The museum is a volunteer, non-profit organisation, founded in 1986. Its aim is to preserve the history of civil aviation in South Africa. This was sparked off by the purchase by SAA of the famous Junkers Ju 52/3m aircraft, and members of the SAA Museum Society assisted in the restoration of ‘Tante Ju’ to flying condition. Some of their other aircraft are used for safari charters to Southern Africa’s exotic tourist destinations, as well as for weekend scenic flights around Johannesburg and environs. Their classic fleet is operated by Skyclass Aviation.

The training of aircraft technicians and cabin crew also takes place at the museum’s facilities. Maintenance procedures undertaken as training exercises assist the museum with preservation tasks, as well as being beneficial to apprentices who get an opportunity to work on ‘the real thing’.

Researchers may make use of the museum’s library, which contains over a 1000 aviation related books.