matchlesswdg3 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Am now watching a DVD of the original series starring Roy Marsden set in the immediate post-WW2 period (demobbed Flight Sergeant with chips on both shoulders sets up a cargo airline). It's a treat for DC3 lovers and there is also a good variety of WW2 MVs.........Austin Tilly, Bedfords, Dodges, etc. Interestingly, a lot of these, while in running condition, are somewhat tatty which fits pretty well with their tired post-War demobbed condition in austerity Britain........they look more convincing than many of the immaculate glammed up show queens that you tend to see on films and TV now. Possibly indicates a combination of a fledgling historical MV movement where lots of cheap vehicles were still available and not much valued? Anyhow, it's a great show for spotting you favourite MV and not bad watching as a TV drama in its own right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hummermark Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I remember watching the series on TV as a kid.Is it a box set you have if so we're did you buy it from? I seem to remember reading some were could even be on this site that it can not be aired on TV again cos of some rights problem?:-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowdrop358 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Only nine episodes (of 13) were made because of disagreements between creator /writer Wilfred Greatorex and Yorkshire TV. A proposed second series was scrapped. The C47A (DC3) used in the program (G-BHUB) is now repainted and hanging from the roof of the American Air Museum at Duxford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMP-Phil Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Hi All Interesting show, found 1st episode on YouTube broken up into a couple of sections including some 1980s commercials, there are some interesting military vehicles couple of CMPs. Wonder if any of them have survived in collector's hands? Cheers Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesswdg3 Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 Hummermark, I think it came from Amazon and it's a 3 disk set of "the complete series" put out by Network, although the series was a Yorkshire TV/Granada production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesswdg3 Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 Yes.......you will find the DVD still listed on Amazon! Now there's something to stick on your letter to Santa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdx10 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 You can find this and many other 60's/70's/80's TV series ( and earlier ) on networkonair . com , well worth a browse . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Ah Children! Children! We Grown ups, who remeber when the bl**dy series was first on, the argument was the aircraft are not DC3's they are Pionairs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 All Pionairs were DC-3s, just not all DC-3s (by a long way) were Pionairs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hummermark Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Just got if from Amazon £12 thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willyslancs Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 the tilly that was used was owned by a late family friend, when they used it ,it was left with rock salt in the back , was returned in a very sorry state . filmed at blackpool airport in some shots , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Am now watching a DVD of the original series starring Roy Marsden set in the immediate post-WW2 period (demobbed Flight Sergeant with chips on both shoulders sets up a cargo airline). It's a treat for DC3 lovers and there is also a good variety of WW2 MVs.........Austin Tilly, Bedfords, Dodges, etc. Interestingly, a lot of these, while in running condition, are somewhat tatty which fits pretty well with their tired post-War demobbed condition in austerity Britain........they look more convincing than many of the immaculate glammed up show queens that you tend to see on films and TV now. Possibly indicates a combination of a fledgling historical MV movement where lots of cheap vehicles were still available and not much valued? Anyhow, it's a great show for spotting you favourite MV and not bad watching as a TV drama in its own right. Just out of interest, why did you suddenly decide to watch a show that is over 30 years old ? The reason I ask is I have just finished watching it on DVD after suddenly deciding out of the blue that I wanted to see it again after all these years ! :-D I wonder if there has been something on TV, radio or in a magazine that mentioned Airline ? The bit that I liked is that for a 'mainstream TV' show, it was actually quite well portrayed from the flying aspect with a fair bit of detail that I suspect would not be 'jazzed up' enough for modern viewing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willyslancs Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 probably all watching it due to the s""t on the tv at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesswdg3 Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 No, there was no mention of the series I recall. It was just a show I enjoyed and realised one day it was probably available on DVD, so went on my Amazon wish list. Am half way through the series now and it stands up well........as you say, it gets stuck into detail and it's mostly live action with real kit......not cgi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Just finished watching "We'll Meet Again" (another 1982 TV series) about a USAAF B-17 bomb group. Again something made me think of it and I found a DVD set. Productions from this era seem able to hold their own against modern 'stuff' quite well - what this series lacks in flying sequences is made up by excellent wartime colour footage grafted in, that and the chance for the viewer to use their imagination. Sometimes the less CGI the better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesswdg3 Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Back to "Airline", it is obvious that the production budget had some limits, so that what looks like a location in Malta has to stand in for airfields in Rome, Haifa and..........Malta. Just watched a programme where the hero, Jack Ruskin, gets bailed up in what us meant to be RAF Luqa. I am no expert, but the set looks very convincing as do the various elements of the plot which includes Ministry organisations that had to deal with the somewhat chaotic post-war situation. Was very pleased to see a nice Matchless WDG3L in desert colours and a civilianised Bedford OX on the Malta set. And at this stage, Jack now has TWO DC3s so nice shots of formation flying. The credits say the aircraft were supplied by Aces High. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepfinger Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 On 04/11/2015 at 10:10 PM, Willyslancs said: the tilly that was used was owned by a late family friend, when they used it ,it was left with rock salt in the back , was returned in a very sorry state . filmed at blackpool airport in some shots , Sorry to drag this old post up, never saw it 1st time around. Was that Tilly owned by John Brown? Barrie Ryan bought it, then sold it on. One of the Jeeps, was owned by Patrick Hargreaves. I think that they filmed some up at Yeadon, or Leeds/Bradford airport. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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