A fantastic, realistic and sometimes brutally honest reprise of how life in the RAF and post war aviation industry was. No holds barred. This series represents in a factual and honest manner the feelings, views and beliefs of serving RAF personell and politicions. The factual content..in regards to flying scenes and continuity are great and to be fair "continual". There is no doubt in my mind Roy Marsden is a great actor and the likes of Richard Heffer, Sean Scanlan and Poly Hemingway all ad the practical and basic acting skills required in this ...stripped down and back to basics acting genre. Great acting, and fascinating radio controlled models used to represent full-sized aircraft. Well shot and produced.
7 Reviews
airline 1982
sonylover8 August 2009
I have a copy of the series as avi files - taken from the original VHS from the TV at the time.
I thought, although memory plays tricks doesn't it? 2 series were made but of course only 1 was ever made. I would be delighted if the owners released it on DVD as I am sure many others would be., although there doesn't seem to be a desire to release series like this today, need more of the reality TV programs don't we? I do remember Charlton TV (when they were still about!) showing the series a few years ago? Roy Marsden played an excellent role as did all the characters! Excellent program worthy of being released on DVD!! Come on make it available for all!!
I thought, although memory plays tricks doesn't it? 2 series were made but of course only 1 was ever made. I would be delighted if the owners released it on DVD as I am sure many others would be., although there doesn't seem to be a desire to release series like this today, need more of the reality TV programs don't we? I do remember Charlton TV (when they were still about!) showing the series a few years ago? Roy Marsden played an excellent role as did all the characters! Excellent program worthy of being released on DVD!! Come on make it available for all!!
A lost British TV Classic
Romany227 October 2022
A really good British Classic TV Drama, very well done.
Roy Marsden and the rest of the cast give a great performance as does the, filming crew with very high production standards.
The DC 3 flying scenes are remarkable ! Well worth watching just for themselves.
Well written script with a very believable story line.
What I didn't like was the 80's synthesizer music soundtrack , Really took away from the whole feeling of this other wise perfect time period drama.
It's too bad a second season wasn't made.
Roy Marsden has always been a favourite of mine after watch The Sand Baggers , such a great natural actor that's totally believable.
So glad that Network put out this High Quality DVD box set.
Roy Marsden and the rest of the cast give a great performance as does the, filming crew with very high production standards.
The DC 3 flying scenes are remarkable ! Well worth watching just for themselves.
Well written script with a very believable story line.
What I didn't like was the 80's synthesizer music soundtrack , Really took away from the whole feeling of this other wise perfect time period drama.
It's too bad a second season wasn't made.
Roy Marsden has always been a favourite of mine after watch The Sand Baggers , such a great natural actor that's totally believable.
So glad that Network put out this High Quality DVD box set.
Under rated actor delivering good performance against a forgotten British backdrop
keith-hewle27 February 2003
Warning: Spoilers
CONTAINS SPOILERS but this series is unlikely to be seen in any guise again
Roy Marsden is one of those actors to whom the gods have not been kind. In this story about a fledgling independent air transport company operating in the United Kingdom during post World War II austerity he turns in a very fine performance. One of a new breed of men emerging during these troubled times. From a working class background, destined to be 'factory fodder' in the normal course of events. But snatched from this fate by war and given the chance to fly. Upon finding himself still breathing upon the cessation of hostilities he resists the efforts of his 'betters' to return him to 'his proper place'
Many returning servicemen were reluctant to return to the monotony that had been their fate prior to the war and sought a better existence. But not many of them went as far as purchasing an ex RAF transport command aircraft to realise their ambitions.
The death of Ruskin's war time public school educated officer comrade in the opening episode during a criminal escapade seems to affirm the idea the post world age will require something other than the right 'school tie'.
The dowdy appearance of most of the characters is a nice touch. These were lean years for many Britons. Except for the casualties and the fighting very little else had changed. The UN mandate situation in what was to become Israel figures in one episode with a British soldier exacting retribution upon Ruskin whom he views as the type of 'chancer' responsible for the death of a comrade.
Verging upon bankruptcy and heavily indebted to a racketeer ( ably played by Terence Rigby, ' Z Cars', 'Get Carter' ) Ruskin is finally saved by money earned from flights during the historic Berlin airlift. The price to be paid would appear to be his marriage. Marsden's own wife, Polly Hemmingway also playing his screen spouse.
A series set against, and accurately depicting, a brief period in the United Kingdoms history of very little interest to those who did not live through it and the rest of the world.
