South African Airways 747-444 ZS-SAK takeoff New York Kennedy Intl Airport

SAA South African Airways Boeing 747-444 ZS-SAK makes a beauty of a departure from New York's Kennedy Airport from runway 31L soaring right above the beautiful twin World Trade Center towers back when NYC's Skyline was flawless! Named Ibhayi, this aircraft is now in service with Transaero.

[@ayandampolweni17]

South African Airways is getting a new Airbus A350, so excited,super Patriotic right now

[@leocommandeur2447]

oh how i miss that skyline NYC ! GREAT VIEW of SAA taking off in the direction of the world trade centre. LITTLE DID WE KNOW SEPT 11 WAS JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH LATER ! in memory of all those who lost their lives that fateful infamous day. RIP

[@tjrtt]

I always loved watching these types of departures with the great world trade center towers of lower manhattan in the distance.

[@loisfleming5857]

I miss seeing the old orange tails and the blue springboks when traveling to airports where SAA lands. It felt like a connection to my youth, and the "way home."

[@ianwrigglesworth4857]

Maybe it will return in the future, but don't garranty that

[@Arnz01]

@@ianwrigglesworth4857 If we fight for it and if our folk hear our call in Suid Afrika and abroad.

[@glyndavies8909]

Ah yes, Suid Afrikaans Lugdiens I remember flying many times from Jan Smuts Airport. It was a lekker country. Alles can die beste from New York. Sadly most of us left....................

[@andz5909]

I remember making that same takeoff in an SAA 747 out of JFK following a British Airways Concorde. What a noise!

[@JarrodFernandes]

Wow. Both are icons. Can't believe SAA don't operate the B747 anymore. It's unlikely they ever will. The colors of the sunset when taking off are beautiful. I really miss that NYC skyline too. Iconic.

[@benhandelsman7360]

Their biggest mistake, airline started going downhill after the retirement, hopefully it can regain to its former glory

[@wazzawazza73]

These SAA 744's hold a special place in my heart. Some great memories from flying on them.

[@zsiyw]

She was named after my hometown of Port Elizabeth (iBhayi). Locals refer to Port Elizabeth as "Die Baai", "The Bay" referring to "Algoa Bay". She cannot land there, but did do a fly-by once. Beautiful.

[@cam9408]

wow what a view! nice sunset and everything! and its even more special seeing them wtc in the back ground!

[@Gunships.]

i remember as a kid flying from cape town to seattle on these man, what a time for SAA. to bad the ANC has put them into the dirt

[@cherylafrica3428]

Saa has the best pilots in the world

[@emarope]

Queen of the skies

[@GRUsbgrHD]

Oh God! what a wonderfull aircraft, livery, and light! :o

[@amandadangelo6161]

Awesome! Our wonderful country!

[@samuelende3985]

I have been on this flight. saa is the best airline

[@tbird209]

Great footage!! This brings back such great memories for me. I flew on Ibhayi twice (and also it's fleetmates Imonti, Kempton Park, Vulindlela and the Great North). Thumbs up buddy!!!

[@cattleman6420012000]

I loved this plane. I flew many times on SAA 400 Jumbos.

[@airzulu2733]

Such a shame we will never see the likes of the 747,s in SAA Livery again . Flew on many of them.

[@Sandler41882]

Beautiful aircraft.

[@GRUsbgrHD]

really really amazing!

[@Starboard76]

@tintsap ..well clearly before they were destroyed, and back when South African flew 747s which they've long abandoned. This was from the summer 2001...just months before. I have WTC in many of my NYC shots..and glad I captured them, they were the true symbol of New York City.

[@Helgardt6189]

Miss the orange tail the most,looked much better.

[@POON3345]

Good old days.

[@josevicente4542]

O mais bonito avião de sempre (B747) e numa grande companhia aérea (SAA) de um grande pais.

[@TeanoZ]

WOW...

[@hmasurg]

Gorgeous.. can you imagine how pretty it would look from the cockpit? The only thing that would have made this even more special if it were the old SAA livery with the mask on the cockpit.

[@hmasurg]

@Starboard76 Oh yeah!!

[@Starboard76]

@hmasurg no kidding, that view had to be magical. I know, those masked-747s were something special! Well you did catch the masked-747SP in the 'when the 747 Ruled the World' vid..right?

[@F15SPEED4EVER]

@Starboard76 I know what youre saying lol....And thanks for all the info

[@tbird209]

@Starboard76 - All of my SAA 747 flights were in and out of Miami, Atlanta, Washington D.C. (Dulles), Sal (Cabo Verde), Accra (Ghana), Jo'burg and Cape Town.

[@Starboard76]

@JohnRhysMusician yep, a big chunk of NYC there...

