Nationality American Role Aviator Other names Kenny (nickname) Spouse Jean Friedkin | Occupation Businessman Children Thomas H. Friedkin Name Kenny Friedkin | |
Born September 1, 1915 New York City, New York Known for Creating Pacific Southwest Airlines Parent(s) Joel Friedkin, C. Irene Hedden Died March 16, 1962, San Diego, California, United States Grandchildren Dan Friedkin, Mary Friedkin, Tomisu Friedkin Dawley, Debra Friedkin People also search for Jean Friedkin, Thomas H. Friedkin | ||
Kenneth Giles Friedkin (September 1, 1915 – March 16, 1962) was an American aviator and businessman.
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Biography
He was born in New York City during World War I. He and his parents moved to Kansas, and later San Diego, California.
Friedkin got interested in aviation after he saw an air show in San Diego at the age of 8. Friedkin obtained his pilot license at the age of 17. In 1945, he opened a flight school called the Plosser-Friedkin School (later named the Friedkin School of Aeronautics). The parent company to the school was Friedkin Aeronautics Inc. The school was not making enough profit. He tried numerous business methods from aerial fish delivery to banner towing with the help of his comrades J. Floyd Andrews and Bill Shimp. Friedkin tried a charter airline called Friedkin Airlines. Friedkin Airlines was a failure.
Using the lessons learned from Friedkin Airlines and receiving advice from a travel agent, he and his wife Jean Friedkin created an airline called Pacific Southwest Airlines in 1949. The airline was a success, and gave Friedkin Aeronautics Inc. profit. Friedkin died at the age of 47 in 1962 of a cerebral hemorrhage. His wife, Jean, died the following year. After he died, J. Floyd Andrews became the president of PSA. His only child, (Thomas Friedkin), lived to see PSA disappear into USAir.