraft had very limited range and therefore, sector lengths were much shorter than they are today.
For example, the Coronado was deployed on Swissair’s routes to the Far East. Its service to Hong Kong routed ZRH-ATH-BEY-(BAH)-BOM-BKK-HKG.
The business end of the Coronado also looks much different to that of a modern airliner.
Conclusion
If you happen to be in the area around Lucerne and you’re interested in aviation, you really shouldn’t miss the Verkehrshaus. Their collection of old trains is also quite impressive and nearly as cool as the aircraft collection. It’s a nice way the spend and afternoon, reliving the old days of travel.
Very interesting[as that guy on ‘laugh in’ used to say)——-MUST visit!.
Im fairly certain that SR still operated the Convair on some flights into Heathrow in the late 70’s!
The Coronado was decommissioned in the mid-1970s. They did use them to Heathrow. Usually on the morning service SR800.
Sort of right then!——– i remember them flying over our house in London.
I think that would have been heaven for me as a kid, to live near Heathrow.
When i was a kid, i was totaly in love with Heathrow—— a 2 hour trip from home using public transport. Would spend hours on the Observation terrace on the old version of terminal 2, where you could get a close up of all the planes taking off and landing—– i loved it and it led to the crazy interest i have in aviation that i have today. I also once flew,sitting behind the captain[yes really!] from Geneva to Heathrow on BE579—– a Trident 3 when i was very young email me for more on that!]
PS FULL flight too—–“now then peter,should anything untoward happen,i’d like you to assist the senior stewardess”——- my flabber was ghasted!
Just to be clear—by FULL i mean complete. the whole flight from take off to landing i was in the jump seat behind the captain. It certainly was my best flight ever. The view of the jet d’eu on take off was stunning,as was the view of night time London as we approached over the coast. My Mother had been talking to our next door neighbour earlier in the day and mentioned that i was coming back from Lausanne that evening.”oh ,i think Ernie is doing that flight”[he was first officer,but later became a captain]. Cut to several hours later and i’m sitting in my seat ,twiddling my thumbs waiting for take off,and who should walk into the cabin but my neighbour!—— “do you want to come up front for a bit Pete?,your mum said you’d be on this flight”Well,of course i couldnt say no——-and the rest is history as they say!!—–AMAZING !!!
Did you get any food, though?
No——-Rather strangely i didnt!!!
Well, fair enough. I guess one mustn‘t be greedy. I mean a whole ride in the cockpit is already pretty sweet. Getting to have lunch in there too would be an extravagance.
Was asked if i wanted to go back and have dinner but i declined——–Was having too much fun listening to the ” chatter” on the headphones they gave me. Heard ATC talking to the AZ flight from milanAZ266 that landed just ahead of us. Before this flight i had been a bit nervous of Flying, but this experience wiped out any fears—— i now love turbulance!