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By: 17th November 2005 at 09:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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...
By: 17th November 2005 at 09:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Ahh the Ruskin Airlines Dak, remember seeing her in those markings at Sywell when I was a small sprog...
By: 17th November 2005 at 09:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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...
By: 17th November 2005 at 10:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-The 'Airline' Dak 'G-AGHY'/G-DAKS at West Malling 1982
By: 17th November 2005 at 10:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Cripes -I was seven!
TT
By: 17th November 2005 at 10:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-What kind of series was Airline. Drama, comedy, etc???
T J
By: 17th November 2005 at 11:09 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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 :)
By: 17th November 2005 at 11:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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.
By: 17th November 2005 at 21:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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?
By: 18th November 2005 at 00:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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.
By: 18th November 2005 at 03:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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 !
By: 18th November 2005 at 07:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-"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.
By: 18th November 2005 at 10:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Apparently, the IWM Dakota is G-BHUB, also used on this TV prog.
By: 27th November 2008 at 21:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Just noticed that these have been posted on youtube
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ca1Psf5ZlCI
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FHziLST_d4k&feature=related
Meanwhile this has been up for quite a while
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jOr5UbFl4uY&feature=related
Enjoy! :cool:
By: 28th November 2008 at 12:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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.
By: 28th November 2008 at 13:06 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I had the pleasure of viewing this series only last week...
Do share - was this a new release or a loaned copy?
By: 28th November 2008 at 13:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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!
By: 28th November 2008 at 18:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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!
By: 28th November 2008 at 19:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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.
By: 28th November 2008 at 20:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-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.
Posts: 301
By: colin.barron - 17th November 2005 at 08:27
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