Roy Marsden is one of those actors to whom the gods have not been kind. In this story about a fledgling independent air transport company operating in the United Kingdom during post World War II austerity he turns in a very fine performance. One of a new breed of men emerging during these troubled times. From a working class background, destined to be 'factory fodder' in the normal course of events. But snatched from this fate by war and given the chance to fly. Upon finding himself still breathing upon the cessation of hostilities he resists the efforts of his 'betters' to return him to 'his proper place'
Many returning servicemen were reluctant to return to the monotony that had been their fate prior to the war and sought a better existence. But not many of them went as far as purchasing an ex RAF transport command aircraft to realise their ambitions.
The death of Ruskin's war time public school educated officer comrade in the opening episode during a criminal escapade seems to affirm the idea the post world age will require something other than the right 'school tie'.
The dowdy appearance of most of the characters is a nice touch. These were lean years for many Britons. Except for the casualties and the fighting very little else had changed. The UN mandate situation in what was to become Israel figures in one episode with a British soldier exacting retribution upon Ruskin whom he views as the type of 'chancer' responsible for the death of a comrade.
Verging upon bankruptcy and heavily indebted to a racketeer ( ably played by Terence Rigby, ' Z Cars', 'Get Carter' ) Ruskin is finally saved by money earned from flights during the historic Berlin airlift. The price to be paid would appear to be his marriage. Marsden's own wife, Polly Hemmingway also playing his screen spouse.
A series set against, and accurately depicting, a brief period in the United Kingdoms history of very little interest to those who did not live through it and the rest of the world.
Brilliant series
hippiedave612 May 2009
I watched this first time around, and shortly going to watch it again from original TV transfers a friend found in their attic, definitely deserves a proper release and shows how much ITV have declined over the years. Always been a big fan of Richard Heffer from his time in Survivors and many other things, sadly absent from television mostly today all thanks to the glut of so called reality.Roy Marsden is a fantastic actor and perfect for the role, the idea behind this series was original and refreshing , shame it did not continue as would have made a fantastic 2 or 3 series drama at least. I would recommend this to anyone if you are lucky enough to find it anywhere, I was indeed fortunate to have known someone who had a VCR in those days.
This was a FANTASTIC series
Clark-W-Griswold11 May 2014
Finally released on D.V.D. Airline is a fantastic series, and a very expensive one to make at the time, with a fantastic cast, including the wonderful DC-3 Dakotas.
It is a real shame that the T.V. companies fell out over this series, it was originally meant to chart Jack Ruskin building his airline up from being de-mobbed after the Second Worls War all the way up to the 1980's, but when Y.T.V. fell out with Greatorex over unauthorised script re-writes, and facing serious financial strain, the plug was pulled after the first series, a real shame!
So if you love planes, or want to watch a T.V. series made in the days before reality television, that shows how well a series can be made, then buy it now!
It is a real shame that the T.V. companies fell out over this series, it was originally meant to chart Jack Ruskin building his airline up from being de-mobbed after the Second Worls War all the way up to the 1980's, but when Y.T.V. fell out with Greatorex over unauthorised script re-writes, and facing serious financial strain, the plug was pulled after the first series, a real shame!
So if you love planes, or want to watch a T.V. series made in the days before reality television, that shows how well a series can be made, then buy it now!
Drama doesn't get any better than this!
silentstormwing22 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This is by far and away one of the most underrated and forgotten television series to ever emerge from the British Isles. A dramatic storyline centering around the boisterous Yorkshireman Jack Ruskin having just been demobilized from the RAF at the end of the Second World War. His passion to keep on flying and out of "civvie streets" leads him to start his own airline.
Each of the nine episodes in this series does not disappoint as you ride the emotional up and down drama roller-coaster as Jack and his friends Peter Whitney and "Mack" Mackevoy struggle to keep their airline afloat.
Aviation buffs in particular will love to amount of screen time given to one the series' most important characters, the venerable Douglas DC-3 'Dakota' named "Vera Lynn". Other than some subject specific DC-3 documentaries, no television program that I know of pays more homage to this amazing aircraft.
Beg, borrow, steal if you have to. Do whatever it takes to find this gem of a series. You will not be disappointed!
Each of the nine episodes in this series does not disappoint as you ride the emotional up and down drama roller-coaster as Jack and his friends Peter Whitney and "Mack" Mackevoy struggle to keep their airline afloat.
Aviation buffs in particular will love to amount of screen time given to one the series' most important characters, the venerable Douglas DC-3 'Dakota' named "Vera Lynn". Other than some subject specific DC-3 documentaries, no television program that I know of pays more homage to this amazing aircraft.
Beg, borrow, steal if you have to. Do whatever it takes to find this gem of a series. You will not be disappointed!
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