The Flying Springbok A history of South African Airways from its inception until the post-apartheid era Lionel Friedberg Winchester, UK Washington, USA JOHN HUNT PUBLISHING First published by Chronos Books, 2021 Chronos Books is an imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd., No. 3 East St., Alresford, Hampshire S024 9EE, UK
[email protected] www.johnhuntpublishing.com www.chronosbooks.com For distributor details and how to order please visit the ‘Ordering’ section on our website. Text copyright: Lionel Friedberg 2020 ISBN: 978 1 78904 646 5 978 1 78904 647 2 (ebook) Library of Congress Control Number: 2020940133 All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publishers. The rights of Lionel Friedberg as author have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design: Stuart Davies Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CRO 4YY Printed in North America by CPI GPS partners We operate a distinctive and ethical publishing philosophy in all areas of our business, from our global network of authors to production and worldwide distribution. Contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Taking Wing 3 Chapter 2: A Man Called Mac 41 Chapter 3: The Blue and Silver Way 90 Chapter 4: Embattled Skies 144 Chapter 5: The Springbok Service 168 Chapter 6: Changing Times 210 Chapter 7: A Sound Like Thunder 243 Chapter 8: Last of the Propliners 257 Chapter 9: Return of the Jets 283 Chapter 10: The Great Detour 316 Chapter 11: Triumph and Tragedy 333 Chapter 12: Jumbos and Pirates 368 Chapter 13: Beating the Odds 395 Chapter 14: Contraction and Expansion 422 Chapter 15: A Golden Year 446 Chapter 16: A New Era 482 Chapter 17: A New Identity 499 Dedicated to the memory of my beloved parents Ann and Simon Friedberg They taught me to look up in wonder..