First flown 2 December 1981 and delivered to SAA 14 December remaining with the airline until 23 October 2006 when taken over by Zambian Airways as 9J-JOY. Withdrawn from use December 2008 and later broken up at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

First flown 23 October 1983 and delivered to South African Airways 2 November 1981. Converted to cargo in April 1995. To African Charter Airline in October 2013. Withdrawn from use and stored at Johannesburg 30 July 2017. Like all SAA 737s, ZS-SID was named after a river - in this case the Orange River, one of Africa's longest rivers. Photographer unknown

First flown at Boeing's Renton facility 3 September 1981, delivered to South African 18 September and remaining with SAA until 2005. It was leased to Air Comores as D6-CAJ between November 1984 and October 1985, and also spent a period with Safair. To TANS Peru as OB-1806-P in June 2005, to Aero Gal as HC-CFR June 2006, to Rutaca Airlines in 2011 and used for spares. Seen here at Cape Town with the then new flag on the tail and with titles in Afrikaans on the port side, English on the starboard. Limpopo is named for the Limpopo River which form South Africa's northern border and drains to the Indian Ocean. Photographer unknown

ZS-SIJ is here seen at the then Durban-Louis Botha Airport with the distinctive SAPREF refinery in the background. Note the Afrikaans titles. ZS-SIJ is, like all SAA/SAL 737s named after a river. The Caledon River is a major source of water in South Africa and Lesotho. ZS-SIJ joined the SAA fleet in March 1982 having made its first flight in February. Leased to LATAM Chile as CC-CHK December 1985-May 1987, returned to SAA and was sold to Avianca Ecuador as HC-CFM May 2006. To Mission Air Support as N589MS January 2015 and eventually scrapped at Ardmore, OK. Photographer unknown

First flown at Renton, WA 4 August 1988 and delivered to South African Airways ten days later. Leased to VASP as PP-SNW November 1985 to March 1988 and to Namib Air/Air Namibia November 1989 to May 1991. Sold to TANS Peru June 2005. Written off on approach to Pucallpa, Peru 23 August 2005. Here seen at Harare with the SAA South African Airways titles on the starboard side. Photographer unknown

First flown from Boeing Field 22 May 1970 and delivered to South African Airways five days later, this 737 spent its entire service life in the southern hemisphere. It remained with South African until July 1993 when it was sold to LAPA as LV-WBO. Retired in January 2000 and later scrapped at Buneos Aires - Ezeiza. Photographer unknown

First flown at Renton, WA 4 August 1988 and delivered to South African Airways ten days later. Leased to VASP as PP-SNW November 1985 to March 1988 and to Namib Air/Air Namibia November 1989 to May 1991. Sold to TANS Peru June 2005. Written off on approach to Pucallpa, Peru 23 August 2005. Here seen at Harare with the SAL Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens titles on the port side. Photographer unknown

This 737 spent its entire career in Southern Africa. First flown at Boeing Field 24 June 1970, it was delivered to South African Airways five days later, remaining with the airline until sold to Comair in August 1992. Duiring its tenure with Comair, it carried both Comair and British Airways titles. Withdrawn from use in July 2004 and parted out at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

Built for Bavaria International Aircraft Leasing in 1980, this 737 served many airlines in its career starting with Monarch as G-BMON, then Pacific Western and Canadian Airlines International as C-GPWC. To Air Atlantis as CS-TEU in 1988, leased to South African between October 1989 and May 1991. Seen here in a hybrid livery at Johannesburg. Transferred to TAP as Air Atlantis was dissolved. To Damania as VT-PDB in 1993 then to Sahara Airlines as VT-SIF in 1998. Withdrawn from use at Delhi in 2002. Preserved as a restaurant at Noida, India. Photographer unknown

First flown from Toulouse as F-WZEQ 3 March 1981 and delivered to South African 23 April 1981. Leased to Wardair as C-GIZJ between August 1986 and May 1989. To Onur Air as TC-ONT 19 December 2000. Photo: Gavin Ware

Photographer unknown

Seen with ZS-AGF Richard King, presumably over Germany.

ZS-DBR was the first of four Constellation delivered to South African in 1950 replacing DC-4s on some routes. The fleet was relegated to domestic and regional tourist class flights fitted with 84 seats from the mid-1950s. Stored from January 1959 at the then Jan Smuts International Airport in Johannesburg where it seen here. To ACE Freighters as G-ASYS in early 1965 and later broken up at Coventry. Photographer unknown

Delivered to South African as ZS-DYO 10 August 1965, reregistered with the rest of the fleet in 1968. Continuing to serve with the airline until retired in May 1983 and sold to Deutsche Aviation as N727CR in January 1985, then to the Panamanian military as FAP-400 in February 1985. The last operator of the aircradft now registered N61944 was SUCEFA between October 1997 and March 1998. It has since been broken up at Opa Locka, FL. Photographer unknown

Delivered to South African Airways, or Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens if you will, 18 December 1969 and named after one of South Africa's major cities like the rest of the SAA 707s, East London and Oos-Londen in Afrikaans. To Luxair 5 August 1978 as LX-LGS, then to Royal Jordanian as JY-AFQ 12 April 1978 before returning to South Africa and Safair as ZS-LSF. Leased to Libera World 25 August 1989 as EL-TBA, but it is unclear if taken on charge. To the SAAF as 1421 1 May 1995 serving with 60 Sqd before being retired in 2004 and the nose exhibited at the SAA Museum at Rand. Photographer unknown

First livery

Delivered new to South African Airways 15 April 1982, ZS-SIL went on to serve with the airline until January 2005 when it was sold to Safair who in turn sold it on to Avstar Aviation in November 2006. The last owner was Fair Aviation from June 2008 until stored at Johannesburg from around 2012. Following SAA service it was leased to a number of African airlines including Air Malawi, LAM Mozambique, Zara, and Africa Charter. Seen here at Cape Town with the the spectacular backdrop of the Hottentots Holland Mountains. Photographer unknown