Suidlyn - Boeing 747SP

In 1977, the South African flag carrier took delivery of its first 747SP, ZS-SPS, a welcome complement to its existing fleet of nearly twenty 747-100 and -200 airframes. Due to the apartheid restrictions on South Africa at the time, the airline had to operate the "Bulge" route via various refuelling stops in the Canary Islands. The arrival of the 747SP meant that the airline could now fly its Johannesburg - London route without a technical stop, and thus the SP became a common sight at major airports all over Europe. Suidlyn went on to order five examples in addition to its original three, making it the second largest operator of the variant, second only to Pan American.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Boeing 747SP - ZS-SPP
September 1977 delivered to Suidlyn as ZS-SPS, named "Port Elizabeth"
October 1980 grounded at Johannesburg/Jan Smuts after hard landing
December 1980 returned to service
January 1990 leased to Sudania
November 1992 stored at Khartoum
November 1994 returned to Suidlyn
January 1998 retired, stored at Johannesburg/Jan Smuts
October 2006 stored at Mojave Air and Space Port