13/10/2020
Message from Andy Foan, Head of Training.
It is with great sadness that I have to report that Captain John 'Stack' Butterley passed away last Sunday, 11th Octber 2020.
I first met Stack at CityFlyer Express in 1993. He had retired from British Airways where famously he had flown Concorde. But it was not just his past that made Stack special. He was a larger than life character and when some years later Skyblue was in need of ground school instructor, Stack was a natural choice. He was an immediate success, bringing what can only be described as a unique teaching style to the company. It is safe to say that all of the trainees who were lucky enough to be taught by Stack never forgot the experience!
Stack was still active as a ground instructor with us, teaching his last course in February this year just before lockdown. In spite of a fascinating career flying a range of iconic aircraft Stack was never one to rest on his laurels. As well as conducting theoretical training for us, he continued to fly his part-owned Tiger Moth, passing on his experience and entertaining everyone he met with his own brand of irreverent humour. It was in the cockpit of this aircraft, the type in which he started his flying career, that he peacefully passed away.
We will all miss Stack greatly. But with that sadness is an appreciation of the manner of his passing. He was a pilot and instructor to the end. He lived life to the full until the very last and perhaps that is his greatest lesson.
Stack, from all your friends and colleagues at Skyblue we wish you a safe final journey, and a happy landing. I know it will be a good one!
