The 1980s

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Flying Tigers has inaugurated daily service between Los Angeles and Honolulu. Hawaii has been without scheduled all-cargo service for the past five years.

Former President Joe Healy, who was named senior vice president-transportation systems planning for Tiger International last year, has been named president of Purolator Courier Corp., based on the East Coast.

Flying Tigers’ newest B747- 200 jet freighter set a company record recently when it left Anchorage, Alaska enroute to Narita International Airport in Japan with a cabin load of 237,800 pounds of livestock on its way to Okinawa.

Flying Tigers’ second new Boeing 747-200 jet freighter has been officially christened the “Thomas Haywood” after one of the airline’s founders and long-time employees. Tom Haywood, who passed away in April 1979 after a long illness, flew with Bob Prescott in General Claire Lee Chennault’s legendary “Flying Tigers’’.

FlyingTigers has been awarded a S25 million contract by the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to fly 7,000 refugees a month to the United States from Southeast Asia. The airline will use the passenger 747 acquired by Tiger Air from Singapore Airlines recently, operating about 13 flights a month for six months starting in April.

A Flying Tigers DC-8 left Baltimore/Washington International Airport last month carrying more than 93,000 pounds of relief supplies for Afghan refugees now living in Pakistan in the wake of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

The airline has been putting the PAX plane to work, between military (MAC) passengers and the refugees from Southeast Asia. Both the operations represent the first B747 passenger flights in Flying Tigers’ history.

Flying Tigers has inaugurated the first domestic B747 jet freighter service between Boston and Los Angeles, providing service to Asia from Boston.

Flying Tigers dedicated its new $11 million Los Angeles terminal in March. The terminal, largest single carrier cargo terminal at LAX and Flying Tigers’ largest terminal systemwide, encompasses more than 23 acres, with enough ramp surface to simultaneously park five stretched DC-8s and two Boeing 747s, or six 747s.

Former United States President Gerald R. Ford has been elected to the Board of Directors of Tiger International, Inc., Flying Tigers’ parent company, and will also serve the company as a consultant.

Air Transport World, the magazine of world airline management, has published its World Airline Statistics for 1979, which again show Flying Tigers as the largest carrier of airfreight in the world — by far.

Construction is underway on a $2 million Flying Tigers terminal in Charlotte, North Carolina. The two-level structure will accommodate simultaneous parking of two stretched DC-8s or one B747 and one stretched DC-8 aircraft.

Regularly scheduled B747 jet freighter service between the United States and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, began in July.

In September, Flying Tigers commenced regular B747 passenger service for the Military Airlift Command using a Tigerair B747 passenger aircraft.

On October 1, Flying Tigers and Seaboard World Airlines become one. What the new Flying Tiger Line means to the shipper is impressive: twenty-one stretch DC-8 and sixteen B747 jet freighters serving more than 30 airports in the United States, Europe and Asia with scheduled airfreight service, complemented by scores of interline sales offices and trucking satellites and worldwide charter services.

European headquarters have been transferred from London, England to Frankfurt, Germany.

A regular Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity has granted authority to provide scheduled all-cargo service between the U.S. and fourteen countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Using TigerAir’s Passenger B747 #748, Flying Tigers is finishing up a seven-week contract carrying Islamic pilgrims from Libya to Saudi Arabia and back.

The airline’s first DC-8 will enter the reengineering process in August 1981 and will emerge in April, 1982 with four CFM56 engines. Afterwards, an average of one re-engined DC-8 a month will be put into service through 1984. Flying Tigers is deciding whether to re-engine the balance of its 28 DC-8s or replace them with new aircraft.

Flying Tigers is charters by the U.S. State Department to carry a B747 full of construction equipment from Washington, D.C. to Havana.

Metro International Airways, Flying Tigers new passenger division, officially entered the passenger charter market in December, serving travelers around the world with three Boeing 747-200 and one stretched DC-8 airliners. Flying Tigers pilots, flight attendants and maintenance personnel will operate and maintain Metro International’s aircraft. The division is being operated under another name to avoid diluting Flying Tigers’ identity as an airfreight specialist.

