ZS-SAI BOEING 707-344C C/N 20283 L/N 831 Customer Manufacture No 8244 SAA name East London

Ordered by SAA on the 15th of August 1968, registered ZS-SAI to SAA in November 1969. Rolled out on the 7th of November 1969 and first flight on the 9th of December 1969. Acceptance flight on the 16th of December and delivered to SAA at Seattle on the 18th of December 1969. The airliner was delivered by captains Bert Rademan, H “Laurie” Lourens and Decker with call sign SADE 004.

Delivery route as follows:

19th December 1969 Seattle – London
21st December London– Sal Island
22nd December Sal Island – Jan Smuts Airport

The aircraft was named “East London”, and was flown to East London on the 28th of January 1970 for the christening ceremony. First SAA revenue service was flight SA220 on the 21st of January 1970 from Johannesburg - Luanda – Madrid – Paris - London.

The aircraft was bought by Luxair on the 5th of August 1978 and registered LX-LGS. Leased by Alia – Jordanian Airlines from the 12th of April 1979 with the registration JY-AFQ, returned to Luxair on 15th of December 1981. Bought by Tratco on the 27th of December 1984, bought by Trinair on the 27th of December 1984. Leased by Safair Freighters in March 1985 and registered ZS-LSF. Leased to Liberian World Airways on 1st September 1989 and registered EL-TBA. Returned to Safair in June 1990. Next to Israel Aircraft Industries for overhaul and modification and delivered to 60 Squadron SAAF with tail number AF-621, later 1421 and used for early warning and transport duties. Retired during the early 2000s.

In late 2004 discussions began between the SAA Museum Society and the South African Air Force with a view to get the aircraft donated to the museum. Unfortunately it proved to be too costly an exercise and it was agreed that various parts of the aircraft would be made available for donation. So it was in March 2011 that the first item, a Pratt & Whitney engine was delivered to the SAA Museum Society aircraft park at Rand Airport in Germiston. Over time various other items from the aircraft have made their way to the museum.

TECHNICAL DETAILS FOR BOEING 707-344C

WINGSPAN 44.4 / 145 ft 9 in.
LENGTH 46.6 / 152 ft 11 in.
HEIGHT 12.7 m / 41 ft 7 in.
EMPTY WEIGHT 63,502 kg / 140,000 lbs.
MAXIMUM WEIGHT 152,406 kg / 336,000 lbs.
MAXIMUM SPEED 1,009 kph / 627 mph.
MAX OPERATING ALTITUDE 12,800 m / 42,000 feet.
RANGE MAXIMUM FUEL 9,932 km / 6,160 miles.
CREW Minimum 3 flight deck, Min 4 cabin crew in passenger configuration
PASSENGERS MAXIMUM 177 all economy configuration.
ENGINES Four PRATT & WHITNEY JT3D-7 Twin Spool Axial compressor Turbofan developing 8,415 Kn / 19,000 lbs thrust.