Two Boeings, Six Decades of Aviation History

When you sleep aboard one of Aerotel Hoedspruit's converted Boeing aircraft, you're not just staying in a quirky hotel room — you're resting your head in a piece of aviation history that spans six decades, four continents, and some of the most iconic airlines ever to grace the skies.

Our Boeing 737-200 'BIL' and Boeing 727-100 'SAL' have lived extraordinary lives. From carrying passengers across the Australian Outback to ferrying presidents across Africa, from wearing Braniff's legendary 'Jelly Bean' colours to serving as a VIP presidential jet for the Republic of Djibouti — these aircraft have stories that most planes could only dream of.

Here is their complete history.

Boeing 737-200 'BIL'

Chapter 1: Born in Australia (1981–1986)

Our 737 began life as VH-CZR, delivered brand new to Ansett Australia in October 1981. Ansett was one of Australia's two major domestic carriers, and the 737-200 was the backbone of their fleet throughout the 1980s.

In 1980, Ansett Airways ordered 12 Boeing 737-200s to replace their aging DC-9 fleet. These were Model 200Cs — the 'C' standing for Convertible, allowing the aircraft to be quickly configured for either passengers or cargo. VH-CZR was the sixth aircraft delivered, arriving in June 1981 at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.

For five years, this aircraft crisscrossed Australia — from Sydney to Perth, Melbourne to Cairns, Brisbane to Adelaide. She carried businesspeople, families on holiday, and countless Australians connecting this vast continent.

View historical photos of VH-CZR in Ansett livery on JetPhotos

Chapter 2: The American Years (1987–2003)

When Ansett decided to upgrade to the newer 737-300 series, all twelve 737-200s were sold to America West Airlines — a Phoenix, Arizona-based carrier that was rapidly expanding in the deregulated American market.

Re-registered as N183AW in February 1987, our 737 began a new life flying the sun-drenched routes of the American Southwest. America West was a scrappy startup airline that had launched in 1983 with just three leased 737s. By the time N183AW joined the fleet, they had grown into a significant regional player.

The aircraft served America West for an impressive 16 years — from 1987 until October 2003. During this time, she flew routes from Phoenix to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Albuquerque, and dozens of other cities across the western United States.

Fun fact: America West Airlines later merged with US Airways in 2005, which subsequently merged with American Airlines in 2013. So technically, this aircraft's American lineage lives on in today's American Airlines.

View historical photos of N183AW in America West livery on JetPhotos

Chapter 3: The Global Wanderer (2005–2018)

After America West, our 737 entered her most adventurous phase — bouncing between continents and operators:

• February 2005: Registered A6-AVA with Aerovista (UAE)
• March 2006: Re-registered YA-GAB for Kam Air (Afghanistan)
• Later: UP-B3702 with Starline (Kazakhstan)
• Final Flying Career: ZS-BIL with Gryphon Airlines (South Africa)

Flying for Kam Air, she operated in one of the most challenging aviation environments on Earth — Afghanistan during the post-Taliban reconstruction period. The rugged terrain, high-altitude airports, and security concerns made this some of the most demanding commercial flying anywhere.

Her final operator was Gryphon Airlines in South Africa, where she was eventually retired and stored at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Chapter 4: The Viral Journey to Hoedspruit (May 2019)

In May 2019, South Africa witnessed something extraordinary. A Boeing 737 — our 737 — was being transported by road from OR Tambo International Airport to Hoedspruit, a journey of 450 kilometres that would take nine days.

The footage went viral. Social media exploded with videos of the aircraft crawling through Polokwane, crossing intersections, and stopping traffic across Limpopo Province. Some people thought it was a plane crash. Others couldn't believe what they were seeing.

The viral tweet from @SALTruckers said it best: 'Things we don't see every day on South African roads.' Traffic ground to a halt on Munnik Avenue when the aircraft rolled across the intersection of the N1 bypass.

Key dates:

• 5 May 2019: Departed DENEL grounds at OR Tambo
• 17 May 2019: Arrived in Hoedspruit
• October 2020: Opened as Aerotel's first aircraft accommodation

In The Media

• TimesLIVE: Is That a Boeing on the Highway in Polokwane?
• Jacaranda FM: Spend a Night On-Board a Boeing 737-200
• IOL Travel: Spend the Night in a Luxury Boeing 737-200 in Limpopo

Boeing 727-100 'SAL' (Sally)

If our 737 has had a remarkable life, our 727 'Sally' has had an absolutely extraordinary one. This aircraft has served pioneering American airlines, worn Braniff's legendary colours, hauled cargo across North America, and carried African heads of state.

Chapter 1: The Arrow-Jet Era (1967–1969)

Sally was delivered in 1967 as N7273F to Frontier Airlines — not the modern low-cost carrier of today, but the original Frontier that was formed in 1950 from the merger of Arizona Airways, Challenger Airlines, and Monarch Airlines.

Frontier branded their 727s as 'Arrow-Jets' — a marketing masterstroke that captured the sleek, forward-looking nature of jet travel. On September 30, 1966, Frontier became the first 'local service carrier' in America to operate the Boeing 727, entering the jet age with style.

Our aircraft was one of five 727-191s delivered to Frontier, flying routes across the American Rocky Mountain region — Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, El Paso, Albuquerque, and dozens of smaller cities that had never seen jet service.

The seating configuration was 24 first class and 75 coach — quite luxurious by today's standards!