In March, a Metro International B747 jet will take off from New York with 480 passengers bound for Israel — the first of 54 roundtrip New York/Tel Aviv tours organized by Tower Travel Corporation of New York.

Flying Tigers has announced the sale of three 747 jetfreighters to American Airlines, valued at more than $90 million.

February marked the beginning of Flying Tigers scheduled nonstop B747 jetfreighter service from Frankfurt, West Germany to Atlanta. Georgia.

The “star” of the new LAX training center is the ultra-modern $6 million Link-Singer B747 flight simulator, housed in a specially constructed 1,800 square-foot, two-and-a-half story high bay visible from the center’s main entrance. It is equipped with a six-axis motion system which simulates motions experienced in a real B747 (i.e., stalls, slips, dives, climbs, banks, rolls, take-off. touch-down, rough air and effects of buffet).

The first quarter 1981 results for Flying Tigers are not encouraging. And so far, the second quarter doesn’t look any better. The airline is facing probably the most critical time in its history.

With 60 percent of the airline’s flights transiting Chicago, it is the busiest station in the system.

A Flying Tigers B747 Jetfreighter was dedicated in memory of W. Henry Renninger, a founder of Seaboard World Airlines.

Metro International Airways will take off this fall with low cost, scheduled 747 passenger service between New York and Brussels, Belgium. The non-stop 747 flights will connect JFK twice a week with Brussels International Airport. Frequency will increase to five times a week in the Spring and Summer of 1982.

According to the latest rankings of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), based on the performance of the association’s members in 1980, Flying Tigers remains the world’s top airfreight carrier.

Los Angeles airport officials have expressed interest in the Hi-Tiger building at headquarters for possible future use by the LAX Department of Airports. [Incidentally, LAX Department of airports has occupied the building from approx. early 1990s forward.]

Following the withdrawal of Airlift International from the Latin American market, Flying Tigers applied to the CAB for all-cargo authority between the U.S. and Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Peru and Venezuela. The airline also filed with the CAB for scheduled passenger authority between the U.S. and Israel. Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. 

Some 60 of the airline’s nearly 900 pilots are expected to be furloughed between by the end of the year due to reduction in flying resulting from a decline in business coupled with the effects of the air traffic controller’s dispute.

Tiger Air has announced plans to establish a base for corporate aircraft at Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York.

Flying Tigers has launched an aggressive sales and advertising campaign in the Los Angeles area to attract more shippers and increase yields utilizing television and radio.

Flying Tigers in cooperation with Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), will begin the only direct B747 jet freighter service from the United States to Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. scheduled airlines recorded a 6.3 percent decrease in airfreight in August, 1981, compared with August. 1980, the Air Transport Association reported.

As a result of developments including the postponement of Metro scheduled service from December to March 1982, the closing of San Francisco and opening of New York and Los Angeles domiciles for flight attendants have been deferred until after the first of the year.

Flying Tigers’ weekly freighter service from Prestwick, Scotland, to New York, via Heathrow Airport, has proven so successful that the airline may upgrade the aircraft from the DC-8-63F to the larger Boeing 747s before the end of the year.

Flying Tigers has resumed air cargo operations at Syracuse, N.Y. with stretched DC-8 jetfreighter after economic conditions forced the suspension of that service in December 1980.

12 domestic cities are now on-line as origin stations for Flying Tigers’ exciting new guaranteed door-to-door service.

Flying Tigers inaugurated jetfreighter service in March at Orlando, FL and Baltimore/Washington, and initiated the new 100 percent guaranteed door-to-door service at both locations.

Flying Tigers’ new World Service Center will support the airline’s expansion of service to domestic off-line locations, providing booking and tracking of freight and pickup and delivery information.

After three months of operation, Flying Tigers’ aggressive new guaranteed door-to-door service is looking good, characterized by steady growth in volume coupled with consistently high reliability, generally above 98 percent.

ATL relocated to a new, 133,000 square-foot facility — making it the largest terminal facility in the system. Flying Tigers is using 64,000 square feet of the building and subletting the remaining space.

Scheduled jetfreighter service started in May to Memphis, Tennessee, connecting Tennessee shippers with Flying Tigers’ worldwide system.

Miami, known as the “Gateway to South America”, is the major U.S. point for both inbound and outbound South American traffic.

