1962-1975

Besides Boeing and Douglas, Convair was also building first-generation jets to keep its Market share. They developed the four-engined Convair 600, which was later renamed 990. Swissair ordered Seven Units of the CV-990, which were supposed to be more economic and faster than its direct competitors, the DC-8 and Boeing 707.
After certifications delayed and due to under-performance in range and speed the delivery of the aircrafts was postponed, and Convair made two CV-880M's available to Swissair, which were predecessors to the CV-990. After the CV-990's were delivered, the CV-880 went back to Convair, after beeing in Swissair Service less than a year. Later Swissair added an eight aircraft to the fleet, which also flew for Balair. After flying long distance at the beginning they were later 'downgraded' to european destinations. Swissair kept the CV-990's until 1975.

HB-ICA	Convair CV-990-30A # 30-10-7	12.01.1962 17.04.1975	Bern Previous Registration N8497H with Convair, delivered to Swissair in January 1962. Later sold to Spantax as EC-CNG, stored in Palma (E) since 1984.
HB-ICB	Convair CV-990-30A # 30-10-11	17.01.1962 29.04.1975	Luzern Previous Registration N8499H with Convair, delivered to Swissair in October 1962. Later sold to MBB (D). Scrapped in April 1975
HB-ICC	Convair CV-990-30A # 30-10-12	25.01.1962 30.03.1975	St. Gallen Previous Registration N8499H with Convair, delivered to Swissair in January 1962. After beeing retired donated to the Swiss Transport Museum Lucerne. Aircraft still on display there
HB-ICD	Convair CV-990-30A # 30-10-15	03.02.1962 21.02.1970	Basel-Land Delivered new to Swissair in 1962. Aircraft crashed near Würenlingen (CH) on February 21st, after a bomb explosion in the freight compartment.
HB-ICE	Convair CV-990-30A # 30-10-14	03.08.1962 07.06.1975	Vaud Previous Registration N8484H with Convair, delivered to Swissair in August 1962. Later sold to Spantax as EC-CNJ, stored in Palma (E) since 1982.
HB-ICF	Convair CV-990-30A # 30-10-6	01.02.1964 28.04.1975	Schaffhausen Previous Registration N8485H with Convair, delivered to Swissair in Fabruary 1964. Later sold to MBB (D). Scrapped in April 1975
HB-ICG	Convair CV-990-30A # 30-10-8	(del: 17.02.1962) 22.02.1966 05.04.1975	Winterthur, later Grisons/Graubünden Delivered new to Swissair on February 17th 1962. Leased to SAS as SE-DAY until February 22nd 1966. Later sold to Spantax as EC-CNF, stored in Palma (E) since 1983. Eventually scrapped...
HB-ICH	Convair CV-990-30A # 30-10-17	(del: 10.04.1962) 26.03.1968 31.05.1975	St. Gotthard Delivered new to Swissair in April 1962 and leased to SAS as SE-DAZ, also temporary Thai Airways HS-TGE. Then flown by Swissair and registered HB-ICH. Leased to Balair as HB-ICH from 28.03.1968 until 30.03.1971. Sold in 1975 to Spantax as EC-CNH and later scrapped at Palma (Spain)

• Swissair's CV880 &990 (german)
• CV-990 Production List
• Complete history of the CV-990

last updated January 2009

 Please make sure you read the disclaimer regarding copyrights etc.