In 1956, with the arrival of ZS-DKD, South African Airways became the first non-American airline to place the Douglas DC-7 in service, replacing the Lockheed Constellations on European routes. SAA’s service across the Indian Ocean to Perth was pioneered by the DC-7B. To help cover the distances with fewer fuel stops, ultimately reducing the stops to just two on Mauritius and the Cocos Islands, the airline with its well-known springbok logo added "saddle" fuel tanks on top of each of the four engines. The additional tanks could carry up to 220 gallons (832 liters) of fuel each and helped extend the range of a standard DC-7 from 7,400 up to around 9,000 kilometers. A display stand is included.
