Boeing 727

From 1965 to 1982, SAA operated nine of these 3-engined aircraft on its routes in Southern Africa.

Normal passenger load: up to 119 in high density configuration.

ZS-SBA/DYM, SBB/DYN, SBC/DYO, SBD/DYP, SBE/DYR, SBF/EKW, SBG/EKX, SBH, SBI

SBG, SBH, SBI were QC models with a large freight door on the port fuselage and could be operated as all passenger, mixed passenger/freight or all freight.

Modelling                                           

The following kits have been produced over the years that will allow the modeller to build a model of this aircraft.

Airfix and Revell have 1/144^th scale kits of the B727-100 in their range

Revell and Minicraft have a Boeing 727-200 in their line-up.

Aurora released 1/96^th scale 727-200 many years ago. Now it is a collector’s item.

In 1/72^nd scale KMC released a 727-200 but this limited run kit is now consigned to the collectors market.

Welsh Models are also rumoured to have considered producing a 727-100 in 1/72^nd scale but as yet I have not seen any further details.

Colours

Scheme one

Some of the B727’s were delivered (those delivered pre-1968) in the original orange tailed SAA scheme with the Swoosh on the tail with the Flying Springbok in the high position. The fuselage has a white top and a blue cheat line running through the windows to the nose with a curved back down sweep over the nose to meet under the fuselage. The cheat line has a blue pin stripe on either side of a natural metal pin stripe. The Airlines logos are in italics with a wavy national flag on the forward fuselage. Registration appears on the centre engine nacelle. Some aircraft have the aircraft type on the orange inside the Swoosh’s hook. Flying Springbok with aircraft name appears on the forward fuselage under the cockpit.

Scheme two

This, the second SAA Swoosh scheme is similar to the original but the airline logo changed to a non-italicised one located approximately in the centre of the fuselage above the cheat line.

Scheme three

The Flying Springbok now appears in the hook of the Swoosh. The dark blue cheat line now sweeps down over the nose and curves back to meet under the fuselage with a white band and orange pin stripe below the cheat line. There are no dark blue pin stripes to the cheat line.  The white band also sweeps down the nose. A flying Springbok replaces the national flag that appeared in front of the aircraft name and they style of the airlines name changes and is moved to a more forward position on the fuselage.

Decals

144 South African Airways - Boeing 727-44