HB-IBS ¦ Bernese Alps 07.11.1981
Douglas DC-6A/C (c/n 45531/1015)
Balair
Over Bernese Alps, Switzerland
07 November 1981
Before being sold to Canada, Balair arranged for a splendid farewell flight for their DC-6 HB-IBS, a 60 minute ride from Basel around the the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau massif in the Bernese Alps.
Departure at Basel was on then runway 34, and soon after the aircraft was heading to the Bernese Oberland. Seat 3A guaranteed a fine view of the scenery via the large square windows - and the full sounds of the port side Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasps, delivering a whopping 2,400 hp each. Subsequently the camera ran almost hot on taking all the breathtaking scenery.
This picture shows the DC-6 passing along the North side of the Eiger/Mönch/Jungfrau massif, with the Mönch (Monk) mountain at the left, and the Jungfrau (Virgin) at the right. They are 4,110 m/13,480 ft and 4,158 m/13,641 ft high, respectively, while the cruising altitude was an estimated 3,000 m/10,000 ft. In the saddle between the two mountains, the Jungfraujoch restaurant and observatory can be made out, the famous tourist destination at 3,463 m/11,362 ft, reachable by train from Interlaken and Kleine Scheidegg. The train runs through Eiger and Mönch mountains, and ends in Europe's highest train station at the Jungfraujoch. A splendid, but meanwhile very expensive experience!
All too soon the pleasure ride came to an end, and the DC-6 headed back to Basel, for an unspectacular runway 34 landing, exactly one hour and one minute after lift-off. What a pity that this fine aircraft was retired after this flight.
HB-IBS ¦ Bernese Alps 07.11.1981
Douglas DC-6A/C (c/n 45531/1015)
Balair
Over Bernese Alps, Switzerland
07 November 1981
Before being sold to Canada, Balair arranged for a splendid farewell flight for their DC-6 HB-IBS, a 60 minute ride from Basel around the the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau massif in the Bernese Alps.
Departure at Basel was on then runway 34, and soon after the aircraft was heading to the Bernese Oberland. Seat 3A guaranteed a fine view of the scenery via the large square windows - and the full sounds of the port side Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasps, delivering a whopping 2,400 hp each. Subsequently the camera ran almost hot on taking all the breathtaking scenery.
This picture shows the DC-6 passing along the North side of the Eiger/Mönch/Jungfrau massif, with the Mönch (Monk) mountain at the left, and the Jungfrau (Virgin) at the right. They are 4,110 m/13,480 ft and 4,158 m/13,641 ft high, respectively, while the cruising altitude was an estimated 3,000 m/10,000 ft. In the saddle between the two mountains, the Jungfraujoch restaurant and observatory can be made out, the famous tourist destination at 3,463 m/11,362 ft, reachable by train from Interlaken and Kleine Scheidegg. The train runs through Eiger and Mönch mountains, and ends in Europe's highest train station at the Jungfraujoch. A splendid, but meanwhile very expensive experience!
All too soon the pleasure ride came to an end, and the DC-6 headed back to Basel, for an unspectacular runway 34 landing, exactly one hour and one minute after lift-off. What a pity that this fine aircraft was retired after this flight.