SA BOEINGS BUZZ IN MBEKI’S PRESIDENCY

THABO MBEKI’S inauguration as president on Wednesday was celebrated by a fly-over of three South African Airways Boeings which swooped over the festivities at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. One such Boeing delighted crowds at the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup with its fly-past over Ellis Park Stadium, but the use of three aircraft for such a stunt is a first for the country. The three aircraft — two new Boeing 747-400s and a 747-300 made several passes over the crowds assembled on the Union Building lawns. One aircraft had the words “Thank you Madiba” emblazoned under ts wings and another had “President Thabo Mbeki” written on it. The aircraft used advanced on-board navigational computers to ensure they did not stray off course and the flight team spent many hours practising for the event using flight simulators.