Laker Airways IT and charter

[LGS6753]

My first transatlantic trip was LGW-JFK on a GK DC-10-10 in March 1978, a bit before Skytrain started, although the aircraft was painted in Skytrain colours. It was an ABC (Advanced Booking Charter), and we received with our tickets a voucher to allow us to stay in the (then) Statler Hilton Hotel in NYC for $30/night. Bargain! The flight was via Manchester both ways - unexpected by us and not very welcome.

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by LGS6753

My first transatlantic trip was LGW-JFK on a GK DC-10-10 in March 1978, a bit before Skytrain started, although the aircraft was painted in Skytrain colours. It was an ABC (Advanced Booking Charter), .

The aircraft were painted as Skytrain from delivery, for the DC-10s in the early 1970s; it took that long to get the Skytrain licences. The DC-10 Skytrain title was done in a backing of half a USA flag and half a Union Flag. The A300s that came at the end, intended for the same concept across Europe, had the same livery except that the title backing was now an elongated full Union Flag.

Older One-Elevens and 707 were similar colours but had no main fuselage titles at all, a slightly unusual Laker feature, having it only on the tailfin. The red and black colours were those of the jockeys at Freddie's longstanding personal horse racing stable.

[Sotonsean]

Originally Posted by LGS6753

My first transatlantic trip was LGW-JFK on a GK DC-10-10 in March 1978, a bit before Skytrain started, although the aircraft was painted in Skytrain colours. It was an ABC (Advanced Booking Charter), and we received with our tickets a voucher to allow us to stay in the (then) Statler Hilton Hotel in NYC for $30/night. Bargain! The flight was via Manchester both ways - unexpected by us and not very welcome.

The first official Laker Skytrain flight took of from London Gatwick to New York JFK on Monday 26 September 1977 with a departure time of 16.28. Douglas DC-10-10 G-AWWC "Eastern Belle" operated the inaugural flight.

A good few months before you took your Laker Airways ABC flight from LGW via MAN to New York JFK in March 1978.

Laker had finally obtained permission from all the relevant authorities for his long awaited low cost transatlantic Skytrain service in May 1977.

[bean]

Originally Posted by Sotonsean

The first official Laker Skytrain flight took of from London Gatwick to New York JFK on Monday 26 September 1977 with a departure time of 16.28. Douglas DC-10-10 G-AWWC "Eastern Belle" operated the inaugural flight.

A good few months before you took your Laker Airways ABC flight from LGW via MAN to New York JFK in March 1978.

Laker had finally obtained permission from all the relevant authorities for his long awaited low cost transatlantic Skytrain service in May 1977.

G-AZZC

[Sotonsean]

Originally Posted by bean

G-AZZC

I really don't know how I totally messed up with the registration. Obviously I typed the incorrect registration.

[astralclouds]

Originally Posted by Tartiflette Fan

Yep, that truly isn't worth a lot. There are 10 000 other threads that you might wish to contribute worthlessness to as well.

I can confirm this.
In February 1980, I flew on G-GFAL Laker DC-10 from Luton to Milan Malpensa as part of a combine Buckinghamshire schools ski trip (kids from about 4 different comps). We flew out on Thursday 16 Feb, just before half-term, returning 7 days later. I noted the aircraft details in my diary of the trip. We were heading to Passo del Tonale high up at 2000m on the Lombardy/South Tyrol border.