Swissair's newly delivered Douglas DC-9-15 HB-IFA photographed at Gatwick on 16th August 1966 making its first appearance at a UK airport whilst operating a route proving and publicity flight. Note Internord Douglas DC-7 SE-CNF in the background.

This was the first DC-9 to visit Mallorca

HB-IFA, Swissairs first DC-9, was in service with the airline between 1966 and 1968 and then sold to corporate owners. Over 20 years later, the plane was reimported into Switzerland, got its old registration again and flew for Aeroleasing until 1995. The plane had a long life anyway; its last time in the air was in July 2018 when it was ferried as N120NE to Saltillo, Mexico, to be used for spares by Aeronaves TSM. In 2022, it was still there, basically complete.

K25 slide scan. Delivered as the the first DC-9 for Swissair in July 1966. Back to Douglas in September 1968 when Swissair decided to standardize on the -30 model. Converted to Executive configuration flying as N8500, N60FM, N90B, N2H, N120NE before being reimported to Switzerland by Aeroleasing as HB-IFA September 1989. Remained in service until April 1995 when returned to the US as N120NE.

HB-IFA was delivered to Swissair on 20 July 1966. It is making the DC-9's first type visit to Manchester on 4 November that year, replacing the scheduled Caravelle.