APRIL 2010

CONTACT: Bruce A. Bleakley
 Museum Director
(214) 350-4215
bleakley@flightmuseum.com

FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM PRESENTS
“TRYING TO SAVE BRANIFF: A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN”
The airline’s top three executives relate the inside story of
their efforts to save the company

Behind the story of Braniff International and the nation’s first major airline
bankruptcy is a tale of feverish efforts by the company’s top three executives to save it from
failure in the spring of 1982. These same three industry leaders will recall the airline’s final
days and weeks in a special presentation at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at 10:30 a.m. on
Saturday, May 1:
Howard Putnam, former President and CEO of Southwest Airlines, was specifically
recruited from Southwest by Braniff Board Chairman John J. Casey in late 1981 to save the
ailing airline.
Sam Coats, a former state legislator and previous Texas International Airlines
executive, was recruited as Executive Vice President, also by Casey, for the same purpose.
Philip Guthrie, another Southwest veteran who came on board with Putnam as Chief
Financial Officer, was keenly aware of Braniff’s impending financial crisis.
The program will be moderated by KRLD business analyst David Johnson, a local
and national media fixture since 1975. In early 1982, Johnson was co-producer of a
documentary for Eric Sevareid’s PBS show “Enterprise,” intended to record the ...

>> full

President’s Message:

FLY – IN: NEW LOCATION

This year’s Fly-In/Picnic will be held at a new location. We will gather at the Gainesville Airport in Gainesville, TX on Monday, May 31 at the same times…Noon – 6 PM. Your Board of Directors will ensure that this new venue will be enjoyed by everyone in attendance. There will be shade tents erected and we will again pause at 3:00 for a short Memorial Day tribute to our fallen war veterans. Tables and chairs will be plentiful; however, bringing lawn chairs is always encouraged.
 
There will be a few custom cars on display and if you would like to bring your favorite car to show off, please feel free to do so.
 
For members who don’t care to drive to Gainesville, charter bus service will be provided at $10.00 per person. The air conditioned bus will depart from Valley View Mall (in the vicinity of the old Sanger Harris store with the large mosaic artwork on the southwest corner) at 11:00 AM and return at 6:00 PM. An intermediate stop will be made in Denton for members who live north of the metroplex. Pick up point in Denton will be the Golden Triangle Mall in the J.C. Penny’s parking lot. Exit Hwy 288 South off I-35. Approx. pick-up time will be 11:30.
 
Reservations are required and made through Rex Kathcart 972-231-5320 or ...
>> full