More than 50 members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), the original Flying Tigers, held a reunion in San Antonio, Texas, over the Memorial Day weekend. Of the 290 who went to China in 1941, 118 are still living.

Civic and business leaders gathered at the Royal Orleans Hotel to welcome Flying Tigers new daily jetfreighter service to New Orleans

Pacific East, a new scheduled U.S. passenger airline, is off and flying using a leased Flying Tigers DC-8, N797, in full passenger configuration, painted in distinctive blue and gold Pacific East livery — for use on its scheduled Los Angeles/Honolulu route. 

Flying Tigers operates another Sea World charter from San Diego, CA to Orlando, FL and from Orlando to Cleveland, OH, transporting a 1200 pound walrus and a menagerie of performing whales, porpoises, sea mammals and other animals.

The airline is preparing for startup of service to Brazil, becoming the only all-cargo carrier connecting South America with a service network from North America, Europe and Asia.

Results are in for the second quarter with Flying Tigers reporting a loss of $11,336,000 pretax on revenues of $225,845,000.

Flying Tigers is once again first in the world in air cargo according to IATA world air transport statistics. Flying Tigers flew some 2356.5 million scheduled freight ton kilometers in 1981 compared to second place Japan Air Lines and third place Air France with 1888.6 and 1638.7 million FTKs respectively.

Voluntary four-day work week status introduced for salaried employees. The program was developed in response to employee requests in an effort to help save money during the airline’s current economic situation while retaining motivated and valuable employees. The program allows an employee to work four days a week at one-fifth less salary while retaining full benefits associated with employment at Flying Tigers.

A chartered Flying Tigers B747 jetfreighter carrying some 50 tons of oil-drilling equipment from the U. S. on its way to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, touched down in Malta, becoming the first B747 freighter to land there. The heavy, outsized shipment was off-loaded in Malta for shipment by sea to Jeddah, marking the first air-sea trans-shipment operation on record in Malta.

Flying Tigers has resumed scheduled jetfreighter service to and from Newark after a pause of more than five and a half years.

Flying Tigers moved some 35,000 pounds of cargo from the U.S. to Tel Aviv in the belly of a Metro International passenger flight which underscored the cargo revenue opportunities available on Metro International passenger flights.

Flying Tigers has added Pisa, Italy, and Milan, Italy to its scheduled international route system in October.

Flying Tigers’ charter department has operated a myriad of live animal charters to various parts of the world including pigs from Chicago to Tokyo, Taipei and Singapore; horses between the U.S. and Europe and between Europe, Australia, and New Zealand and cattle from New York to the Dominican Republic, from San Francisco to Saudi Arabia, and from Germany to Kuwait, to name a few.

Flying Tigers will commence scheduled jetfreighter service between the United States and Manaus, Brazil.

Third quarter results are in with Flying Tigers reporting a pretax loss of $11,994,000 on revenues of $247,925,000 versus a pretax loss of $23,611,000 on revenues of $229,428,000 last year.

An exceptional shipment — weighing 21 tons, or 46,000 pounds — provided a challenge for Flying Tigers preparing the shipment from Zurich to New York..

“It hasn’t been easy living under the shadow of Federal Express, but we’re making a name for Flying Tigers here,” Bill Kelsey, district sales manager in Memphis, said about doing business in the city where the small package giant is headquartered. “Because Federal Express is so well established in the community, people here tend to compare Flying Tigers to Federal Express,” Kelsey said. “We want to get the word out that Flying Tigers is open in Memphis. “And we want everyone to know that we are different from Federal Express.” Helping spread the word about Flying Tigers in Memphis, local newspaper and television reports covered the May 10 opening of the Tiger terminal there.

Flying Tigers set a new monthly record for Asia-U.S. “extra sections” during November, operating a total of 22—19 B747 and 3 DC-8—in addition to the regularly scheduled flights, in order to handle the seasonally heavy freight volumes from Asia.

Flying Tigers and Pan American World Airways have agreed to swap four Pan Am Boeing 747 freighters for three Flying Tigers 747 passenger aircraft. Pan Am and Flying Tigers have agreed to make every effort to cover each other’s commitments as each airline realigns its operations to accommodate the change in its fleet.

