Complete Brain fade moment
Discussion
Court Line collapsed in August 1974.
They did indeed operate BAC 1-11s which made up the bulk of their fleet. They received two L1011 Tristars in 1973 (G-BAAA and G-BAAB) but only operated them for a year before going out of business. They never operated Dc-9s. In fact, the first UK operator of the DC-9 was British Midland.
They did indeed operate BAC 1-11s which made up the bulk of their fleet. They received two L1011 Tristars in 1973 (G-BAAA and G-BAAB) but only operated them for a year before going out of business. They never operated Dc-9s. In fact, the first UK operator of the DC-9 was British Midland.
Eric Mc said:
Court Line collapsed in August 1974.
They did indeed operate BAC 1-11s which made up the bulk of their fleet. They received two L1011 Tristars in 1973 (G-BAAA and G-BAAB) but only operated them for a year before going out of business. They never operated Dc-9s. In fact, the first UK operator of the DC-9 was British Midland.
I just looked them up to clarify my recollection of BAC 1-11s not DC -9s, and found that they also operated a Blackburn Beverly to transport engines. Getting that on the register must have been a challenge. They did indeed operate BAC 1-11s which made up the bulk of their fleet. They received two L1011 Tristars in 1973 (G-BAAA and G-BAAB) but only operated them for a year before going out of business. They never operated Dc-9s. In fact, the first UK operator of the DC-9 was British Midland.
Dr Jekyll said:
Eric Mc said:
Court Line collapsed in August 1974.
They did indeed operate BAC 1-11s which made up the bulk of their fleet. They received two L1011 Tristars in 1973 (G-BAAA and G-BAAB) but only operated them for a year before going out of business. They never operated Dc-9s. In fact, the first UK operator of the DC-9 was British Midland.
I just looked them up to clarify my recollection of BAC 1-11s not DC -9s, and found that they also operated a Blackburn Beverly to transport engines. Getting that on the register must have been a challenge. They did indeed operate BAC 1-11s which made up the bulk of their fleet. They received two L1011 Tristars in 1973 (G-BAAA and G-BAAB) but only operated them for a year before going out of business. They never operated Dc-9s. In fact, the first UK operator of the DC-9 was British Midland.
I think it was the former Royal Aircraft Establishment Beverley, so the last airworthy example of the type. It still exists although sadly not in the colours below -
http://www.beverley-association.org.uk/html/259/25...
I knew one of Court Line's pilots, the late great Hedley Hazelden, ex Chief Test Pilot for Handley-Page, when he was Station Chief Pilot at Aberdeen for Air Anglia of Norwich. Good guy, bloody good pilot. He was at JFK, loaded, turning and burning, taxiing out for takeoff, when he was called back to his stand to have his aircraft impounded... he ignored them and continued to taxi out, and with everyone else keeping the way clear for him, he took off and brought everyone home safely.
Good story.
The failure of Court Line was a major incident and brought about big changes in how inclusive tour companies operated. I think it was the dramatic and sudden collapse of Court Line that brought about the creation of the travel agent bonding scheme - which has proved crucial over the past few decades.
The failure of Court Line was a major incident and brought about big changes in how inclusive tour companies operated. I think it was the dramatic and sudden collapse of Court Line that brought about the creation of the travel agent bonding scheme - which has proved crucial over the past few decades.
My earliest aviation memories are the multi coloured Court Line fleet at Luton: my Dad worked for English Electric at the time, so we used to get the bus up to the airport to meet him from work, often sitting in the old spectators building watching them come & go. At that age, what they were & the significance of them had no affect whatsoever, wonder if it influenced my career choice though.
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