Aviation icons gather to honour the legendary Junkers Ju52

The drone from its triple prop engines has brought many grown men to tears, while the corrugated skin and 95ft wingspan will ensure that the Junkers Ju52/3m will forever go down in history as an aviation marvel.

On July 18, aviation enthusiasts and members of the South African Air Force Association (SAAFA) East Rand Branch gathered at Café@The Range, Kempton Park, to pay homage to ‘Tante Ju,’ as the craft was affectionately named, and the men who had the privilege to take control of its stick.

With a spring in his step, retired SAA pilot, SAAFA East Rand Branch member and one of the few pilots who has taken to the sky in this 74-year-old ‘lady,’ Karl Jensen, passionately spoke about the aircraft which was first put into service in 1934.

This is shortly after the passenger air agency took control of Union Airways. Prior to this, the aircraft was mainly used to deliver mail.

“With three Ju52s already part of its fleet, SAA swiftly brokered a deal with Airbus for 19 additional crafts. This was cause for great excitement as the agency set to work to commercialise air travel. Celebrations were however short lived with the onset of WW2,” said Karl.

He explained that the airlines had taken receipt of 15 planes shortly before the war and that these were in turn used for troop transport, medical air transport as well as by paratroopers.

“Despite all her promise, the Junker never transported a single passenger,” he said.

“At the end of the war, these magnificent aircraft became obsolete compared to modern aviation advances and they were discarded as scrap.”

In celebration of SAA’s 50th anniversary on February 1, 1984 and with the support of the then South African government, the organisation set out to acquire a Junker to form part of its showcase.

“Searching high and low, three were found in Blackbushe, in the United Kingdom. It was brought there from Las Palmas,” said Karl.

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“The best out of the trio of forgotten and neglected crafts was selected and teams quickly jumped into action to dismantle the craft in time to be transported to Durban by Safmarine.”

As the clock ticked, fears were mounting that the refurbishment would not meet the set deadline and that the Junker, renamed Jan van Riebeeck, would not take to the skies.

“Goosebumps! That is the only way to describe the feeling when the 18-seater weighing 10.5 tons took to the sky,” said the highly decorated pilot, with a lump in his throat.

“The drone of her engines left everyone speechless. It was a sight to behold.”

Strapping into the pilot seat, Karl was one of a handful of SAA pilots to lead heritage flights across the country at the steer of the Junker.

Clocking 436 hours, he took revellers on low altitude flights over some of the country’s most popular landmarks, along the spectacular coastline and cross-border safaris for the wild at heart.

“Flying the Ju52/3m was a laborious task, but the reward was insurmountable.

“Before being retired to the SAA Museum Society at Rand Airport, that glorious hunk of metal brought tremendous joy to everyone who was able to roll down her windows and experience the wind lapping at their faces,” he said.

SAAFA East Rand Branch meets on the third Friday of every month. Former aviators, South African Air Force members, anyone who worked within the aviation industry as well as aviation enthusiasts are welcome to join their ranks.

For more information contact branch chairman, Roelf Rossouw on 073 186 7761 or rossouwrj1@gmail.com