Flying Tigers has sold four of its DC-8-73 stretched jetfreighters to United Parcel Service for approximately $80 million.

John E. Flynn has been elected president of Flying Tigers. Tom Grojean, who resigned as president of Flying Tigers and Tiger International, will serve as a consultant to Tiger International.

In the face of tough financial times, Flying Tigers continues to move forward aggressively to gain as strong a position for the future, expanding domestic and international routes, adding new world markets including Australia and the Middle East to its scheduled route system, and launching a B-727 operation.

Tiger International announced June 28 that it had reached agreement with its lenders to restructure the debt of Flying Tigers, as well as North American Car and Tiger Air.

The company newsletter, Flying Tigers Review, was temporarily suspended due to the company’s financial status and resumed in August 1983.

Two B-727 “quick change” wet-leased jetfreighters from Wien Air Alaska began operations in June marking the start-up of the B-727 operation. The aircraft are operated on New Orleans/Memphis/Chicago and Kansas City/St. Louis/ Chicago routes, replacing contract feeder services initiated last year to develop the markets.

Tigers moved seven pallet positions of priority guaranteed door to door freight from Edwards Air Force Base in California to Kennedy Space Center in Florida in conjunction with the space shuttle orbiter.

Flying Tigers has reached agreement with Aviation Sales Company Inc. for the lease of seven B-727-100 jetfreighters.

Flying Tigers has been awarded a $72.2 million contract from the United States Air Force’s Military Airlift Command for cargo and passenger services during fiscal 1984, which was approx 31% of the total contract awarded. The contract includes transpacific B747 passenger and stretched DC-8 cargo operations and B747 transatlantic cargo operations.

Flying Tigers has been named an official sponsor of the 1984 United States Ski and Swim Teams, and the Winter Olympic Games to be held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia in February 1984 and the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Tigers operated another DC-8 charters for Sea World carrying an assortment of marine performers including two killer and two beluga whales, seven dolphins, a walrus and a number of otters from Cleveland, OH to San Diego, CA.

Flying Tigers’ Metro International Airways passenger division operated its last flight October 29 after nearly three years of operation. Flying Tigers will retain the name “Metro International” in the event that profitable commercial passenger opportunities arise in the future.

Nearly 30 very valuable Formula One racing cars — about 76,300 pounds — departed onboard a Flying Tigers B-747 from London to Johannesburg, South Africa for the South African Grand Prix.

Flying Tigers has announced the sale of five “stretched” DC-8-63 jet freighters from its fleet to Emery Aircraft Leasing Corporation. The DC-8 sale relieves Flying Tigers of a sizable capital commitment and puts the airline in a position to consider other mid-sized aircraft to meet 1985 noise regulations.

John Flynn resigned as president of Flying Tigers effective March 1, 1984.

Tiger International released unaudited fourth quarter and full year results for 1983, reporting a pretax loss for Flying Tigers of $67.5 million for the year compared to $72.5 million in 1982.

The first of seven B-727 aircraft Flying Tigers is leasing from Aviation Sales Company Inc. is now in service for the airline on a Kansas City/ St. Louis/ Chicago route. The aircraft, which is being flown and maintained by Flying Tigers personnel, is the first B-727 to be operated in Flying Tigers livery. The remaining 6 aircraft will be delivered through May 1984.

Flying Tigers initiated scheduled B-747 service between the U.S. and South America in February. Previously the U.S./South America routes were served with DC-8 aircraft. During the first weeks of B-747 operation northbound loads have been especially encouraging, with loads consistently topping 200,000 revenue pounds.

Flying Tigers has achieved a pretax profit for the first quarter of 1984—the second consecutive profitable quarter for the airline. Although the margin is slim— $261,000-the achievement is notable in the face of the airline’s $30.5 million loss for the same quarter last year. However, Tiger International reported a first quarter loss from continuing operations of $6.9 million.

Flying Tigers has reached agreement with People Express to provide maintenance service on People Express B-747 passenger aircraft at Newark, New Jersey commencing in June.

Flying Tigers received formal approval from the Australian government to commence a second scheduled southbound flight from the U.S. to Australia.

