Page 53 - Aviation News (February 2020)

South African Airways

Wings of the Rainbow Nationngs of the Rainbow Nation
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Above: With the take-over of Union Airways
in 1934, four Junkers F13 aircraft were
transferred to South African Airways. SAA
Museum Society Archives
Main photo: Today the A340 provides the
backbone of South African Airways’ long-
haul fl eet, with seven -300s and nine -600s
(pictured). South African Airways
Below: Between 1934 and 1940 SAA operated
a fl eet of 15 Junkers Ju 52 tri-motors on
internal and regional routes. This example,
ZS-AFD, was fi tted with two bunks in the rear
fuselage. SAA Museum Society Archives

with stops at Pietersburg, Bulawayo
SAAF Envoys were converted to passenger In June 1937, Imperial Airways began and Livingstone. In July, the route was
layout and used to supplement the fl eet. using fl ying boats on its South African extended to Kisumu on Lake Victoria,
When these Junkers were delivered, all the route with the service terminating in taking over the Imperial Airways landplane
Envoys (including the four of SAA) were Durban. In the same month SAA opened service. More stops were then added
passed to the SAAF. its fi rst long-range service to Lusaka after Livingstone at Broken Hill-M’Pika-

A total of 18 Junkers Ju 86s were operated
by SAA up to the outbreak of World War
Two when they were transferred to the
South African Air Force – ZS-AGJ became
SAAF 647. SAA Museum Society Archives

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