Propliner Magazine
 

The postman has just delivered the latest issue of Propliner (No.141). There is a letter inside from Tony Merton Jones telling me that, for a variety of reasons, this will be the last issue of Propliner. What a sad day. I have always looked forward to getting my quarterly fix and I don't know how I am going to be able to live without it (I have every single issue). In any event, I would like to thank Tony and all involved in producing this splendid magazine for so many years.

Very sorry to hear that. I was never a subscriber - I don't know why not - but I used to see a copy regularly twenty or thirty years ago and always enjoyed it.

Why the sound of radials is so appealing I know not - it just is, but I do know why I enjoy watching Connies and DC-6s, etc.

Incidentally, anyone know if Classic Flight's DC-6 is likely to reappear on the airshow circuit? Wonderful act...

Sad to hear this. I have a handful of copies. The sound and look of large prop transports have always seemed more interesting to self than pure jets. Even five years flying Brits didn't seem as cool as the DC7c or especially the 1649 Connie. ( only managed once Malta, in the back of a 749 Connie ) As a child, flew in BEA DC3s and Vikings. For most UK aviators, it was other way round, but swapped from ( elderly ) jet to Merlin, which was a bit of a shock after a half day course. P.S., I've found my two or three best illustrated propliner type books/magazines in UK charity shops. Maybe, the propliner enthusiast generation are beginning to drift away, and occasionally wives are having a clear-out.......

Oh dear! I also had the same note with my magazine. Propliner is (or now was) the only journal I take these days and now have no idea where I can keep up to date with the activities of the world's last true airliners

I guess there aren't enough of us old boys round any more to make this kind of magazine still viable.

My interest in propeller driven airliners dates back to 1953 when I went to stay with an old aunt who lived in Hillingdon, right under the final approach to Northolt's runway. The Vikings and Dakotas of BEA, Bristol Freighters of Aer Lingus and C54s and C47s of the US military were the staple diet, and the aircraft were so low that their fleet names could be easily read.
My favourite was BEA's Viking Sir Cloudesley Shovell (and to this day have no idea who he was).

To get back to Propliner, I have editions 22 through to 141 and will have to make do with re-reading these time and again, although I would love to get my hands on the earlier Steven Piercey edited magaines.

I only hope that Tony Merton Jones' vast knowledge of the British commercial aviation scene in the golden age will not be lost to us and that he will continue to publish in some form.

Cheers

I'm surprised that BEA chose Sir Cloudesley Shovell for an aircraft name, as I believe he's mainly remembered now for taking his ship onto the Scillies back in the early 18th century ..... and for loaning his name to "The Ship and Shovell," a pub at the entry to Craven Passage, not too far from the MOD, where I have passed the odd lunchtime in days past.

It is indeed a great shame, I have them all.
Like southender I too hope that Tony Merton Jones finds another outlet for his knowledge of British commercial aviation.
A big thank you to Tony and his team for continuing to produce Stephen Piercey's great magazine for as long as they have.

S.B.

A bit off-topic, but Sir Cloudseley Shovell lost not only his own ship but others were wrecked too: the total death toll was in the region of 2,000 and was a major naval disaster. The problem was that the navigators of the day couldn't calculate longitude and so piled the fleet onto rocks near the Scillies.

And led to the establishment of the Longitude Prize

Sad news indeed. Propliner was a fine publication and a credit to all who produced it.

Not really my bag, but term "propliner" brings back childhood and teenage memories - has proprietor tried flogging it to Key Publishing and getting it incorporated in Flypast or Aeroplane. Just a thought.

Go and wash your mouth out.

Better than the theme dying out, just a personal perspective,

Very sad news indeed...





Although I took notice of Propliner magazine only in the early 90's I was able to get every single copy from the Mr. Steven Pearcy era till issue 137.





It was the kind of magazine that had thorough and well researched articles (rare in the aviation editorial world nowadays) combined with excellent pictorial material. Its content was kind of exclusive and rarely appeared outside it - event after the Internet era.





After the demise of World Airline Fleets News in 2011 and the recent sale of Airways magazine to a new Editor (who I my opinion changed the magazine to worst), true aviation magazines for the hard core aviation enthusiast are slowing disappearing.





I surely will miss Propliner magazine....

...the last, final issue is now due for April 2016


Propliner Aviation Magazine

Quote:

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A "Propliner" annual featuring news and events that have taken place since the magazine folded its wings in March 2015, together with a wide range of both topical and historical articles,

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Propliner Annual
 

Great - roll on April!!!

Let's hope that enough people subscribe (I certainly will) to make it worthwhile and Tony Merton Jones considers making it an annual event.