[MilCom] Tribute to Freddie Laker (Off Topic)

[Peter Tomlinson]

As I know that many military aero people move on to jobs in the civilian
aero sector, perhaps you will allow a small tribute to Sir Freddie Laker,
whose death in Florida is reported today here in the UK. He was THE pioneer
of low cost transatlantic air travel, with his SkyTrain at the end of the
1970s: walk up, buy the ticket, take your own food, fly London New York. The
big boys squashed him, but he later won compensation.

In those days I was occasionally flying the Atlantic on business (two of
which trips I extended with wonderful holidays in New England), and I used
Laker for one trip: a friendly journey in both directions. In the TV tribute
this lunchtime on TV they showed a clip of the inaugural trip, with Sir
Freddie amazed that every type of person turned up. And then they quoted
Richard Branson (Virgin) saying that Sir Freddie was his inspiration for
creating the Virgin airline.

A true pioneer.

Peter

Bristol, UK