"Airline" TV Series (2005 zombie thread)

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

18 years 6 months

Posts: 301

Recently there was some discussion about the "Airline " TV series (Yorkshire Television 1982).

I have just unearthed some more information about it. The series was created by Wilfred Greatorex and was intended to run for three series of 10- episodes each. This would have taken Jack Ruskin and Co up to the early eighties. In fact the series was cancelled after just 9 episodes ,partly due to costs and also because Greatorex had a major row with YTV about changes to his scripts without his consent. There was also the BAA Advert row which we previously discussed.

Wilfred Greatorex died in 2002 so perhaps the series may eventually be released on DVD.

Colin

Original post

Member for

20 years

Posts: 5,575

I have heard that YTV management in those days were very intolerent towards writers, and made some very stupid decisions during production that meant writers and cast often ended up just wanting to quit. So this is not a lone case. They often didn't get second series of programmes simply because people hated working for them back then.

One thing in their favour was they were the British production company that wiped the least of their old programmes apparently and still have a huge archive of pre-1980's items, unlike most other TV companies in Britain (and elsewhere).

Anyway, back onto topic, I would very much like to see this series on DVD too. It would also be interesting to know what was in the scripts for the original series as opposed to the altered ones. Obviously the ninth script wouldn't have had the crash killing Jack Ruskin...

Member for

20 years

Posts: 4,561

Ahh the Ruskin Airlines Dak, remember seeing her in those markings at Sywell when I was a small sprog...

Member for

18 years 6 months

Posts: 1,114

I seem to remember there was a novel as well - I read my Dad's copy after seeing a couple of episodes of the TV series. Does anyone know if this was a 'novelisation' of the TV series or whether it bore more relation to the original scripts? It was written by Greatorex, so I suspect the latter...

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 346

The 'Airline' Dak 'G-AGHY'/G-DAKS at West Malling 1982

Attachments

Member for

20 years

Posts: 4,561

Cripes -I was seven!

TT

Member for

19 years 7 months

Posts: 1,274

What kind of series was Airline. Drama, comedy, etc???

T J

Member for

20 years

Posts: 3,031

Ahh the Ruskin Airlines Dak, remember seeing her in those markings at Sywell when I was a small sprog...

Dad has a picture at home of her at Sywell - the joys of being able to whilst on early shift I believe :)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 246

What kind of series was Airline. Drama, comedy, etc???

Newly-discharged from the RAF after World War II, Jack Ruskin, a blunt no-nonsense Yorkshireman, decides to set up his own airline, Ruskin Air Services. Something of an idealist, Jack is prepared to bend every rule in the book to achieve his goal of flying a Dakota once again. He soon does a deal with Ernie Cade, a notorious spiv who can lay his hands on any item of war surplus - for the right price - and then enlists Peter Witney as co-pilot and Jock McEvoy as maintenance engineer. But his long absences start to put a strain on his relationship with Jennie, his girlfriend.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083378/

Member for

18 years 4 months

Posts: 439

Great Program, was it based upon Mike Keegan as in British Air Ferries ( me "old" boss) I know his name was always on the credits at the end?

Member for

18 years 4 months

Posts: 2,810

airline tv series

Many scenes filmed at Blackpool Squires Gate,second series was to have used the Constellation now at Wroughton.
Blackpool also featured in Family at War series using Reflectaire Lanc NX611 with some clever night engine runs.Would like to see that again.

Member for

20 years

Posts: 1,040

What about the BBC's Airport series ????

We use to get the BBC's "Airport" series here in the USA and I wonder if they still produce it for UK television? Lots of great story lines at Heathrow, a very entertaining series !

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 548

"Airline" was loosely based on the early career of Freddie Laker - although most of it was fiction. Indeed, after the war, characters like Jack Ruskin were quite common. Even thel ater TV presenter and quiz show host, Highie Green, was involved in wheeling and dealing in war surplus airtcraft just after the war.

Member for

19 years 3 months

Posts: 561

Apparently, the IWM Dakota is G-BHUB, also used on this TV prog.

Member for

16 years 2 months

Posts: 1,911

I had the pleasure of viewing this series only last week for the first time in many years.

It still holds up as an excellent show - well acted, authentic feel, superb flying scenes.

Pity the second series did not get made.

Member for

19 years 6 months

Posts: 116

I had the pleasure of viewing this series only last week...

Do share - was this a new release or a loaned copy?

Member for

16 years 2 months

Posts: 1,911

Sadly, just very old vhs, taped from the telly in God knows when. Poor colour, bad tracking, wonky sound in places, but still worth viewing.

Hopefully one day it will get a proper release!

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,106

Slightly confused by the comment in brackets? If I start a new thread then someone will say 'why not use the search engine and use the old thread' and then when you do you get that comment. Thankfully I'm not so severe on the forums I run.......:confused:

I'm not meaning to have a real dig as I know how hard it is to moderate and run forums, just the comment seems OTT!

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 2,820

Does anyone know if this was a 'novelisation' of the TV series or whether it bore more relation to the original scripts? It was written by Greatorex, so I suspect the latter...

IIRC it was a novel taken from the scripts, there was another "Ruskins Berlin" which I think was planned for the second series and how our man Jack started to make his fortune in the Berlin airlift.

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 302

Lockheed Constellation

IIRC it was a novel taken from the scripts, there was another "Ruskins Berlin" which I think was planned for the second series and how our man Jack started to make his fortune in the Berlin airlift.

A Lockheed Constellation was purchased for the second series, which was cancelled by a technicians strike at ITV! I think the aircraft is in the IWM collection.