Flight Sergeant Jack Ruskin spends the final days of his wartime flying career ferrying demobilized servicemen home from India. He has a momentous encounter with Squadron Leader Dickie Marlowe, who is trying to make his fortune from black market activities.

When the hero's welcome he expected never arrives, Jack Ruskin starts his battle for survival in post-war civilian life. Then a chance meeting with Ernie Cade puts him onto a war-surplus Dakota for sale.

Ruskin Air Services are off to a flying start, until a business deal falls through and almost costs his crew their lives.

Ruskin Air Services is grounded, locked in the icy grip of winter and lacking fuel as well. Enter Ernie Cade with a risky proposition that the men find hard to refuse

It's the middle of winter and Ruskin is broke. His plane has become so badly damaged that he needs a new one, and Cade is putting the screws on. But Ruskin sees a way to use the needs of Cade's rich clients to turn the situation to his advantage

With the forces of bureaucracy massing against him in England, Jack finds himself in Malta with no fuel and no co-operation.

Although stripped of his pilot's license and with no airline to run, Jack embarks undaunted on a new money-making proposition.

It's the Spring of 1948 and dark clouds are gathering over Jennie and Jack's wedding plans. Ruskin Air is in deep trouble, and his decisions will affect the lives of everyone around him.

By participating in the Berlin Airlift, Ruskin could dig himself well out of his financial hole, but he has nothing to operate. He has lost his license, one of his planes and most of his crew.