Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger in Paradise

My aircraft interface with Jimmy and the Coral Reefers.

Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger Aircraft with Pilot Michael Lofton
Jimmy Buffett's Cheeseburger Fairchild F27 Airplane
Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger aircraft with Road Manager Bobby Liberman

Facebook Threads on Jimmy Buffett Tours…

As a part of the Jimmy Buffett's Cheeseburger in Paradise Tour '78… I portrayed myself as an incognito pilot. No…

Posted by Michael Lofton on Friday, June 14, 2013

1977/78 – I had flown a few other bands for other companies up to this time, but Jimmy Buffett was one of my first…

Posted by Michael Lofton on Monday, May 13, 2013

 

As a part of the Jimmy Buffett’s Cheeseburger in Paradise Tour ’78… I portrayed myself as an incognito pilot. No problem, I’ll get you there safe and sound! – lol

Actually, our F-27 Cheeseburger (corporate) airplane was the largest whenever we pulled into the private (aircraft) parking slots… All the other corporate pilot jocks wore suits and ties (or pilot costumes, as I called them). Us, no way! We wore Jimmy Buffett ‘T-shirts’ – Ha! (the other pilots hated our freedom).

1977/78 – I had flown a few other bands for other companies up to this time, but Jimmy Buffett was one of my first clients (of many) that I personally flew for my own company. I subsequently handled all his personal aircraft flight arrangements, for 12 years hence this image of me as the Co-Captain of the ‘Cheeseburger’ plane, of which I personally operated and flew for Jimmy’s… Son of a Son of A Sailor and Cheeseburger in Paradise tours… (note: JB insert inside aircraft). I’m even mentioned on the liner notes on his “You had to be there!” double live album.

Good Times Indeed!

Jimmy Buffett standing in front of his Viscount touring aircraft in the early 80s
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers Touring Jacket. 1978 tour.

I still have mine!… After seeing a clip in the FM movie, I was reminded to look in my closet to flashback on my 1978-issued JB and the CRB jacket, still in my possession from being their pilot on the original Cheeseburger airplane. Bubbles Up Jimmy!

 – Shortly after the Jimmy Buffett Son of a Son of a Sailor Tour I flew in ’78/’79 in the Fairchild F-27 aircraft, I provided the next aircraft in line for Jimmy’s flights/tours… the Viscount in 1980. Similar aircraft that I flew on the Commodores and Lionel Ritchie (Brick House) tour a few years before. It’s very large 4-engine Rolls Royce turbo-prop aircraft that wasn’t that fast (maybe 260 kts) but could carry a lot of folks and was very roomy and a favorite amongst many touring acts in those days. This aircraft had 21 seats in living room style comfort. Read the stories inside the Flying Rocks Book.
(Jimmy in front of aircraft on the ramp in So. Cal.)

Facebook Thread on JB Viscount
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200958985509595&set=a.4678032421516.177499.1014924234&type=3&theater

Flying Rocks Book Cover by Author Michael J Lofton

Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World…

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Jimmy Buffett and the ‘acoustic’ when the Volcano Blew Tour!
Facebook Thread
https://www.facebook.com/MichaelLofton/posts/10219062896656059