DOUGLAS DC7C OPERATIONS WITH SWISSAIR 1957-1962

DOUGLAS DC7C  OPERATIONS WITH SWISSAIR 1957-1962

Advertising included in the 1957 winter timetable fromm www.timetableimages.com/Bjorn Larsson

The Douglas DC7 was the last piston engine manufactured before the arrival of jets, It was built in 3 versions the DC7, the DC7B and the DC7C "the seven seas" . The DC7 was  bought by American companies as it fitted very well coast to coast operations : American Airlines, Delta Airlines, National Airlines and United airlines being the largest operator with 57 units
DC7B First long-range variant with higher gross weight and fuel capacity, with most of the added fuel in saddle tanks in enlarged engine nacelles. (Only Pan Am and South African DC-7Bs had the saddle tanks) and was bought by PANAGRA, Continental Airlines, Eastern Airlines (largest  operators), PAN AMERICAN ,South African Airway and the DC7C Longer-range variant with non-stop transatlantic capability, improved 3400hp (2540kW) R-3350 engines and increased fuel capacity mainly in longer wings. This version was ordered mostly by foreign airlines : KLM, SAS, Alitalia, BOAC, Swissair,J apan AirLines , SABENA ...whereas PAN AMERICAN, Northwest Orient and BRANIFF were the US customers.
However , the airliner had a poor reliability record  as The Duplex-Cyclone had reliability issues of its own, and this affected the DC-7's service record. Carriers who had both DC-6s and DC-7s in their fleets usually replaced the newer DC-7s first once jets started to arrive. Some airlines retired their DC-7s after little more than five years of service, SWISSIAR being a good example whereas most DC-6s lasted longer and sold more readily on the secondhand market.

SWISSAIR ordered  5 frames which were delivered between 1956 and 1958
HB-IBK  "Zurich" delivered on November 8,1956 and left the fleet  on 28/02/1962

DC7C SWISSAIR Douglas company publicity photo

HB-IBL   "Geneve" delivered on December 6,1956 and left the fleet  on 20/07/1960. Sold to Riddle Airlines which  operated the frame as a freighter

 HB-IBM   "Basel" delivered on  June 1,1957 and left the fleet  on 28/02/1962.Sold to Riddle Airlines which  operated the frame as a freighter

HB-IBN   "Bern" delivered on August 7,1957 and left the fleet  on 30/11/1960.Sold to Riddle Airlines which  operated the frame as a freighter

HB-IBP   "Schwyz" delivered on November 4,1958. Last DC7 built by Douglas and left the fleet  on 05/11/1960 .Sold to SAS , Japan Air Lines, last owner was SPANTAX

Copyright Mel Lawrence

The company introduced its DC7 with the  fall 1957 winter timetable to its routes   to the United States

Zurich-Frankfurt-Shannon-New York-Frankfurt-Zurich

Zurich-Geneva-Shannon-New York-Geneva-Zurich

The timetable dated July 1.1958  sees new routes to New York and South America

Zurich-Geneva-Lisbon-New York and vice- versa

Zurich-Cologne/Bonn-Shannon-New York-Cologne/Bonn-Zurich

Zurich-Shannon-New York-Zurich

Zurich-Geneva-Lisbon-Recife-Rio di Janeiro-Sao Paulo

Zurich-Geneva-Lisbon-Recife-Rio di Janeiro-Sao Paulo-Montevideo-Buenos Aires

The timetable dated July 18.1959  sees no changes to the routngs to the USA but Recife is replaced by Dakar on the Southe American services



Zurich-Geneva-Lisbon-Dakar-Rio di Janeiro-Sao Paulo

Zurich-Geneva-Lisbon-Dakar -Rio di Janeiro-Sao Paulo-Montevideo-Buenos Aires



The 1960 spring-summer timetable

From Bjorn Larsson's collection @ www.timetableimages.com

will see dramatic changes as the DC8 will overtake the north Atlantic routes operated by the DC7 but will continue to operate the South American services  plus Zurich-Geneva-Cairo-Bombay and on a seasonal basis Zurich-London

1961 will see the swan song of the DC7 operations with SWISSAIR. South American routes are maintained but services are shifted to European routes

Zurich-Geneva-Lisbon-Dakar-Rio di Janeiro-Sao Paulo

Zurich-Geneva-Lisbon-Dakar -Rio di Janeiro-Sao Paulo-Montevideo-Buenos aires

London-Basel-Zurich seasonal

Zurich-Dusseldorf-Stockhom


Zurich-Rome

Zurich-Vienna

Geneva-Madrid-Lisbon

Zurich-Lisbon