had to obtain a membership, with an annual fee of $50 for adults and $25 for kids under 12. The advertised fares were about $30 cheaper than other airlines for the flight from San Francisco to Honolulu, and about $200 less than usual for flights from the West Coast to Brussels. The company stated that three thousand people had signed up with the club before its first flight. Its first flight took place on September 18, 1973 from San Francisco to Honolulu. Demise Operations ended within a year of its creation due to low sales. In November 1973, overseas flights were scrapped because the company could not fill the flights. In May 1974, the company's aircraft was repossessed by the leasing company for non-payment. It flew an estimated 40 or 50 flights, mostly coast to coast, before operations ceased, but interest from members wasn't enough to fill the flights to make them profitable. Despite saying that flights to Hawaii would occur three times per month, it only flew there twice and the second time it had trouble obtaining fuel for the return flight. In late 1974, the company and its founder were charged in a civil suit by the State of California for false advertising and fraudulent business practices. While the company had been set up as a non-profit business, the founder also set up three other for-profit corporations that were paid by the company to perform various services. Rolling Stone Magazine claimed that the founder stood to make several million dollars from the venture. In 1976, Moss settled the suit for $60,000, but paid no money because his net worth was listed as less than $1,000. Moss scandal After Freelandia airline operations ceased, founder Kenneth Moss was implicated in the death of Robbie McIntosh, drummer of the Average White Band. Moss was charged with murder and unlawfully providing narcotics during a party at his home in September 1974. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 120 days in jail and four years' probation. Moss served three months at a Malibu work farm. See also List of defunct airlines of the United States References External links The Crimson: Flying High on Air Freelandia Time magazine: Freelandia Defunct airlines of the United States Airlines established in 1973 Airlines disestablished in 1974 American companies established in 1973