15 July 1960
On 15 July 1960, the first Boeing 707 jet aircraft arrived in South Africa from America. This aircraft has remained in the service of the South African Air Force (SAAF) up until today. The aircraft was used for commercial as well as military purposes. This aircraft is no longer used to transport cargo or passengers, as more reliable and efficient aircraft's such as the latest Airbus and Boeing variants have replaced it in that role. The remaining aircraft in service with SAAF are used for airborne refuelling, electronic warfare, command and control and early warning. This aircraft replaced the ill-fated de Havilland Comet and firmly cemented Boeing as the world's leading aircraft manufacturer. However, as stricter sanctions were employed against South Africa during apartheid, particularly with regard to the availability of spare parts and technology, many of these aircraft's were covertly reconfigured for military purposes.
The 707 has served the SAAF with great distinction and displayed remarkable reliability and flexibility throughout its career. The majority of these aircraft's are however being phased out of service, as they have reached the end of their life-span and are set to be replaced with more modern aircraft.
References:
South African Airways (Online), available at: http://www.fact-index.com [Accessed 28 July 2010]
South African Airways: A Brief History (Online), available at: http://www.saamuseum.co.za [Accessed 28 July 2010]