Sir Freddie Laker Dies
Great guy - great airline. Both will be sadly missed.
Many a time I flew on holiday on his 1-11s and 707s to Mahon and back.
RIP Sir Freddie.
Many a time I flew on holiday on his 1-11s and 707s to Mahon and back.
RIP Sir Freddie.
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Met him a few times and enjoyed his company. He was one of the best raconteurs with great wit. He also had a shrewd business brain. You will be sadly missed Fred, but your memory is one of those that will go on and on as being a gentleman and man for all people. RIP and God bless you.
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Sir Freddie Laker
I had the pleasure of working for Fredfor the four last years as a flight engineer on the DC-10s. Best job I've ever had in the industry.
Many of his staff went on(including yours truly) to start BCal Charter later renamed CalAir and Novair.
Trawl through the senior staff at Virgin Atlantic and quite a few are ex Laker.
Good on you Boss!
Many of his staff went on(including yours truly) to start BCal Charter later renamed CalAir and Novair.
Trawl through the senior staff at Virgin Atlantic and quite a few are ex Laker.
Good on you Boss!
He told us at the last reunion not to take too long to organise the next one for he was not getting any younger. Sadly he was right.
Fred was the best boss I will ever have and he will be sadly missed by many.
Fred was the best boss I will ever have and he will be sadly missed by many.
A truly sad day for Aviation, and reminding us of the dawn of an era that was the end of the golden age.
He was one of lifes greats, a larger than life figure who was a great influence on me when I were young, watching his DC-10's flying in to Gatwick from the top of the multi-storey back in the late 70's/early 80's.
RIP freddy. You were one damned great guy. I'm totally moved. I guess you meant more to me than I'd realized.
He was one of lifes greats, a larger than life figure who was a great influence on me when I were young, watching his DC-10's flying in to Gatwick from the top of the multi-storey back in the late 70's/early 80's.
RIP freddy. You were one damned great guy. I'm totally moved. I guess you meant more to me than I'd realized.
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I also worked for Sir Freddie in the Aviation Traders section at Southend. Being just a sprog at the time I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but he was and remained one of my aviation heroes. RIP
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as has been said before: Best job I ever had!
I still have one of his uniforms somewhere, I guess that I hung on to it in the hope that he would start up again! I still have some of the stickers as well.
Let's hope that there will be a memorial service in the UK for him.
I still have one of his uniforms somewhere, I guess that I hung on to it in the hope that he would start up again! I still have some of the stickers as well.
Let's hope that there will be a memorial service in the UK for him.
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Although Sir Freddy Laker will be long remembered for his pioneering work in low-cost charter airlines, this was merely the peak of an extraordinary career in aviation. In 1947, Sir Freddy founded Aviation Traders Ltd. From this evolved several small charter airlines, culminating in the formation of Air Charter Ltd. During these years Sir Freddy operated a mix of Yorks, Tudors, Bristol Freighters and DC4s.
From their experience with DC4s, Aviation Traders developed the Carvair. Air Charter merged with Channel Air Bridge operating Bristol Freighters and Carvairs across the Channel.
In 1957 Aviation Traders Ltd designed, built and flew the Accountant. Although this twin Dart passenger aircraft was not a commercial success a contemporary publication remarked – “ when a comparatively small company, whose previous experience of aircraft manufacture has been confined to sub-assemblies and components, designs and builds a twin turbo-prop airliner by its own resources, a page is added to aviation history “
In 1957 Aviation Traders acquired nearly 250 Prentice trainers as surplus from the
RAF ,with the intention of converting them to 4 seat executive aircraft. The block of 149 consecutive registrations from G-AOJZ to AOPY probably represents the largest ever block on the British Register
Sir Freddy Laker will always be associated with Skytrain, but it is important that his previous contributions to aviation not be overlooked
What a life – and what a heritage!!
GF
From their experience with DC4s, Aviation Traders developed the Carvair. Air Charter merged with Channel Air Bridge operating Bristol Freighters and Carvairs across the Channel.
In 1957 Aviation Traders Ltd designed, built and flew the Accountant. Although this twin Dart passenger aircraft was not a commercial success a contemporary publication remarked – “ when a comparatively small company, whose previous experience of aircraft manufacture has been confined to sub-assemblies and components, designs and builds a twin turbo-prop airliner by its own resources, a page is added to aviation history “
In 1957 Aviation Traders acquired nearly 250 Prentice trainers as surplus from the
RAF ,with the intention of converting them to 4 seat executive aircraft. The block of 149 consecutive registrations from G-AOJZ to AOPY probably represents the largest ever block on the British Register
Sir Freddy Laker will always be associated with Skytrain, but it is important that his previous contributions to aviation not be overlooked
What a life – and what a heritage!!
