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Tony Merton Jones - Editor

This tenth edition of the “Propliner” Annual extends to a record-breaking 176 glorious pages filled with all your favourite ‘propliners’. Three news sections – covering UK & Europe, North America and the Rest of the World – can be found among more than twenty major feature articles, and with over four hundred and fifty colour and black & white photographs this is another pictorial bonanza. Our North American correspondent Ralph Pettersen provides an update on the Lockheed Orion operation at Keystone Heights and intriguing developments surrounding the Kansas City Super Constellation, while also reporting from Rand Airport in South Africa. Chris Buckley chronicles the history of one of France’s most distinctive airliners, the Breguet Deux-Ponts, which is accompanied by many fine pictures, some colourful artwork and a detailed production list. Maurice Wickstead spotlights one of Canada’s most famous independents, Wardair, with a detailed history illustrated with many rare photographs. The third and final part of the amazing flying career of Captain Gerry Parkinson is described by Tony Merton Jones, featuring several operators including Trans Mediterranean Airways, Tyne Tees Air Charter, TASSA and Borneo Airways. There is also a detailed history of little known early post-war Croydon operator International Airways, which flew Airspeed Consuls, Dragon Rapides, a Miles Gemini and an Avro Anson. Discovery of an aircraft log book has allowed Eamon Power to write a fascinating account of operations undertaken by SCAL Bristol Freighter F-BFUO, and Ron Lindsay provides a fascinating insight into SAS’ early post-war trans-Atlantic operations with DC-4s thanks to his perusal of flying log books of the era. In his role as a regional sales manager Barry Lloyd reveals some of the pitfalls and successes of selling new Hawker Siddeley 748s, while Michael Magnusson recalls the difficulties encountered by Saab when they sold on a fleet of second-hand Convair 580s. Closure of the renowned DDA Classic Airlines Dakota operation in October 2024 and its forty year long history is recorded in detail by long-term volunteer Paul van den Berg. Keith Simpson moves his literary focus to Africa, describing the background to the Air Malawi operation and its early Central African Airways heritage with some atmospheric Beaver shots to whet the appetite. Fred Barnes describes the line of Convair twins that rolled off the San Diego production line and the many upgrades and conversions that followed. Retirement of the last Antonov An-22s is covered by Ugo Vicenzi, who also reports from Wiesbaden on the event staged to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the ending of the Berlin Airlift. The 2024 D-Day Squadron Legacy Tour to Europe is also featured, while Paul Middleton reports from another remarkable EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh. A major feature article written by Marcelo Magalhaes covers the formation, rapid growth and final demise of Brazilian airline REAL, which operated an enormous fleet of DC-3s, Curtiss Commandos, Convairliners, DC-4s, DC-6s and Super Constellations on both domestic services and international routes stretching as far as the United States and Japan. The Duxford Aviation Society’s famous Airliner Collection includes many precious exhibits, and Keith Bradshaw describes the history, restoration and ongoing preservation of the unique Airspeed Ambassador G-ALZO, which is a very tangible reminder of both the much loved Dan-Air Services and the aircraft manufacturer Airspeed. Keith Gaskell remembers a remarkable day-trip aboard the Trans-Air-Link Douglas DC-7CF from Miami to Port-au-Prince almost forty years ago and the impressive array of ‘propliners’ that he found at the airport in Haiti. Karl Hayes follows an amazing Curtiss Commando on its travels around the world, with the aircraft serving on three continents and flying for some notable operators. American Air Travel clubs have long proved to be something of a mystery to many enthusiasts, and Michael Zoeller begins an account of their origins and the clubs that took to the skies with a wonderful selection of old ‘prop’ types beginning in the mid-sixties. We are also delighted to publish a fine selection of Larry Milberry’s photographs taken at Malton Airport, Toronto, during the fifties and sixties, and just in case you thought that “Propliner” was neglecting what was perhaps the biggest news of the year, there is an in-depth report on the history and preservation of the world’s last Martin Mars flying-boats. Due to the pressure of space there is only a brief update on Ukraine’s enduring Antonov An-12 operation

As always, a must for all airliner enthusiasts.
A4, softback, 172 pages.