SAA Museum Society - Rand Airport

The South African Airways Museum Society was founded in 1986 by individuals within South African Airways and interested outside parties with the aim of preserving the history of South African Airways as well as that of general civil aviation in South Africa. The Museum is based at the Transvaal Aviation Club at Rand Airport in Germiston. Historic items such as photographs, aircraft instruments, timetables and other important documentation are on display in the society's display hall. This is open to the public and the society regularly participates in open days to encourage particularly the younger generation of South Africans to take an interest in aviation as a potential career. 

The museum has a static display of aircraft including the Boeing 747-244B "Lebombo", 747-SP "Maluti", two Skymaster DC-4's, a Douglas DC-3, a Lockheed Lodestar, de Havilland Dove and even 2 simulators.

As per usual in the recent while, the time of day that I visited presented very harsh light and I was shooting into the sun a lot. This resulted in bright sun flares in some of the images but I wasn't really unhappy with the results. I was also shooting with an ultra wide angle lens to fit the aircraft into the frame so some traditional lines may of been slightly distorted.

This massive "chamber" is the compartment where one set of wheels of the Jumbo lifts up into.

They may not look big but wait until you stand next to a Jumbo's wheels!

The air sucking blades of the Jumbo's engine.

Douglas C-54D-15-DC

de Havilland DH 104

The B747 Simulator

Airbus A300 Simulator 

In memory of all those that have served and answered the call of the sunset.

Sunset Calls

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,and in the morning.

We will remember them 

Today would of been my fathers birthday. Born on the 9th July 1920 in Tarkastad in the Cape province, he lived through many advances and changes that the world has experienced over the last century. The most profound event that influenced and shaped his adult life was his military service during the 2nd World War. From the scorching North African Desert to the bitter cold climate of Europe under most pressing circumstances, these events would dominate his life to the extent that even many years after his discharge, he was still a soldier at heart. I grew up hearing war stories and experiences that he had gone through that I must admit, must of been terrifying for any young man. Things like lying in a bed in a tent on a temporary airforce base whilst the Stuka bombers are dive bombing the base, not knowing if the next bomb will land on you or not. Many different events like this that I fortunately never had to experience and I wish for my son to never have to live through.

Driving home I wondered what image I could capture that could serve as a worthy image that I could dedicate to my father on what would of been his 93rd birthday. It suddenly dawned on me... the memorial at the M.O.T.H.'s Dickie Fritz Shellhole in Edenvale. They have a Lockheed Ventura and a Puma helicoptor as well as some canons and a tank.

When a soldier passes, it is referred to as the sunset call and what a more appropriate image would it be if I could capture the Ventura with the sun setting close by. I raced down to the Shellhole, quickly obtained permission to shoot some images and managed a few shots before the light was gone.

In memory of you on your birthday dad. Happy Birthday.

The Franschoek Motor Museum

Whether you are a Petrol Head or simply just male, this is one place that you should visit at least once in a while. This is the most comprehensive collection of motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and memorabilia that I have seen in one place. It is to be found in the magnificent setting of L’Ormarins which is in Franschoek in the wine valley of the Western Cape.

The collection pieces are immaculate and must be worth many millions of ZAR. Shot with my Sony A99 and CZ16-35. No flash used.

The Entrance leads you past this wonderful large painting.

The collection is housed in these large buildings

What a beautiful setting