The Boeing 747-200 'Lebombo' on display was the first 747 in the SAA fleet to receive the springbok head logo.
The museum houses a Vickers Viking, one of the few remaining examples of this post-WWII British airliner.
Visitors can often walk onto the upper deck of the displayed Boeing 747-200 to view the cockpit.
The site includes a preserved Douglas DC-4, a type of aircraft that played a crucial role in South African aviation during the 1940s and 1950s.
The society is entirely run by volunteers, including retired pilots and ground crew members.
The collection features original flight simulators used for training SAA pilots in past decades.
The South African Airways Museum Society is located at Rand Airport and serves as the primary repository for the history of South African civil aviation. The museum maintains a significant collection of retired aircraft, including a Boeing 747-200, a Boeing 747-300, and a Boeing 737-200. Visitors can explore the interior of several aircraft on display, which often feature period-accurate seating and cockpit configurations. The museum is housed within the Transvaal Aviation Club building, an area with deep roots in local flight history. It serves as an active preservation center where volunteers restore vintage engines and historical flight documentation. The collection includes extensive archives of uniforms, cabin service equipment, and technical manuals spanning decades of commercial flight. It functions as a non-profit organization dedicated to educational outreach regarding aviation development.
From the wing level of the Boeing 747 to capture the scale of the aircraft against the airport backdrop.
Wear comfortable, flat-soled shoes suitable for climbing aircraft stairs and walking on gravel surfaces.
Bring a hat and sunscreen as much of the aircraft display area is outdoors with minimal shade.
Check the museum's official website for scheduled 'Open Cockpit' days to ensure you can access the flight decks.
Do not attempt to walk onto the tarmac area outside the designated museum perimeter without escort, as Rand Airport is an active airfield.
Open every weekend; closed on major public holidays.
Refrain from touching flight instruments or controls inside the cockpits unless authorized by a volunteer guide.
