Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26550 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Synopsis
Woodley explores the history of British European Airways (BEA) from its formation on February 4, 1946 through March 31, 1974, when it was amalgamated with the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Coverage includes such topics as BEA's evolving company structure, the Heathrow years, Channel Islands operations, and the Scottish network. B&w p

Customer Reviews

UP, UP AND AWAY
I am sure this interesting volume will be welcomed by civil aviation enthusiasts, model makers as well as ex employees of the airline, together with those researching the airline in any shape or form.

The volume includes what a remarkable fleet list, with full details of aircraft types, serial numbers, purchases and disposals too. There is a fascinating section on the airline's predecessors and the early operations from the both Croydon and Northolt before the move to the new airport at Heathrow. All aspects relating to the airline are covered in the publication and the reader will therefore find useful information on engineering bases, terminals, European and domestic passenger and cargo services as well as helicopter operations.

There are of course numerous black and white and colour archive photographs of aircraft, equipment, advertising media, route maps and personalities too. The anecdotes from former crew and ground-staff add the human element, making this a valuable reference work for enthusiast's bookshelves.

Nice book spoiled by dreadful photography
My first reaction on receiveing this book was astonishment that an otherwise fine book like this could be ruined by the inclusion of so many poor-quality colour photos. With the wealth of quality photographs which must be available for this subject, why choose these dreadful amateur offerings which look as if they have been taken through a pair of fishnet stockings?

Excellent History of BEA
Following on from Woodley's history of BOAC, here we have the author's story of Britain's 'other' national airline, BEA. It starts with a brief history of BEA's predecessors and the birth of the airline in the aftermath of World War 2. Chapters cover operations at Northolt and Heathrow along with with chapters on the airline's other activities such as the German internal network, Scotland services, air cargo and helicopters. There are a number of appendices including aircraft types flown and a fleet list. It is readable throughout and comprehensively tells the story of an airline at a time when flying was still glamorous. As with his BOAC volume Woodley has the habit of becoming a talking timetable from time to time but not nearly as much and the book will be of great interest to anyone with an interest in the golden years of airline flying.

The book is extensively illustrated throughout with black and white pictures and has a colour section in the centre. Here lies the only problem with the book. Most of the colour aircraft pictures are reproduced extremely badly. Quite what the publisher was thinking about releasing the book with these pictures in it we can only speculate. For this reason the book loses a rating star which is silly as had they not put any colour pictures in at all it would get all five. Don't let this put you off, however. The book is a good read.