[@tbird209]

BTW, was that shot from the top of the old Pan Am Worldport observation deck?

[@POON3345]

SAA stops in DKR, Senegal btw JNB and JFK routes.

[@Starboard76]

@F15SPEED4EVER South African Awys has gotten rid of all their 747s. Transaero has picked up a few from SAA & Japan Airlines.

[@yloock]

Ibhayi - was there the day she Landed FAPE. (port Elizabeth) which she was named after.

[@Starboard76]

@F15SPEED4EVER ...One??? They got 6 of the 8 SAA had and Cathay Pacific got the other two. Transaero has this one featured here and ZS-SAS, ZS-SAX, ZS-SAY. ZS-SBK and the 6th ZS-SAZ is about to be delivered to Transaero.

[@Starboard76]

yep

[@sashingopaul3111]

So many jumbos. PIA, El Al, SAA, *insert other airline here

[@Starboard76]

@F15SPEED4EVER well, that's not the 1st case of me hearing about someone working for a company and knowing squat about 'certain' operations or division..to some people working for an airline is like working for the DMV,,it's just a job, they don't care about details. But to be fair, the planes were returned to their lessors (WFB) as SAA was leasing most, I don't think they actually 'owned' any ships outright..I could be wrong. But Transaero obtained some via Wells Fargo Bank..

[@F15SPEED4EVER]

When u say she is now in service with Transaero, what do u mean?

[@Starboard76]

Yes it was a nonstop to Johannesburg (JNB), but had to make a stop when flying to JFK.

[@armaanbehal8212]

Where did you stop when flying to JFK?

[@Starboard76]

@F15SPEED4EVER just google up any airline production list site and see for yourself. This stuff is very accurate.

[@jonswall5470]

The JNB-JFK flight had to land in Sal in Cape Verde due to the altitude of Johannesburg. Because Tambo is a hot and dry airport, departing flights can not load as much fuel as flights originated at sea level at JFK. Hence the need to stop and refuel in Sal. Because JFK is at sea level, the plane can load more fuel and reach Johannesburg without stopping. I never minded the stop at Sal. Get out, stretch your legs, use a real toilet. The nonstop to JNB was 15-17 hours depending. Brutal!

[@F15SPEED4EVER]

@Starboard76 And where do you get your infor from.....Just want to know who is giving the right info lol....Iam not saying that you are wrong!

[@Starboard76]

@tbird209 exactly! ANd good thing I didn't know you when you were flying all these SAA birds outta ATL, IAD, MIA, etc...cuz I woulda been nagging u with "video this, video that...and don't miss thia, etc..." ..yep, nagged to death!

[@F15SPEED4EVER]

@Starboard76 I know they got raid of them all......Someone that works with SAA told me that he was there when SAA handed over the 747's and the contract was that ......Airbus is not allowed to sell them to any other airline......This individual that I spoke too said he was there for the hand over........Are you sure that Transaero have one?

[@Starboard76]

@tbird209 you lucky @#*&%!... I mean that in the envious of ways of course...it's cartoon swearing so it's not real! That's awesome TBird! Since I 'only' filmed them all...maybe I got lucky and filmed one of your takeoffs or arrivals! Where all of your rides on them from JFK or did you get some Heathrow moves in there along the way of rackin' up those miles?

[@GeminiJetsA350]

Cool! It's too bad that South African had to retire these birds. The 747-400 is better with those General Electric engines.

[@F15SPEED4EVER]

@Starboard76 Kool, buts thats strange how somebody that works with South African Airways would lie about something like that lol

[@robertchutney]

What is the meaning of the plane's name Ibhayi? Ke aleboga.

[@dinanileendor5802]

bhayi is a xhosa name for port elizaberth.. but idk wht this name has to do with the plane

[@sbb1998fdk]

0:48 Swissair... :'(

[@MegaLmae]

where was it going? Destination...? Is there a direct fight y SAA from NY to JHB?

[@jarobertsrsa007]

FirstName LastName yes direct flights to and from JFK everyday. But now fly A340

[@TheDanielCreations]

2:13-2:19 Twin Towers

[@SydneyAirportSpotter]

Nearly a tailstrike!

[@samuelende3985]

same thing here

[@hermansteyn6053]

Prefer the flying springbok

[@Haydn747]

oldddddddd video.DELTA still got old tail painting and the Twin Towers are still there !

[@sashingopaul3111]

2:13 that plane, that skyline. Why Al Qaeda or George W. Bush did you get rid of the WTC. NYC (or the world) is never the same after 9/11

[@hermansteyn6053]

Yes - Those were the days and at what cost to the taxpayer.

[@jup1ter_f1ve]

The world trade centre :(

[@hloxyman9346]

Sadly retired