Flying Tigers closed a chapter in its history with the sale of the airlines lease holdings in Cold Bay, Alaska. Located on the tip of the Alaska peninsula, Cold Bay was once a crew rest and refueling point in Flying Tigers’ transpacific operations. Tigers started operations in Cold Bay in 1961 and officially began leasing the facilities in 1963. Tigers had retained management of the town’s hotel, bar, restaurant, grocery store and an aircraft maintenance and operations facility and now turning it over to Reeve Aleutian Airlines.

Flying Tigers has operated countless DC8 charters for Sea World since 1974, but in April 1984 the “first” B747 Sea World charter took place carrying the famous killer whale, Shamu, his female whale partner, Namu, and two beluga white whales; ten dolphins; six penguins, and a Malaysian sea otter.

Flying Tigers remains the world’s top air cargo carrier, according to the latest rankings of the International Air Transport Association (I ATA), based on the performance of the association’s members in 1983.

Flying Tigers has achieved a pretax profit for the second quarter of 1984, the airline’s third consecutive profitable quarter after nine consecutive unprofitable quarters, and an important milestone in the company’s efforts to return to a position of sustained profitability.

A hub planning task force is in development and design of a new hub facility, with Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio as the leading candidate of several location consideration. Chicago will remain as a major origin and destination terminal.

Memphis Flying Tigers, their families and friends held their first Flying Tigers family picnic Sunday, June 10 at Shelby Farms.

Flying Tigers’ stretched DC-8-63 jetfreighter N783FT marked the end of an era for Flying Tigers as it took off from LAX on September 23. This was the last DC-8-63, part of Flying Tigers original DC-8 fleet, to be in service for the airline. Several DC-8-61 and one DC-8-62 series aircraft, introduced into the fleet in recent years, are still in operation but will also be phased out by the end of the year.

Flying Tigers has leased a B-747 freighter aircraft from World Airways – 749WA – for three months beginning October 1, enabling the airline to take advantage of revenue opportunities in the form of Military Airlift Command expansion business.

There’s a new look in the main lobby of FlyingTigers Robert W. Prescott Building—commonly known as Hi-Tiger—at World Headquarters in Los Angeles. The custom designed display consists of a large wooden case featuring circular cutouts with distinctive “bubble” windows, behind which are mounted models of Flying Tigers aircraft types flown throughout the airline’s history. [This display still exists and is on display at the Flight Path Museum at LAX].

Flying Tigers showed its airfreight expertise as well as its national spirit with the coast to coast move of the fragile copper and glass torch from the Statue of Liberty. The historic symbol was moved from Liberty Island in New York Harbor by Allied Van Lines to JFK International Airport and flown via Flying Tigers scheduled B-747 jetfreighter to Los Angeles where it rode atop the lead float in the world-famous Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day.

Flying Tigers has established a new central U.S. trucking hub in Grove City, Ohio – a suburb of Columbus – designed to provide additional new linehaul capacity to move the growing “Economy” level guaranteed door-to-door product line. Operation began January 22.

On January 24, Flying Tigers announced that it had reached agreement to locate Flying Tigers’ hub for international and domestic operations at the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Columbus, Ohio. The facility will support the simultaneous handling of five B747s, 16 B-727s, and 26 trucks, with remote parking for an additional 11 727 and 747 aircraft.

The most valuable car ever sold in Britain — the Blue Train Bentley — was flown by Flying Tigers recently from London to a private collection in America.

Flying Tigers set another record in its movement of heavy, outsized cargo recently with the move from London to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates of a 40-ton hydroelectric plant core. Loading the heavy, 30-foot cargo required the use of two cranes and a belly loader and was restrained inside the aircraft using more the 150 straps.

Tigers is expanding South American network with 3 weekly flights to Venezuela, linking Caracas with three continents — North America, Asia and Europe — and the only direct B-747 service from both New York and Miami.

Flying Tigers “Lifelift” brought some 234,771 pounds of medical supplies, food and clothing valued at $1,066,537 to the famine-plagued east African nation of Ethiopia.

