In this post-war drama, a demobbed RAF pilot risks everything to establish his own independent airline.
Recently demobilised from the RAF, Jack Ruskin (Roy Marsden) finds the prospects of post-war civilian life uninspiring. He sinks his savings into a single war-surplus Dakota aircraft and launches Ruskin Air Services, an independent cargo company. Joining him in the venture are his former co-pilot, Peter Witney (Richard Heffer), and his girlfriend, Jennie Shaw (Polly Hemingway). The underfunded operation is a constant struggle, forcing Ruskin into a precarious partnership with the wily scrap dealer Ernie Cade (Terence Rigby) and relying on the skill of engineer McEvoy (Sean Scanlan). The serial charts the company’s battles against bureaucracy and rival firms, culminating in its vital participation in the Berlin Airlift.
Created by Wilfred Greatorex, Airline rejected romantic notions of post-war life, presenting instead a doggedly authentic portrait of austerity Britain. The serial is a study in entrepreneurial grit, detailing the logistical and financial grind of a small business struggling against red tape and establishment snobbery. Yorkshire Television’s production was defined by its realism; the muddy airfields and makeshift offices feel lived-in, while the narrative concentrates on the unglamorous realities of fuel costs and maintenance schedules. The series was well-regarded for its historical accuracy, culminating in a detailed recreation of Ruskin’s involvement in the Berlin Airlift.
Broadcast: ITV – Yorkshire, 9 Episodes, 3 January – 28 February 1982
Creator: Wilfred Greatorex
Writers: Wilfred Greatorex, Nick McCarty, Ray Jenkins, Jane Franklin, Michael Russell
Directors: Michael Ferguson, Roger Cheveley, Peter Duguid
Executive Producer: David Cunliffe
Producer: Michael Ferguson
Main Cast: Roy Marsden (Jack Ruskin), Richard Heffer (Peter Witney), Polly Hemingway (Jennie Shaw), Sean Scanlan (McEvoy), Terence Rigby (Ernie Cade), Anthony Valentine (Captain Clarke)
