Boeing 747-200

Boeing 747-200

Boeing 747-244 (1971)

SAA’s first 747, the world’s first wide-body jetliner, arrived in November 1971. These reliable airliners were in SAA service for more than 32 years. A further two so-called combi (mixed freight/passenger) aircraft were operated until the tragic loss of ZS-SAS (Helderberg) on a flight from Taiwan to Johannesburg. This remains as SAA’s largest loss of life accident.

The Boeing 747-200B Combi is similar to the 747-200B except for a left-side main-deck cargo door aft of the wing, used for the loading of palletized or containerized cargo.

Normal passenger load: 

747-200 ZS-SAL, SAM, SAN, SAO, SAP

747-200 Combi –SAR AND SAS after the loss of SAS (Helderberg) SAR was converted to full freight configuration.

Modelling

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

Both Airfix and Revell have a 1/.144^th scale kit of the B747-200 in their range.

AIM - Transport Wings have a 1/72 scale mixed media kit in their line up. But at Around 142.00 pounds it is not cheap.

Colours

Scheme one

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.

1982

 Scheme two

 1990/1991

No blue and orange stripes carried for a period. Otherwise as per scheme two.

1987/1993

Orange tail with simplified cheat lines. Now no longer sweep down the nose. The cheat lines are simplified and now no longer sweep down the nose. On the A320 the blue cheat line was below the fuselage windows and swept round the nose. The blue cheat line has a white pin stripe below which is an orange stripe of the same width as the white stripe. This orange (and white) stripe was wider than in previous scheme.  SAA/SAL logos carried on forward upper fuselage and SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS/SUID-AFRIKAANSE LUGDIENS carried on upper central fuselage. There is a further orange pin stripe below this with a moderate sweep down the nose.

Scheme three 

1996/1997

1995

This scheme is similar to scheme two but now has an all white fuselage. The engine nacelles and pylons are also finished in a light grey in a change from the previous natural metal finish. As the fuselage is all white the pin stripe that bordered the lower white stripe no longer is present.

Scheme 4

After 1997 they were repainted in the current SAA colour scheme of plain white fuselage, new national colours on tail fin and SOUTH AFRICAN titles on both sides of the fuselage. Aircraft type was carried on rear fuselage just forward of rear door and registration preceded the national flag level with the bottom of the rear door.

Decals

200 South African New Colours 747-200/-200F /-300/-400

144 South African New Colours 747-200/-200F /-300/-400

144 South African Airways - Boeing 747-200/400