Two world-famous — named Johnny and Jacky — Budweiser Clydesdale hitch horses traveled on board a Flying Tigers B-747 jetfreighter to Narita, Japan in May to lake part in Japan’s 1985 International Exposition. The Clydesdales traveled in a Flying Tigers air stable on scheduled flight 73 from Los Angeles to Narita via San Francisco and Anchorage.

Flying Tigers has posted a pretax loss for the 1985 second quarter of $4,791,000, the airline’s first loss in seven consecutive quarters, compared to a pretax gain of $4,892,000 for the same period last year.

Flying Tigers remains the world’s top air cargo carrier, according to the latest rankings of the International Air Transport Association (I ATA), based on the performance of the association’s 137 members in 1984.

The 12th and 13th Flying Tigers-operated B-727 jetfreighters have been added to Flying Tigers’ route system.

Flying Tigers scheduled service flight from Frankfurt, Germany to JFK and then to Miami, FL made a special stop at Cape Canaveral, Florida to deliver a delicate, high value shipment for McDonnell Douglas. The space lab instrument pointing system—including one piece worth $6 million—was destined for use in the Kennedy Space Center’s shuttle landing facility.

Flying Tigers board of directors has announced the election of Robert P. Jensen to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Lewis H. Jordan President and Chief Operating Officer of Flying Tigers. Jensen succeeds Wayne Hoffman, who will continue to serve as chairman of Tiger International and as a member of Flying Tigers board of directors.

A second B-747 passenger aircraft has been added to Flying Tigers’ fleet in conjunction with the airline’s Military Airlift Command passenger business for fiscal 1985-86.

Flying Tigers initiated scheduled direct B-747 jetfreighter service from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia.

Flying Tigers joined Federal Express, McDonnell Douglas and Operation California in a unique cooperative effort that resulted in the airlift of more than 100,000 pounds of medical supplies and housing materials from Los Angeles to earthquake-stricken Mexico City on October 13, 1985. Flying Tigers built up the cargo and loaded in Los Angeles and off-loaded in Mexico City, Federal Express donated the use of a DC-10 jetfreighter flown by FedEx crew members, McDonnell Douglas supplied the fuel, and Operation California provided the cargo, for the successful joint venture.

Flying Tigers set a new record in the movement of heavy, outsized cargo in August with the move from London to New York of a single piece of machinery weighing 83,500 pounds — the heaviest single piece ever moved on board a Flying Tigers jet freighter.

Approximately 25,000 pounds of sailboat rigging equipment including two 97-foot masts—the longest items ever loaded onboard a Flying Tigers aircraft—moved from Los Angeles to Honolulu on scheduled B-747 flight 77 in October. The equipment was destined for use in trial races and training being held in preparation for this year’s world-famous America’s Cup international sailing regatta.

Operations begin at the new Columbus, OH hub at Rickenbacher Air National Guard Base (LCK) on March 3, 1986. The new facility was able to accommodate the simultaneous loading and unloading of four 747 and sixteen 727 freighters, plus twenty-six trucks. The hub’s 196,000 square foot cargo sort facility handled up to seven million pounds of cargo per day and employed 350 people.

“The interests of our shareholders, employees and customers will be best served by rebuilding Flying Tigers into a competitive and profitable enterprise that would maximize shareholder value by capitalizing on the company’s resources.” This message was delivered by Robert P. Jensen, chairman and chief executive officer of Tiger International and Flying Tigers, at the annual shareholders meeting May 22 in Los Angeles, as he explored the options open to Tiger International with regard to its major operating subsidiary. “We can sell the airline, we can liquidate the airline, or we can rebuild the airline into a competitive and profitable air cargo carrier,” he said, but cautioned that the successful rebuilding of the carrier “will depend upon our ability to meet the competitive challenge of the marketplace and to do it in a short time frame.” “While our strategy is to upgrade facilities and equipment, we must be realistic,” Mr. Jensen commented, pointing out that the airline’s capital expenditures are limited by its cash flow.

Flying Tigers continues to be the world’s top air cargo carrier, according to the latest rankings of the International Air transport Association (IATA), based on the performance of the association’s 144 members in 1985.  In 1985, Flying Tigers transported 3,145.0 million freight ton kilometers on its scheduled worldwide route system, 22.7 percent greater than second place Japan Air Lines.

