SAA over Sussex
 

Hi All,

Apologies if perhaps this is on the wrong forum, but I've never had to post anything like this before and figured you fine people may be able to help.

Saturday 26/6/04,1620BST, over Climping, Sussex, I observed a SAA 744 heading approx 330 degrees, slow and VERY low.

We're under the southbound track where we are and see loads of contrails but this was LOW LOW LOW (a-la Warrior out of Goodwood low!).

I understand the SAA flt's get into LHR in the am, then leave in the evening. Given the time, was this a/c perhaps doing a fly-by (Arundel cricket/ Goodwood) before heading back to LHR for the evening departure?

I didn't actually spot it first, my partner who's South African did, before leaping up and down! A low slow flyby of the house by an a/c in her 'home' colours made her weekend:)

Any info would be most appreciated.

Cheers,
Bob

The SAA B744 was doing a display at the Goodwodd 'Festival of Speed'. It came out of LHR and held in an area south of GWC, then did a display and returned to LHR.

Was it this one?

http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7062

and he will be doing the same thing over Farnborough in July!

Must have been a beautiful sight.

747-400 doing a low level display!

I would have gone to Goodwood had I known

Did the same thing at Duxford last year

http://www.stevelevien.com/dux0409.htm

Super sight! :ok:

Ja, it's SAA's party trick, every chance they get.

Lovely being a State airline with taxpayers' money to burn. :(

Why the chirp, Tired..??

SAA are still accountable for their balance sheet at the end of the day...

Maybe, unlike wherever you are, the airlines do not put anything back into aviation. Have a look at an old site on Africa Aviation to see the 747 Classic donated to a civilian run Historical society, now based at Rand airport in Jhb.

You tell me one person who did not think the display was great..?

Cheers

R

But it's not a patch on the SAA DC-4, which I had the pleasure of talking to as it headed for Fairford a few years ago...

HD - you ever get yourself over to this side of the pond...

I'll treat you to a ride on the SAA's Historic flight DC4 - that's a promise... :ok:

R

TOTS,

Many thanks for the expanation above, much appreciated. I'm sure it was a stunning display; if it was anything like the Duxford display, a real treat.

Tired, just a thought boet, but would it be possible that SAA might be swelling their coffers with a nice little earner here? I'm sure they're not paying for the extra fuel uplift and crew time, so it would make sense that they're charging for the displays and hence not costing the tax payers anything.

If it is the case that they are doing them for free, it could be agrued that it's a valuable brand awareness raising and marketing excercise so that the next time Joe Brit flies to the Rainbow Nation, he might choose SAA over VS or BA?

Rhodie... that's extremely gentlemanly of you and I'd love to think I might take you up on it one day. The DC4 was/is/always will be my #1 favourite aeroplane and talking to the SAA one brought tears to my eyes.

FAWB EAA airshow this year :)

http://hagar.up.ac.za/christo/dc9.jpg

Anyone know where this is?

http://www.stevelevien.com/jpgs/707buzz.jpg

or is it faked? :confused:

Dear Vintage ATCO

That amazing flyby was done at an airshow at Charles Prince Airfield just outside of Harare. Much fuss made about it but the crowd went wild!:)

I can see why!!! Do you know the year?

Many thanks for posting.


VA

As far as i can remember Rolls Royce is celebrating its centenary and has contracted SAA to fly at Farnborough and another show. Hence costs will not be carried by the SA taxpayer.

The SAA 744 did the same display at EMA (over the park) a couple of weeks ago to mark the RR centenary year,Just Awsome,The ensuing traffic jam on the M1 took me 25 mins extra to get to work! well worth it though

Vintage...

I seem to remember somewhere around 1987 / 88 for this fly-by..

If I recall, the Radar Alti read something like 6 FOOT at one stage... :ooh:

S'tru's'bob...

Cheers

R

That's what air shows are about - or WERE about. So much safety hoo-ha nowadays it's a wonder the crowds can see the planes at all they're so far away.

Farnborough back in the early days was fantastic - crowds at the back jumping up to see the jets hurtling by because they were below the level of the spectators in front!!