Buckling and vibration characteristics of thin symmetrically laminated elliptical composite plates under initial in-plane edge loads and resting on Winkler-type elastic foundation are presented based on the classical laminated plate theory. The governing equations are obtained from the variational approach and solved by the Ritz method. Extensive numerical data are provided for the first three natural frequencies as a function of in-plane load for various classical edge conditions (free, clamped and simply supported). Moreover, the effects of fiber orientation on the natural frequencies and buckling loads of laminated angle-ply plates with stacking sequence of [(β /-β / β /-β)]s, are studied for chosen foundation parameter. Also, selected deformation mode shapes are illustrated. The accuracy of calculations is checked by performing good convergence studies, and the correctness of results is established by comparison with the existing results in the literature as well as FEM data.