Flew with the SAA 747 SP from Frankfurt to Johannesburg in the days that SAA was not allowed to fly over the african continent, 17 hour flight around the outer africa, what a great plane that was.
This is the Special Performance (SP) version of the Boeing 747. It has a shorter fuselage and a taller tail than all other 747 variants. It also has a longer range than the early 747 models (the series 100, 200B and 300). Only 45 of 747-SPs were built and only about a dozen remain airworthy.
Amazing video, great skills. Would never have happened in the UK, they would have taken the wings off, taken the tail off, put it on a lorry, closed the motorways and driven it to the airport!
I flew on many different SAA 747s. They are a plane I will always love. I flew SAA SP from London to Cape Town non stop around the bulge of Africa ( In those they were not allowed to land anywhere in Africa apart from Iha del Sohl (Cape Verde Islands ) or Ivory Coast). So Cape Town was 13 and a half hours non stop around the bulge instead of the 11 hours or so today. I have always founs SAA to be a great airline.
Can I ask a silly question please? What are 'precautionary approaches'? Are they used for what could be a difficult landing or bordering on the aircrafts limits so the pilots go around a few times and sus out the scenery?
During apartheid South African airline's aircrafts were not allowed to fly over African countries and had to fly around the Bulge of Africa. The extra range allowed the aircraft to cover the additional distance nonstop
I do challenge the runway too short to take off part. It is more a case of why would one restore and fly the machine after it has been "scrapped" and put on static display. I might be wrong, but I have seen B747 freighters easily lift off in that runway length with only part power. Once asked a capt how much power he used to climb out of JHB like a homesick angel and he said a little over 50% (bear in mind he began to rotate at charlie apron and was fully airborn before he got to A1r using Runway 3l). I miss working on these birds, and will forever love them
This lady is parked at Rand Airport in Germiston, Gauteng, S Africa She was stripped of seats etc as the runway is too short for a fully equipped 747. The approach to the runway is over electrical pylons!
@SouthAfricanAirways1 AirBUST is not satisfied with the A340 either anymore. It has NO orders left and will be discontinued in 2016 or sooner. Look for SAA to get the 747-8. Too bad about this gem, the SP. She really kept SAA alive during the 80's with her extra range. A more appropriate memorial should have been in order (if you ask me).
These are not General Electric engines. They are Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7FW turbofans. The GE engines on Boeing 747s have a more round shape than the earlier Pratt & Whitney models, which are kind of square.
@flapsdwn These were not Precautionary Approaches...the pilot was forced to land this gem which was a record holder and connection to better times when flight was something magical. As for the Evergreen 747-100, she was an ex-Pan Am. :o( Nice to see she still flys at 40 years old. No one builds them like Boeing.
i think it is Scully Levine, crazy but a very talented pilot- also flying the 400 on another vid here doing aerobatics, I personally witnessed him doing it- amazing. So sad to see these aircraft go, Airbus are very good but lack personality.
thats not ge engine that south african 747sp have on their planes its pratt and whitney Jt9d engines … nice try but sadly to tell you that pratt engines are the better and legendary ones
does anyone know the name of this particular plane? If it's "Hantam" I flew with that plane several times between Denmark and SA. Acutally experienced an engine fire in DF Malan with Hantam as well. Landing in Jan Smuts loading off a lot of passengers one could really feel the power of the SP editions taking off, even in the thin air of Jo-burg going towards Cape Tooown. Laat dit goed gaan.
If it crashed a lot it wouldn't be flying.............. I think 747's have a recommend lifespan of 30 years but the generally the older variants such as the SP were retired sooner due to the inefficiency of the engines, i recalled Qantas retired there's around the 2000 mark due to the new efficient 744ERS replacing them
@alex25isrory Boeing never built that many to begin with. They were too expensive. Then the performance of the 747-200 largely caught up with that of the SP, while retaining the original passenger and cargo capacities, which left no reason to order the smaller plane. Now they are mostly VIP aircraft.
Last I checked SAA still flies the 747. Just check the Dulles Washington to JNB Route. But does anyone know what airport this is? This definitely isn't Johannesburg or Cape Town. Its been a loooong time since I flew into Durban but it doesn't look like Durban either.
You can lose air speed indications in a full analog plane if your pitot tubes decide to go bye bye.... And if you get spatial disorientation and stop trusting the rest of your instruments then you are pretty much done for...
msg1711 is right. Even with the most technologically advanced systems, you still do most of the flying. If that were the case, then why haven't the requirements changed? Colorblindness? Eye vision? Both still have to be perfect. And what about the event of an emergency? Do pilots hit the "save plane" button? I hope I don't see another comment like this on another video!
Why are you typing that the runway aint long enough for takeoff?? Its more than long enough... The 747-400 uses around 4000-4500ft at st marteen on takeoff to Curacao... The SP can easely take off on that runway...