Robert P. Jensen assumed operating responsibilities for Flying Tigers on June 13, 1986, upon the resignation of Lewis H. Jordan. Mr. Jensen continues to be chairman and chief executive officer of the airline.

A Federal Aviation Administration team commenced an “in-depth inspection at Flying Tigers in April in conjunction with the National Inspection Program launched by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Stephen M. Wolf has been elected chairman, president and chief executive officer of Flying Tigers and a director of Tiger International.

Flying Tigers transported its seasonal movement of fresh cherries from the United States’ Pacific Northwest region to Asia during the summer. Some 600,000 pounds of cherries moved onboard three B-747 charter flights from Seattle to Narita and Osaka, Japan,. Additionally, cherry shipments totaling approximately 500,000 pounds were transported via Flying Tigers scheduled service flights.

Flying Tigers displayed its ability to respond effectively to a customer’s emergency needs in July when the airline transported a 91,250-pound shipment of oil rigging equipment from Houston, TX to Prudhoe Bay Alaska. Only nine hours elapsed between the shipper’s first phone call and the departure of the equipment from Houston on B-747 scheduled flight 175.

On December 30, 1986, a comprehensive employee partnership and cost reduction program for administrative, clerical and management employees was announced. The general and administrative group includes 2,600 employees out of a total worldwide work force of 6,100 personnel.

Flying Tigers’ Circle T logo, the distinctive aircraft tail symbol of the airline for 15 years from 1961 to 1976, has returned to service. Debuting the new design was Flying Tigers B-747 jet freighter #814, sporting the Circle T on its tail as it came out of repainting.    

Flying Tigers reported a pretax loss for the full year 1986 of $18,645,000 compared with a pretax loss of $44,232,000 in 1985. Total year revenues were $1,074,336,000 compared to $1,109,022,000 for 1985.

The announcement was made Thursday. January 22, Mr. Wolf will continue to serve as chief executive officer of Flying Tigers.

The first of six Flying Tigers DC-8-73 jetfreighter aircraft began scheduled service on January 23 and the pilot recall and training process is underway.

Flying Tigers will commence weekly scheduled B-747 jetfreighter service from the U.S. to Bangkok, Thailand on February 15, providing the only through freighter service to one of the largest gateway cities in Southeast Asia. This marks the second time the airline has offered scheduled service to Bangkok, initially serving the Far East destination from October 1970 to December 1975.

Flying Tigers expanded its extensive international coverage and service capability in March with the commencement of scheduled westbound B-747 Asia-to-Europe jetfreighter flights and DC-8 jetfreighter service to Milan, Italy.

Tiger International, Inc. has reported a first quarter profit of $4,845,000, sharply improved from last year’s net loss of $34.156,000. Revenues were $265,313,000 in the first quarter 1987 compared to $263,173,000 for tire same period last year.

Flying Tigers had a pretax profit of $13,025,000 compared to a pretax loss of $27,909,000 in the same period last year, a $40,934,000 improvement.

Flying Tigers has expanded domestic services with the inauguration of B-727 flights to San Diego and Phoenix.

Flying Tigers and Canadian Airlines lines International Ltd., (formerly known as CP Air), launched joint, around-the-world B-747 jetfreighter service April 10, providing new scheduled all-cargo service from Asia to Canada.

Flying Tigers’ air cargo hub in Columbus, Ohio has truly become an international gateway for world commerce as the result of the designation of the Columbus hub as a Foreign Trade Zone on March 20.

Alfred (Al) Cormier, manager special projects-HDQ, 36 years retirement notice in Tiger View.

Flying Tigers continues to be the world’s top air cargo carrier, according to the latest rankings of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), based on the performance of the association’s 160 members in 1986.

Flying Tigers leases another B747 jetfreighter to be delivered in September, increasing the fleet to 19 B747 aircraft.

Flying Tigers and United Parcel Service (UPS) have entered into a 15-month agreement for transpacific air transportation services to and from the United States and Japan, renewal of the Christmas peak season lift agreement and a joint venture Military Airlift Command (MAC) effective October 1,1987.

