ZS-SPE Boeing 747SP-44

ZS-SPE. Boeing 747SP-44. c/n 21254-298.

Was also registered as: 3B-NAR; V5-SPE.

This was the second aircraft in the order that was announced by South African Airways on August 28, 1975 for two additional airframes. It was the fourteenth Boeing 747SP to be built. Rolled out of the Boeing plant at Everett on October 21, 1976 it was powered by Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7FW engines. Entered onto the South African Aircraft Register as ZS-SPE it flew for the first time on November 05, 1976. Accepted at Paine Field on November 22, 1976 and configured to seat 8 First Class, 28 Business Class and 224 Economy Class passengers it was named 'Hantam'.

From 1984 South African Airways began sub-leasing its 747SP fleet to other airlines. This aircraft was to Air Mauritius on October 24, 1991 as 3B-NAR and named 'Chateau Labourdonnais'

Returned to South African Airways in July 1992 it was overhauled at Johannesburg and repainted in a revised version of the old South African livery. Registered as ZS-SPE on August 01, 1992 it re-entered service. Its next lease was to Air Namibia on March 20, 1993 when it was entered onto the Namibian Aircraft Register as V5-SPE. Entering service with the basic SAA cheatline and a white tail with Air Namibia titles it was deployed on its European routes. This lease was short lived as it was returned to South African Airways on May 17, 1993 who then proceeded to repaint it in their old style livery.

Returning to the South African Aircraft Register as ZS-SPE it returned to service as 'Hantam'. By October 31, 1997 it had accumulated 60,850 hours with 12, 916 cycles. It was observed at Lusaka, Namibia on December 12, 1999 in the airline's new corporate white livery.

ZS-SPE was retired from service at Johannesburg Airport on June 01, 2003. Titles were removed and the aircraft was placed in open storage near the maintenance facilities. On March 01, 2005 a prospective lease was negotiated for the aircraft but nothing eventuated.

Taking up valuable space the decision was made to scrap it. The aircraft was torn apart by mechanical shears in the first week of June 2008. Some parts were salvaged for use on B-747SP ZS-SPC that is preserved at Rand Airport. By the end of the month nothing remained of this airframe. The registration was cancelled on September 02, 2008.

ZS-SPE. South African Airways - 'Hantam' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-395.)

ZS-SPE. South African Airways - 'Hantam' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-005.)

ZS-SPE. South African Airways - 'Hantam' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 18, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-528.)

ZS-SPE. South African Airways - 'Hantam' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 18, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-396.)

ZS-SPE. Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - 'Hantam' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 18, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-051.)

ZS-SPE. Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - 'Hantam' in the original livery at Zurich Airport, July 09, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-397.)

ZS-SPE. SAL Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - 'Hantam' in the revised livery at an unknown airport, July 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-529.)

ZS-SPE. SAA South African Airways - 'Hantam' in the revised livery at an unknown airport, June 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-929.)

3B-NAR. Air Mauritius - 'Chateau Labourdonnais' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, July 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-398.)

V5-SPE. Air Namibia - in the basic 'South African' livery at Frankfurt Airport, May 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-119.)

ZS-SPE. SAA South African Airways - 'Hantam' in the revised livery at an unknown airport, July 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-928.)

ZS-SPE. SAL Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - 'Hantam' in the revised livery at Paris Charles de Gualle Airport, April 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-393.)

ZS-SPE. SAL Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - 'Hantam' in the revised livery at Zurich Airport, August 1997.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-229.)

ZS-SPE. South African - 'Hantam' in the final livery at Frankfurt Airport, November 1999.