Philip Bowles / AFX

[pensioner]

Philip Bowles sentenced to jail for tax fraud despite judge's doubts - Times Online (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6949450.ece)

Looks as if PB finally ran out of luck although there would seem to be some underhand and shady work on the part of HMRC (surprise,surprise). I guess this time he took on someone a little too big. Don’t write him off though – he’ll bounce back. I bet he's already dreaming up something right now.

Good luck Philip.

[ab33t]

Well that big wheel surely does go around

[MechanicalMan]

Sad to hear this has happened, especially in the circumstances of the trial. Hopefully he will be out soon.

Good comment in the Times

Condemned out of hand by the Inland Revenue | Libby Purves - Times Online (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/libby_purves/article6950907.ece)

Good Luck Phil!

[breakadjuster]

I worked for Phil when he had AFX, I cant remember working for a better boss. yes his buisness did fail, he tried very hard to keep things together, Plowing his own money into the company. I even told him to cut and run but he stayed to the end.
He also ows me money, but I wont fault the bloke, The experience of that aircraft he bought from the States brought his buisness to its knees. those who were in the company at the time know the history.

Anyway Good luck Phil, I would still fly for you again!!

[yotter]

Very sorry to hear about this - it's quite true Philip put a lot of his own money into AFX, but a 747 freight operation proved too costly in the end.
Hope he gets an appeal and wins
M.P.

[Papa Sierra]

Not surprised to see the ex-BA AFX Territorials posting in support of Phillip Bowles. The man was deluded into thinking he could run a profitable Air Cargo Company, he attempted to cost cut in areas where doing so just helped to drag him down. In fairness to him he always endeavoured to pay his crews on time hence the support from the aforementioned "Territorials" who, working part-time, boosted their sizeble BA pensions and were as deluded as PB because it suited them.

[CR2]

AFX did most (if not just about all) of its flying for CLX - as far as I remember, AFX even flew more than the monthly guarantee.

I remember working with a lot of you guys; Is "Dutch" Holland still around? We amused ourselves one day in BGSF off-onloading for 7 hours. Was a tad chilly too. I brought a case of 24 half liter Bitburg beers for the local lads - worth their weight in gold; the one eatery/drinkery in SFJ charged something like $15 for a pint of beer. Think I paid that for the case...

Anyway, I always enjoyed working with you AFX peeps.

Edit: Oh yee of the bleeding thumb :-) PM Me :)

[hangininon747]

I am dreadfully sorry to hear what has happened to Philip. The years I worked for AFX were some of my happiest, great crews and engineers and loadmasters. A professional operation without bull****. If Philip had stuck to one plan instead of jumping on and off horses it may have prospered. Having passed 65 I am no longer hanginin, but would like to wish Philip and all ex AFX friends the very best.