Every plane that I like doesn't fly anymore. I love the 737-200 and they stopped flying an I love the 747SP and they also stopped. Next thing is that ill like the A380 and they will stop flying.
Авто/Мото
Flew with the SAA 747 SP from Frankfurt to Johannesburg in the days that SAA was not allowed to fly over the african continent, 17 hour flight around the outer africa, what a great plane that was.
This is the Special Performance (SP) version of the Boeing 747. It has a shorter fuselage and a taller tail than all other 747 variants. It also has a longer range than the early 747 models (the series 100, 200B and 300). Only 45 of 747-SPs were built and only about a dozen remain airworthy.
Excellent video. Made me cry!
Brings back many memories. I was there at Rand airport the day of this event. Awesome life experience
Epic video - I have so many great memories of these at Heathrow.
For those who wonder why the music is on this, it is a well known fact that aviation and rock-and-roll go together, especially Air Force.
My favourite is always the 747-400. I look forward to the 747-800. It is nice that they carry on with 747s, as I am a real fan.
It’s discontinued now 😢
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
Goeie more dae... Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens...
i love the plane!
Still love the SPs, sad to see them go.
Amazing video, great skills. Would never have happened in the UK, they would have taken the wings off, taken the tail off, put it on a lorry, closed the motorways and driven it to the airport!
😂😂 Spot on.
Beautifull video 5/5!!!
I flew on many different SAA 747s. They are a plane I will always love. I flew SAA SP from London to Cape Town non stop around the bulge of Africa ( In those they were not allowed to land anywhere in Africa apart from Iha del Sohl (Cape Verde Islands ) or Ivory Coast). So Cape Town was 13 and a half hours non stop around the bulge instead of the 11 hours or so today. I have always founs SAA to be a great airline.
A beautiful and rare bird.....thanks.
Iloved the music and the video****
I always thought the 747SP looked cute.
Can I ask a silly question please? What are 'precautionary approaches'? Are they used for what could be a difficult landing or bordering on the aircrafts limits so the pilots go around a few times and sus out the scenery?
great music!
So special and sad!
wow.. That landing must have been the hardest landing this plane ever had
Awesome!
Goodbye qeeun of the sky you have done a wonderfull jobb😎😢😢😢😢😢
During apartheid South African airline's aircrafts were not allowed to fly over African countries and had to fly around the Bulge of Africa. The extra range allowed the aircraft to cover the additional distance nonstop
I do challenge the runway too short to take off part. It is more a case of why would one restore and fly the machine after it has been "scrapped" and put on static display. I might be wrong, but I have seen B747 freighters easily lift off in that runway length with only part power. Once asked a capt how much power he used to climb out of JHB like a homesick angel and he said a little over 50% (bear in mind he began to rotate at charlie apron and was fully airborn before he got to A1r using Runway 3l). I miss working on these birds, and will forever love them
yislaaik you must be bored to talk such a load of shit
@Alan, been licenced on B747, and having worked on them from 92 till 2009, want to tell me what qualifies you to make your statement!
Too bad this kid thinks he knows everything about aviation +Sean bad
Sean Ba
I have the movie for this planes last flight, the plane is called Maluti (ZS-SPC). Love the sound as it does the go arounds
Very nice man.
I was there that day.. Quite awesome.
Love the -SP's.....
rest in peace, i will miss you !!!
EXCELLENT LANDING
This lady is parked at Rand Airport in Germiston, Gauteng, S Africa
She was stripped of seats etc as the runway is too short for a fully equipped 747.
The approach to the runway is over electrical pylons!
Quite the narrow runway at that. Looks no wider the the fuselage!
it is true, we have a friend that is a commercial pilot and flies domestic, he even told us some cases of people doing that.
Looks like a plane to me !
@cod6Kill You do know that the electornic wire airbus uses, is called Fly by Wire...
@MrOrangestring True, but that has nothing to do with nationality. It has to do with training, willingness to learn, natural skills, passion etc.
I remember I once was in 1st class
@SouthAfricanAirways1
AirBUST is not satisfied with the A340 either anymore. It has NO orders left and will be discontinued in 2016 or sooner.
Look for SAA to get the 747-8.
Too bad about this gem, the SP. She really kept SAA alive during the 80's with her extra range. A more appropriate memorial should have been in order (if you ask me).
At least it's preserved for all time for future generations to marvel & enjoy.
These are not General Electric engines. They are Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7FW turbofans. The GE engines on Boeing 747s have a more round shape than the earlier Pratt & Whitney models, which are kind of square.
@flapsdwn
These were not Precautionary Approaches...the pilot was forced to land this gem which was a record holder and connection to better times when flight was something magical. As for the Evergreen 747-100, she was an ex-Pan Am. :o(
Nice to see she still flys at 40 years old. No one builds them like Boeing.
why not do a very low pass by for the last time :'(
Good thing there are flight sims, to keep these beautiful aircraft alive.
