Founded in 2003, Eazi Access is Africa’s market leader in work-at-height and material-handling solutions. We are proud to have been the access company to have sponsored a JLG 340AJ Boom Lift for a few restoration projects at The South African Airways Museum Society, based at Rand Airport. The machine was used to lift people to height for the aircraft’s titles to be placed on the Vickers Viking as well as on the Starliner. It was also used to reach the tail fins of the Lockheed Starliner aircraft, to paint the fins as well as to take measurements so they can have titles made for this aircraft.
The Museum’s Motto states: “A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means,” William Hazlitt, 1778-1830. One of the museum’s volunteers who was trained on the JLG 340AJ and taken to height said, “This machine is a dream come true, compared to the alternative methods I’ve used before”. The aircraft which was restored is a twin-engined short-range airliner derived from the Vickers Wellington bomber. The initial nineteen production aircraft carried between 21 and 24 passengers. The Museum’s Viking first took to the air on 30th August 1946 and was retired from service in December 1962.
This is not the first time Eazi Access has partnered with the SAA Museum Society to assist with their restoration projects. They were assisted by Eazi Access in October 2015 when a JLG 510AJ and a JLG 600SJ were sponsored to polish the Boeing 747-244B, “Lebombo”. Lebombo is the “Jumbo” that flew over the Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park Stadium on 24 June 1995.
“It is exciting for us to be able to play a role in the community, by partnering with The South African Airways Museum Society to maintain the museum’s heritage through the use of our JLG 340AJ,” stated Kim Meszaros, Eazi Access Group Marketing Manager.
“With the assistance of an Eazi Access boom lift the painting and titles are now complete. Thank you Eazi Access, we are hugely appreciative of your generosity,” John Austin-Williams Chairman: South African Airways Museum Society. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 15:30. For more information about the museum visit www.saamuseum.co.za