However, Frontier's management decided that the Boeing 737 was better suited to their route network. By 1969, all five 727-191s were traded back to Boeing, with most eventually finding their way to Braniff.

Read more: Arrow Jets — Frontier's 727s (Yesterday's Airlines)

Chapter 2: The Legendary Jelly Bean (1969–1982)

In 1969, our 727 received a new identity: N300BN, flying for the legendary Braniff International Airways.

This is where Sally's story becomes truly colourful — literally.

In 1965, Braniff had launched their revolutionary 'End of the Plain Plane' campaign. Under the visionary leadership of Mary Wells Lawrence and designer Alexander Girard, Braniff painted their aircraft in solid, bold colours — turquoise, orange, lemon yellow, lime green, ochre, beige, sky blue, lavender, and more. The public dubbed them the 'Jelly Bean Fleet.'

N300BN wore the striking solid lime green Jelly Bean livery — one of the most distinctive aircraft paint schemes ever created. Fashion designer Emilio Pucci designed matching flight attendant uniforms, complete with 'space helmets' to protect hairstyles in the rain.

For 13 years, this aircraft flew Braniff's routes across the American heartland — Dallas, Houston, Chicago, New York, Miami, Minneapolis, and beyond. The 727 became the backbone of Braniff's fleet, with the airline operating up to 70 727s at its peak.

When Braniff collapsed in May 1982 — victims of deregulation, overexpansion, and high fuel prices — it was the end of an era. But our 727 lived on.

Read more: Passing Through History with Flying Colors (World Airline Historical Society)
Braniff International: A Trailblazer in Airline Livery Design (Simple Flying)

Chapter 3: The Cargo Years (1982–1995)

After Braniff's collapse, our 727 began a new career as a freighter with Burlington Northern Air Freight (BAX Global), re-registered as N3946A.

For over a decade (1982–1995), she hauled cargo across North America — auto parts, electronics, urgent freight, mail, and packages. The 727's distinctive rear-mounted ventral stairs made it ideal for cargo operations at smaller airports without jetway facilities.

This was honest, hard work — the kind that keeps global supply chains moving. By the time she left BAX Global, this aircraft had nearly three decades of service under her wings.

Chapter 4: The Presidential Jet (2001–2012)

In April 2001, our 727 received what would be her final — and most prestigious — flying assignment. Re-registered as J2-KBA, she became a VIP presidential jet for the Force Aérienne du Djibouti (Djibouti Air Force).

Djibouti — the tiny nation at the Horn of Africa, strategically located at the entrance to the Red Sea — needed an aircraft to carry its president and government officials. Our 727 was converted to VIP configuration, her interior transformed from cargo carrier to presidential luxury.

For 11 years, J2-KBA flew diplomatic missions across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. She was photographed at Malta International Airport in 2004, proudly wearing 'République de Djibouti' titles. She attended the 2nd European Union–Africa Summit in Lisbon in 2007.

This is the interior that now awaits guests at Aerotel — the same VIP cabin that once carried African heads of state now serves as an exclusive-use suite for travellers seeking something truly unique.

View: J2-KBA at Malta International Airport, 2004 (Airliners.net)

In September 2012, J2-KBA was retired from active service and parked at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, where she sat for nearly a decade awaiting her next chapter.

Chapter 5: The Five-Day Journey to Hoedspruit (June 2021)

In June 2021, history repeated itself — but this time with an even larger aircraft.

On Monday, 7 June 2021, our Boeing 727 began its journey from OR Tambo International Airport to Hoedspruit. The convoy covered 520 kilometres (323 miles), crawling at approximately 10 mph (16 km/h) — a distance that would take 6 hours by car but took 5 days by abnormal load.

The route took her through:

• Polokwane
• Mokopane
• Marble Hall
• Modjadjiskloof
• Gravelotte

On Friday, 11 June 2021, she finally arrived at Zandspruit Bush & Aero Estate. The T-tail had been removed for transport and was later reinstalled on-site.

The Limpopo Department of Transport issued a jubilant statement upon her arrival, urging South Africans to visit the province and experience this unique attraction.

In The Media

• Review Online: Boeing 727 Passes Through Polokwane
• The South African: Massive Boeing 727 Seen on Roads — Will Be a Luxury Hotel
• Jacaranda FM: Watch Plane Transported to Hoedspruit
• Simple Flying: Boeing 727 Set to Be Turned into Luxury Hotel

Complete Aircraft History

Boeing 737-200 'BIL' Timeline

Boeing 727-100 'SAL' Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

A New Chapter Begins

Today, these two magnificent aircraft sit on the African bushveld at Zandspruit Bush & Aero Estate — no longer flying, but more alive than ever.

The 737's six cloud-themed cabins welcome guests seeking something truly unique — the chance to sleep in an aircraft that once flew over the Australian Outback, the American Southwest, the mountains of Afghanistan, and the plains of Kazakhstan.

The 727's VIP interior — the same cabin that once carried African presidents — is now available for exclusive hire. The original cockpit is preserved, allowing guests to sit in the captain's seat and touch the controls of an aircraft with six decades of history.

Martin den Dunnen's vision was simple: restore dignity to retired airliners that would otherwise rust in graveyards or be cut up for scrap. They've done far more than that. They've created a living museum, an immersive experience, and a testament to the enduring appeal of aviation.

Come experience history. Sleep in a Boeing. Wake up in the bushveld.