The Aerotel project is the idea and brainchild of Martin den Dunnen and wife Tracy den Dunnen. Martin, a business man of Hoedspruit for approximately 23 years,  a pilot and property developer (Zandspruit Estates Pty Ltd) with extensive construction experience (PropertyProjects & Zandspruit Construction)  and Tracy had a dream, a will and a passion to restore dignity to a retired airliner aircraft, that habitually ends up in airport graveyards, doomed to rust away or to be chopped up as scrap metal., a sad reminder of the once magnificent piece of machinery it was..

This dream became a reality in March 2019 when time, opportunity and passion collided and 

ZS-BIL was purchased, with the assistance of Riaan van Niekerk of CraftBespokeWorx. A 4 month preparation project ensued where BIL was prepared for safe transportation to Hoedspruit, where the rebuild and conversion would take place. BIL departed from DENEL grounds on 5 May 2019 and traveled 9 days by road to Hoedspruit Limpopo.

The rebuild ensued in full force once BIL arrived. It was an adventure to say the least, with no manuel and no previous experience from which to draw from to light the way. But with the  assistance and expertise of local and regional professionals, Aerotel stands today as a testimony of what willpower and passion can achieve, when coupled with a great team of like-minded individuals.

Special thanks go to local artisans, professionals and suppliers - Hoedspruit Steel, Leopardo Electrical, BUCO, Otthillie Plumbing, ME Graphix, Glassplanet, DuPaint, Simply Sewing, Kuku, Designer Air, Tshukudu decking, Bushveld kitchens for going the extra mile and joining the journey through unchartered waters. and a COVID19 global pandemic.

When talents and natural aptitudes combine, as they have here with Project Aerotel, the result is a work of art and engineering brilliance!