Kenneth Rutter

If you ever met Kenneth Rutter and had the great fortune to bask in his presence and experience his charm, the glint in his eye when he told his wonderful jokes, you will understand what an enormous void his passing has created. He is survived by his beautiful wife, Shirley, his daughters Jacqueline and Patricia and his sons, Ainsley and Jeremy.

There is no other person like him. People, of all ages and ethnicity, were drawn to him, his infectious smile and laughter, and his incredible warmth. He was the light that made our lives more exciting and thrilling. For this reason, he always had an “entourage” of lucky people around him.

He was born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia on July 18, 1932. His Slovak name is Gustav Molar. Anyone who knows him knows that his two main passions were flying and Shirley, his incredible and beautiful wife, his “Boo Boo”.

His flying career commenced when he joined the Slovak National Aero Club in 1948 where he started gliding and power flying. He then joined the Czechoslovakian Air Force in 1950 and spent 2 ½ years in their service.

At the age of 20, he escaped Communist Czechoslovakia in an Air Force Fighter Aircraft with two other pilots on March 13, 1953 with Russian MiGs chasing them. They landed in Austria and asked for Political Asylum from the United Kingdom and all of the escapees were granted asylum. He changed his name to Kenneth Rutter. The British soon realized that Kenneth was a spectacular pilot and they made him the chief flight instructor for the No. 600 Squadron RAF.

Later, his great friend, Captain Hutchinson, helped him get a job as a test pilot for the Freddie Laker Company. He also worked as a test pilot for the Lancashire Aircraft Company and flew in the Farnborough Air Show several times.

He then became involved in agricultural flying and worked in the Sudan crop dusting. He moved to Jamaica with his family in the 1960’s and became a Jamaican citizen.

He is an integral part of Jamaica’s Aviation history and has received many awards recognizing his immense contribution to the island where he made his home. He started his successful crop spraying company, Airwork Jamaica, Ltd. He also started a flying school: Rutair Limited with Cessna 150’s and 172’s and Aero Commander 500s. He taught in Montego Bay, Port Antonio and Kingston.

Ken left Jamaica in 1978 and moved to Florida where he continued his crop dusting career and where he met many incredible pilots and friends in the industry. Bill Garrett and Steve Fletcher were pilots at “Airwork Enterprises” and both have remained close and important friends to him. They worked with him when he moved into “fire suppression”. They are the two most loyal and caring people you could have fly with you and Ken loved them.

Ken retired in 2006 at the age of 74. He still continued to fly his Beechcraft Baron between Florida and his other home in Georgia with his lovely Shirley by his side.

Kenneth Rutter logged in some incredible hours:

In Jamaica: 20,000 hours

Altogether: 40,000 hours (AMAZING!!!!!)

During his whole life Kenneth Rutter met people that remained in his life for decades. He loved and inspired so many people. The way he lived his life is an inspiration to us all.

“No matter where in the world I have been, I always feel at home with my fellow pilots.”

Kenneth Rutter, pilot extraordinaire.

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.

Leonardo da Vinci

We love you and miss you and will never know anyone that comes close to you.