 Airliners
of the 1970s
By Gerry Manning
Midland Publishing, ©2005
ISBN 1-85780-213-6
Softbound, 144 Pages
Available from Specialty Press
for $34.95
The subject of airliners is a fascinating one, as it
is generally the most common introduction to aviation that most people
get. While these days we can see some rather impressive fancy liveries,
many spotters and modelers alike prefer the classic look from days gone
by. This book shows why that is, and really illustrates why I believe
the 1970s were the high point of commercial aviation, at least from a
visual perspective.
The 1970s proved to be a wonderful crossroads for commercial aviation.
The Boeing 747 had just taken to the skies, and supersonic transports
in the form of the Concorde and Tu-144 were in operation. At the same
time, it was not difficult to find yourself flying from place to place
in venerable propeller aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3 or Convair 440.
While the newer jets were capturing the public’s eye, the first
jet airliners (the Comet, the Caravelle, and the Tu104) were still in
operation, presenting an incredibly varied palette for the eye.
In addition to the wide varieties of type during this decade, the other
aspect is the liveries. There was something for everyone here. Cheatlines
were the norm during this era, and those really give a classic look to
these airliners. For those who want something a little fancier, Braniff’s
and Court’s solid-color fleet are in the skies during this period,
along with the dramatic diagonals of Northeast and CP Air.
This book presents that decade in a beautiful full-color format. There
are hundreds of clear photographs throughout the book, with the pages
presenting them roughly in on a type basis. This trip down memory lane
will provide you with plenty of modeling inspiration, and leave you wishing
for more kits of these classic aircraft (or at least decals). For those
interested in building airliners, this book is an essential part of a
reference library.
My thanks to Specialty Press
for the review copy. |
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