Colours in the sky : the history of autair and court line aviation

It's impossible to tell the story of Court Line without telling that of Autair, founded by helicopter pioneer William 'Bill' Armstrong. Autair itself was an offshoot of his global helicopter operation, but Bill also had his finger in many aviation 'pies' including a multitude of operations in Africa, where so many aircraft and airlines were created, bought and sold with such prolificacy that even he could not remember the names and how many there were! There is also the background to Court Line's shipping concerns and the Caribbean operations of the hotel chains and regional airline Leeward Islands Air Transport which Court owned for a while. Covered in detail is the introduction, demonstration and use of the Lockheed TriStar wide-bodied airliner, the first of the type used in the Inclusive Tour business. Court Line Aviation and Tom Gullick's Clarksons Holidays brought to the forefront the concept of value-for-money Inclusive Tour holidays following the 'vertical integration' business model whereby owning and controlling each step of the holiday allowed the company to make a small profit at every stage. The orange, pink, turquoise and yellow jets brought flashes of color to dreary British airports, and quickly streamed a multi-colored rainbow across European skies to Mediterranean destinations and even further afield. Truly they did indeed put colors in the Sky! It's Impossible To Tell The Story Of Court Line Without Telling That Of Autair, Founded By Helicopter Pioneer William 'bill' Armstrong. Autair Itself Was An Offshoot Of His Global Helicopter Operation, But Bill Also Had His Finger In Many Aviation 'pies' Including A Multitude Of Operations In Africa, Where So Many Aircraft And Airlines Were Created, Bought And Sold With Such Prolificacy That Even He Could Not Remember The Names And How Many There Were! There Is Also The Background To Court Line's Shipping Concerns And The Caribbean Operations Of The Hotel Chains And Regional Airline Leeward Islands Air Transport Which Court Owned For A While. Covered In Detail Is The Introduction, Demonstration And Use Of The Lockheed Tristar Wide-bodied Airliner, The First Of The Type Used In The Inclusive Tour Business. Court Line Aviation And Tom Gullick's Clarksons Holidays Brought To The Forefront The Concept Of Value-for-money Inclusive Tour Holidays Following The 'vertical Integration' Business Model Whereby Owning And Controlling Each Step Of The Holiday Allowed The Company To Make A Small Profit At Every Stage. The Orange, Pink, Turquoise And Yellow Jets Brought Flashes Of Colour To Dreary British Airports, And Quickly Streamed A Multi-coloured Rainbow Across European Skies To Mediterranean Destinations And Even Further Afield. This Is Their Story. Cover; Book Title; Copyright; Index; Foreword; Introduction; Chapter 1: Setting The Scene; Chapter 2: From An Idea; Chapter 3: In The Beginning; Chapter 4: Under New Ownership; Chapter 5: Holidays With A 'c'; Chapter 6: A New Name -- A New Image; Chapter 7: Caribbean Adventures; Chapter 8: One-eleven Heyday!; Chapter 9: Enter The Tristar!; Chapter 10: To The Brink -- And Beyond!; Chapter 11: Aftermath; Chapter 12: Twenty Years On; Appendix 1: Autair Helicopter Operations; Appendix 2: Autair -- Court Line Aviation -- Liat Fleet Lists; Appendix 3: Important Dates; Acknowledgements; Index Grahma M. Simons. Includes Index. Cover Book Title Copyright Index Foreword Introduction Chapter 1: Setting the scene Chapter 2: From an idea Chapter 3: In the beginning Chapter 4: Under new ownership Chapter 5: Holidays with a ‘C’ Chapter 6: A new name - a new image Chapter 7: Caribbean adventures Chapter 8: One-Eleven heyday! Chapter 9: Enter the TriStar! Chapter 10: To the brink - and beyond! Chapter 11: Aftermath Chapter 12: Twenty years on Appendix 1: Autair Helicopter Operations Appendix 2: Autair - Court Line Aviation - LIAT fleet lists Appendix 3: Important Dates Acknowledgements Index Back Cover A comprehensive and colourful history of Autair and Court Line, the prominent British holiday charter airline of the 1970s.