2010 is a landmark year for the Swiss aviation community. It represents the 100th anniversary of the country’s first ventures into the skies will be marked by a host of commemorative events. As Switzerland’s national carrier, SWISS is a key element in the long tradition of Swiss aviation and therefore closely involved in the centennial celebrations.
The celebrations were formally launched in January at the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne. The highlight of the event program will be a major air show that will be held at Emmen Air Force Base on Saturday July 24th.
Below you can read some excerpts of Alfred Hugentobler’s article that appears in the special edition of the on-board SWISS Magazine. Click on the link (picture) and you can see the entire article (available in German and English).
A flight through space and time
By Alfred Hugentobler
Travelling through the air and even through time, across continents, borders, landscapes and seas, has become second nature to many of our world’s inhabitants. But the privilegewe enjoy as we sit in today’s fast and comfortable jets was earned for us by the bold and innovative pioneers of aviation 100 years ago.
With their daring manoeuvres in their fragile first aircraft, those early adventurers laid the foundation of Switzerland’s aviation and air transport tradition. These pioneers had little time for fear or respect, and often put their lives on the line. Accidents and emergency landings were an everyday occurrence, while economic viability posed a further constant concern.
Despite the adversities, 1910 saw Swiss aviation truly take off. The dreams of the early conquerors of the skies have since evolved into a key industry sector. So this year, a century on, Switzerland is commemorating those first "magnificent men in their flying machines", staging a range of attractive and informative events to mark and revisit those pioneering times. And SWISS, as the country’s airline and airborne ambassador, is well to the fore.
On the following pages SWISS magazine takes you on a journey through space and time. While our photo essay does not claim to tell the whole story, we present a number of key developments in the history of Swiss aviation, from the pioneering days of the early aviators to the creation of Swissair and the opening of the first intercontinental routes.
1910- 1911
Daredevil pilots
Paul Engelhard, a captain in the German navy, performs the first motorised flight in Switzerland, circling the frozen Lake St. Moritz in a Wright biplane on 25 February 1910.
Armand Dufaux becomes the first Swiss to pilot a flight lasting half an hour after taking off at the Viry airfield on 12 August 1910. His history-making flight takes place aboard his Dufaux biplane no. 4, which he built together with his brother Henri. After performing panorama flights in Switzerland, François Durafour achieves a national flight distance record of 110 kilometres by flying from Avenches to Collex-Bossy near Geneva on 14 July 1911. Piloting a Dufaux 5, he covers the distance in one hour and four minutes.
1912- 1922
First airline
15.4.1919
Switzerland’s first airline is founded in Zurich as Aero-Gesellschaft Comte, Mittelholzer & Co. The fleet of three LVG C-5 and one Kondor D1 aircraft is based in Zurich-Schwamendingen.
The two aviation pioneers Balz Zimmerman (later director of Balair, eventually Swissair) and Henri Pillichody perform their military service in 1919 as pilots in Switzerland’s air force. Three years later, on 1 June 1922, Ad Astra Aero becomes the first airline in Switzerland to operate scheduled services to other countries. Henri Pillichody, then chief pilot and company director, flies a Junkers F-13 CH-92 from Geneva to Nürnberg-Fürth, via Zurich.
1923- 1967
Start of Swissair
With its Lockheed 9 Orion CH-167, nicknamed "Red Dog", Swissair launches its Zurich–Munich–Vienna express route on 2 May 1932, the airline’s second year in business. With a cruising speed of 290 km/h the Orion is the fastest commercial aircraft in Europe.
On 24 November 1946 Swissair takes delivery of its first long-haul aircraft, Douglas DC-4 Skymaster HB-ILA. On 2 May 1947 this aircraft performs Swissair’s first transatlantic flight, to New York, thereby launching the era of intercontinental flight.
2002
SWISS International Air Lines Ltd.
Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. is founded with regional carrier Crossair as its core. The airline operates under the brand name SWISS with a fleet consisting of 26 long-haul and 26 short-haul aircraft formerly owned by Swissair. It also takes over Swissair’s route network to a large extent.
