TAP Boeing 707 'Santa Maria' and Air Rhodesia Boeing 720. June 1973.
Terminal view of Salisbury Airport, New Sarum, Rhodesian Air Force base in the background. Mid winter, nice and warm!

SAA were banned from overflying 'black' African countries and had to fly the extremely long over water (Atlantic) routes to Europe. Political dogma doing away with any idea of keeping flying safe! Having said that some of the most dangerous routes these days involves flying over the countries in Africa, poor or non-existent air traffic control to blame, the aircrews operate their own safety by keeping in radio contact with each other when in these dangerous skies.

The only airlines offering direct flights to Europe were South African Airways (SAA) and Transportes Aereos Portugueses (TAP). SAA flew mainly to London, Heathrow but also to Germany, TAP of course to Lisbon, Rhodesians were very grateful for these air links, the flights always seemed to be full, routing was often via Luanda, Angola and then Isla da Sol in the Cape Verde islands off the West Coast of Africa for refuelling stops.