James A. Cronin was elected president and chief operating officer of The Flying Tiger Line Inc. at the Company’s board of directors’ meeting on September 22, 1987.

Tiger International. Inc. and The Flying Tiger Line Inc. reported the strongest third quarter and nine-month financial performance in their history. These results represent the third consecutive quarter of record net income and revenues for the parent company and the fifth straight quarterly pretax profit for the airline.

In a historic flight on October 5, Sandy Szigeti received her rating as a 727 captain, becoming the first female to reach the position of captain at Flying Tigers. Captain Szigeti steadily rose through the pilot ranks, serving as flight engineer and first officer on DC-8s and 747s for a total of more than 9 1/2 years before becoming a 727 captain.

James A. Cronin has been elected president of Tiger International, Inc., and will continue as president and chief operating officer of The Flying Tiger Line Inc.

Flying Tigers has inaugurated direct service from Frankfurt, Germany to its principal U.S. distribution center in Columbus, Ohio.

Flying Tigers’ Anchorage facility, which acts mainly as a transloading and fueling point for the airline’s transpacific flights, is a vital link in the Company’s operations and employs 115 full and part-time employees.

Tiger International, Inc. reported record 1987 financial results. Net income for the year was $57,779,000 compared to a net loss of $45,063,000, representing an increase of $102,842,000, and revenues increased by 11% from 1986.

The Flying Tiger Line Inc. achieved a record pretax profit of $106,610,000 in 1987 on record revenues of $1,191,680,000, compared to a loss of $18,645,000 on revenues of $1,074,336,000 in the same period of 1986.

Flying Tigers has expanded its domestic air freight service in the Pacific Northwest with a daily air schedule in Portland, OR.

Flying Tigers inaugurated weekly B-747 service from the United States to Auckland, New Zealand on March 7, 1988. becoming the only all-cargo carrier to provide scheduled B-747 jetfreighter service to New Zealand.

Flying Tigers’ Columbus, Ohio airfreight hub celebrated the second anniversary of its operations March 3 and reported that the facility serviced approximately 10,000 flight operations and 300 million pounds of domestic and international airfreight during its second full year of operation.

President James A. Cronin reported on May 26, 1988 at a shareholders’ meeting, on the significant progress which both companies have made since the end of 1986 in reducing costs, strengthening their financial structures and building revenues.

Flying Tigers is currently the largest United States carrier serving the Asian market as measured by freight ton miles.

Flying Tigers has purchased its 20th B-747 jetfreighter aircraft from Avianca, the Colombian national flag carrier. The Boeing 747-124SF aircraft, which will enter Flying Tigers’ global service on September 1. 1988. was purchased for cash.

Flying Tigers reported a record pretax profit of $26,544,000 in the second quarter of 1988.

Rickenbacker Air Industrial Park-the site of Flying Tigers’ hub operation in Columbus-has been awarded $830,000 by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Grant Office for capital expenditures to be used to upgrade the facility’s airfield. The amount allocated was based upon the number of Flying Tigers’ flight operations and its landing weight per year at Rickenbacker.

Flying Tigers reported a pretax profit of $30,196,000 in the third quarter of 1988, compared to $32,215,000 in the same period last year. Revenues increased 9% to a third quarter record of $334,070,000 from $307,479,000 a year earlier.

James A. Cronin, president of Tiger International, Inc. and Flying Tigers, was elected chief executive officer of both companies by the Tiger International board of directors at their regular monthly meeting in September.

Beginning in October 1988, Flying Tigers and United Airlines began joint operations with United Parcel Service (UPS) and Tower Air to provide passenger and airfreight services to the U.S. Military Airlift Command (MAC). Under the new joint venture. United Airlines is allocating six passenger aircraft to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program, which will enable the carrier group to provide scheduled passenger service to Department of Defense (DOD) employees, as well as charter passenger and freight services.

On December 16, 1988, Federal Express announced their cash tender offer of $880 million for the purchase of Flying Tigers.

August 7: Federal Express Corporation legally acquired the Flying Tiger Line. This date is more informally called “T-Day” by most employees of FTL.

B-747 flight 76 on December 16 carried a payload of 261,539 revenue pounds from Hong Kong to Narita, a new record revenue load in Asia.