Come on. .. where.is the full month video ? The show was minutes longer and great !
How did such a plane land on such a narrow runway!? Ops to the pilots 😳
I love SAA i had more than 100 flights with them and they are still the best for me in Africa;
🤭
so in which airport the 747-sp is now, can we visit it??? i hope so....
Dam good SAA pilots,these guys know how to fly
Sad to see another one down. From all experiences, These planes are more top class than any of the disapointing airbus products.
Unbelievable skill of the pilots!
cool
I love the a380 best aircraft in the world but i would like boeing to make a747sp ng!!!
i think it is Scully Levine, crazy but a very talented pilot- also flying the 400 on another vid here doing aerobatics, I personally witnessed him doing it- amazing. So sad to see these aircraft go, Airbus are very good but lack personality.
ELLO MY FRIEND , WERE IT IS ??
Gotta love the GE turbofans.
thats not ge engine that south african 747sp have on their planes its pratt and whitney Jt9d engines … nice try but sadly to tell you that pratt engines are the better and legendary ones
St Marteen's is at sea level, this is in Johannesburg, check the elevation out, it's 5482ft above sea level.
Last flight .... sad... The Monster will fall asleep forever....
Nice
Tight runway and a light crosswind? nice job SAA pilots!
how old is this plane and when was it built??
special performance
whats the SP on the end for?
If u had removed the music, the jt9d would have been clearly heard
its the same thing trust me i no alot about planes im like a master
This would have been excellent without music
Is there a version without the music? It wrecks the whole thing.
damn, i was at the ysterplaat show that day
747 sp is TINY
Two Boeing 747 landed on that narrow runway (the other was a 747-200)
thats why its called the 747 Special Performance
does anyone know the name of this particular plane?
If it's "Hantam" I flew with that plane several times between Denmark and SA. Acutally experienced an engine fire in DF Malan with Hantam as well.
Landing in Jan Smuts loading off a lot of passengers one could really feel the power of the SP editions taking off, even in the thin air of Jo-burg going towards Cape Tooown.
Laat dit goed gaan.
1976-2006
If it crashed a lot it wouldn't be flying..............
I think 747's have a recommend lifespan of 30 years but the generally the older variants such as the SP were retired sooner due to the inefficiency of the engines, i recalled Qantas retired there's around the 2000 mark due to the new efficient 744ERS replacing them
gear up ?
@alex25isrory Boeing never built that many to begin with. They were too expensive. Then the performance of the 747-200 largely caught up with that of the SP, while retaining the original passenger and cargo capacities, which left no reason to order the smaller plane. Now they are mostly VIP aircraft.
Last I checked SAA still flies the 747.
Just check the Dulles Washington to JNB Route.
But does anyone know what airport this is?
This definitely isn't Johannesburg or Cape Town.
Its been a loooong time since I flew into Durban but it doesn't look like Durban either.
HELLO , MY FRIEND PILOT , WERE IS IT ??
Though sad bt worse is the collapse of the entire fleet
You can lose air speed indications in a full analog plane if your pitot tubes decide to go bye bye.... And if you get spatial disorientation and stop trusting the rest of your instruments then you are pretty much done for...
I wonder if that 747 then got the water cannon.
" the show must go on..." Lmao...More like A circus Show SAA/ANC
msg1711 is right. Even with the most technologically advanced systems, you still do most of the flying. If that were the case, then why haven't the requirements changed? Colorblindness? Eye vision? Both still have to be perfect. And what about the event of an emergency? Do pilots hit the "save plane" button? I hope I don't see another comment like this on another video!
south african airways is retiring all their 747SP's
why was it the last flight did it crash alot?
That jt9d screamed like the tf39
RIP 747 Short Plane D:
She's a runner!
this baby can takeoff from this runway by using JATO (for those who don't know what JATO is... Jet Assisted Take Off)
I am Boeing fan, speacking of computer look what happen to air france flight 447.
fly from cape town to bloemfontein on2/7/2014
The music is so annoying.....just let the engines roar.
porque música ???? (why music ????)
Why are you typing that the runway aint long enough for takeoff?? Its more than long enough... The 747-400 uses around 4000-4500ft at st marteen on takeoff to Curacao... The SP can easely take off on that runway...
sad moment.....knowing it will never fly again.
Thats too bad, a great machine like that needs to be in the air!
Every plane that I like doesn't fly anymore. I love the 737-200 and they stopped flying an I love the 747SP and they also stopped. Next thing is that ill like the A380 and they will stop flying.
i want it :(
why they dont use it any more???
please, why cannot more fly this airplane? which future it will have?
thats a scary thought