SAA named its 747SP fleet after mountain ranges of Southern Africa. ZS-SPC is named after the Maluti (or Maloti) range which is part of the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. Seen here in the so-called "bandit scheme" at Zurich.

Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-SPC in 1976. Leased to Air Mauritius as 3B-NAG in 1984 and returned to South African Airways in 1994. Preserved with the South African Airways Museum at Rand from 2006.

Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-SPC in 1976. Leased to Air Mauritius as 3B-NAG in 1984 and returned to South African Airways in 1994. Preserved with the South African Airways Museum at Rand from 2006.

We were very fortunate to be able to look inside this aircraft, as it is normally only open for 1 day a year. It has always been a wish of mine to see the inside of an SP and you can imagine it made me very happy when I realized we would be going inside. The aircraft was still in great condition and we could walk around freely, taking as many photos as we wanted. Of course the flight deck could not be skipped.

Making a quick stop at the aviation museum at Rand. Major eyecatcher is this 747SP from South African. Standing in the trunk of the rental car, we could just about peek over the fence with the cameras to take some photos. -SPC was withdrawn from use in October 2003 and ferried to Rand on September 30, 2006.

SAA's 747SPs allowed it for the first time to operate Johannesburg-Sydney non-stop.