GF
The first (and only) time I have sat up front for a take off was on a Laker Bac 1-11 from LGW to Alicante and back on 3rd Nov 1979 - fantastic experience for a 12 year old!
All because the company my dad worked for was doing some work for Laker and dad's being dad's mentioned my interest in aviation and some months later the above trip was the result.
A real character who will be greatly missed.
RIP Sir Freddie
All because the company my dad worked for was doing some work for Laker and dad's being dad's mentioned my interest in aviation and some months later the above trip was the result.
A real character who will be greatly missed.
RIP Sir Freddie
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i read bransons book a few years ago, and if i remember correctly it was through speaking to freddie about how BA got one over on him that VIRGIN was to escape the same fate! if you put that into context over the years how many parents have been able to 'afford' to take their families to the likes of disneyland etc etc he in my humble opinion has left an amazing legacy that more and more airlines are beginning to implement.. i never met the guy (all a bit before my time!)so the next time i jet off to somewhere sunny and warm i will be raising my glass to the man that in my opinion helped the average member of the public see so many wonderful places in the world! thanks freddie RIP
That brings back old times...
It was said that the Accountant Series 2 was to be named the Auditor, and the Series 3 the Receiver.
But FAL was always to be counted on for a headline back in the days of Skytrain, when we all had to learn about the arcane world of the UK court system and understand what ultra vires meant so we could go and join the post-victory party on Parliament Square.
And then there was the time that he announced this massive order for A300s so he could do the Skytrain thing all over Europe, and applied for licenses on the grounds that any qualified European airline could link any two points within the Common Market. The total number of licenses applied for?
666.
That, we felt, explained a lot. I'm sure BA saw little distinction between Sir Freddie and the Beast at the best of times....
... but they were wrong, for Laker was but the forerunner of the Beast, as Rev. 13:16 makes clear:
"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast.... "
See: http://www.virgin.com/uk/default.asp
God speed, Sir Freddie, and we miss you in an age of beancounters
It was said that the Accountant Series 2 was to be named the Auditor, and the Series 3 the Receiver.
But FAL was always to be counted on for a headline back in the days of Skytrain, when we all had to learn about the arcane world of the UK court system and understand what ultra vires meant so we could go and join the post-victory party on Parliament Square.
And then there was the time that he announced this massive order for A300s so he could do the Skytrain thing all over Europe, and applied for licenses on the grounds that any qualified European airline could link any two points within the Common Market. The total number of licenses applied for?
666.
That, we felt, explained a lot. I'm sure BA saw little distinction between Sir Freddie and the Beast at the best of times....
... but they were wrong, for Laker was but the forerunner of the Beast, as Rev. 13:16 makes clear:
"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast.... "
See: http://www.virgin.com/uk/default.asp
God speed, Sir Freddie, and we miss you in an age of beancounters
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I met Sir Freddie at the World Travel Market at Earl's Court back in 1995.
I had some 'Laker Liker' smiley face stickers his airline gave me back in 1981..
I brought them along to show his new Laker Airlines.(LGW-MIA)
I didn't know he would be there and he was bowled over when I gave him a handful of them(I hoard airline memorabilia).
We then had a long chat about aeroplanes. We must have sounded like a couple of aircraft spotters.
His ideas were well before his time.
I don't think they make them like that anymore?
Now he can have a chat with Kelly Johnson,Sidney Camm and all the late 'Greats' of aviation.
Who will forget his cheeky grin ?
I had some 'Laker Liker' smiley face stickers his airline gave me back in 1981..
I brought them along to show his new Laker Airlines.(LGW-MIA)
I didn't know he would be there and he was bowled over when I gave him a handful of them(I hoard airline memorabilia).
We then had a long chat about aeroplanes. We must have sounded like a couple of aircraft spotters.
His ideas were well before his time.
I don't think they make them like that anymore?
Now he can have a chat with Kelly Johnson,Sidney Camm and all the late 'Greats' of aviation.
Who will forget his cheeky grin ?
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I never met Sir Freddie - although I flew on his planes on a number of occasions - but there can be few other people in aviation whose passing has met with the sort of comments I've read here.
A true tribute to someone who clearly was one of the genuine nice guys. I'm all the more saddened that I'll not have the privilege and pleasure of meeting him as others have.
As has been said more eloquently that I can manage, a sad day.
A true tribute to someone who clearly was one of the genuine nice guys. I'm all the more saddened that I'll not have the privilege and pleasure of meeting him as others have.
As has been said more eloquently that I can manage, a sad day.
Sad Sad loss RIP