Photographic Memories ...
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Production of the Douglas DC-9-81 at its peak, although the company was purchased by. McDonnell and the aircraft renamed MD-81. Customer airlines requested our services at home and abroad. In 1983 the B-747-300 Stretched Upper Deck came into service, largest Aircraft ever operated by Swissair. First order for the Airbus A-310-200 signed in Toulouse. Zurich airport opens the new Terminal A and the last flight of a Swissair DC-8-62. Ten Fokker-100 aircraft ordered to replace the DC-9-30/50 series, training courses in Amsterdam and
flight training in Malta following delivery, but despite its excellent fuel efficiency of its RR-Tay engines, the Fokker proved to be very expensive in maintenance. Spantax declared bankruptcy and the airlines that emerged out of the ashes became new customers for
our Maintenance training. Thus I was asked to join the technical training which was another challenge for me at 50 Years of age but absolutely satisfying with my new colleagues.
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1980...	...	Testflight in Southern California with a factory fresh DC-9-81, special guest: actor Danny Kaye (Chairman of Learjet Corp). Inspection duties on pre-delivery aircraft.
1981...		Leisure activities besides the inspection tasks in Douglas aircraft company. A particular pleasure were the flying lessons on Piper’s PA-38’s at nearby LGB airport with Tony Ruepp.
1982...		Part of the crew in Long Beach after a Testflight. Garuda airways became a customer for maintenance training in Jakarta. At home we once housed the SAF for an overnight stop.
1983...		Balair’s HB-IDU cargo/PAX-convertible. Air displays and other events made life interesting and memorable as well. 50 Years of Swissair flight attendants festival in summer.
1984...		The Swissair Fleamarket organisation has been a brainchild of Tony Ruepp and remains until today. The first two DC-10’s were sold to charter customers and painted in house.
1985...		New Year’s party during the break when working night shift at the Year’s end. The last DC-8-62 receives the new paint livery shortly before it is put up for sale.
1986...		Terminal A opened in Zurich, A-310 rollout & first flight in Toulouse. Prototype A-320 presented in Le Bourget, guide: Joël Lacombe / Vital Ferry
1987...		First NAT-flight with 2 engines with A-310 : ETOPS. Fokker F-100 production delayed by one Year, but Training in Amsterdam Schiphol started
1988...		Fokker's first deliveries and flight training in Malta: Werni Steiner, Max Schwegler. WAHS-convention in DEN-Stapleton, Chairman: Alan Minich, (Capt. Aspen Airways).
1989...		Asked by J.M.Pfister /Head of technical Training to join their forces I agree at once and start with MD-80 training for Lineas Areas Canarias in LPA. A new challenge in my life!

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