Boeing 747 SP
|
|
|
Boeing 747 SP-44 (1976)
The necessity for range saw Boeing develop this highly specialised version of the B747 family for a select number of airlines. Trading load for range saw the fuselage shortened with a commensurate increase in the vertical fin size to compensate for the shorter fuselage. SAA’s first “SP” (Special Performance), ZS-SPA established a world non-stop distance record for a commercial airliner on its delivery flight to South Africa 23/24 March 1976. The time from Seattle to Cape Town was 17 hrs and 22 mins. Distance covered was 16,560 kilometres, (10,290 miles). Sadly this historic aircraft was cannibalised for spares and the airframe was finally cut-up towards the end of 2002. Six Boeing 747SP’s saw service with SAA.
Normal passenger load:
|
BOEING 747-SP |
ZS-SPA ZS-SPD ZS-SPE ZS-SPF |
Matroosberg Maluti Hantam Soutpansberg |
246 260 260
|
ZS-SPA, SPB, SPC, SPD, SPE, SPF
Modelling
The following kits have been produced over the years that will allow the modeller to build a model of this aircraft.
Welsh Models have a 1/144th scale mixed media kit of this aircraft in their range. Both the early orange tail and later (post 1997) schemes were released.
Alternatively the modeller could perform a major conversion as detailed in the March 1994 issue of Fine Scale Modeller.
Colours
Scheme one
The B747SP’s were delivered in the third SAA scheme with the Swoosh on the tail. The position of the Springbok was in the low position inside 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.
Scheme two
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 a 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
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 four
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
144 South African Airways - Boeing 747SP
Welsh Models WHD4422 Boeing 747-300/Boeing 747SP SOUTH AFRICA
