Dan,
Heli Ops is actually available in selected places on the newstands, which is done for the benefit of those advertising training schools. I am slowly working on getting it out there more but distributors want at least 50% off the cover price, plus you pay for the shipping, their internal freight costs etc etc so bottom line it costs me more to put them on the newstands in the US than I actucally make out of it. UK is not so bad but you have to start with a min of 10,000 copies and then whatever they dont sell they throw away. Again if they only sell 1000 its not good for business.
While civil heli industry mags are looked on more as specialist titles my military aviation magazine has much more appeal from the general public, I think purely from an interest point of view.
Rob and a couple of others pointed out that Heli Ops is based in NZ. Thats right but we are a worldwide magazine, with coverage from all over. For example this next issue has long lining in Switzerland, US Border Patrol ops in Yuma, AZ, Volcano support ops in Monseratt and two safety type features on squibs and hoisting ops and confined area landings, plus Mott Stachfield's Flight Dynamics column. There is always something there for everyone. (If its too much promo Heliport delete what you feel like).
There are some good magazines out there, but my opinion is Rotor and Wing and Helicopter World didnt deliver what the industry wanted. Heli Ops and Vertical have bought progressive magazines to the industry that have great visual appeal with some awesome images. Mike (Vertical) and I always try to outdo each other on the images and its the readers that benefit.
Its interesting to see Shephard bring Helicopter World back for two "special" issues a year after being gone for some time. In my opinion it doesnt show much support for the industry when they shut the thing down when the industry is in tough times, and then try and relaunch it when the industry picks up. But time will tell if they succeed or not.
Helicopter International is a great publication for news items. Elfan does a great job at collecting info from around the place. Heli News in Australia also has a great jobs section and thats important for newbies looking for work.
RotorBlatt in Germany is a good german language magazine as is the Swiss one but I cant remember its name. If you want newspaper type ones to look at for aircraft sales then Universal Helicopter is worth looking at. Rotor magazine is HAI's own publication and has some good stories on their members but since its the association magazine they only include coverage if you are an HAI member. American Helicopter Society also have their own magazine, Vertiflite I think it is and it has some great technical type stories. Well worth a read if you like the how it all works type stories.
Overall here is my rating, trying to take my Heli Ops involvement hat off for the moment.
Heli Ops & Vertical (Joint First Place)
Helicopter World Special Editions (2nd Place)
Rotor & Wing
I havent included the other regional pubs as each is so different to the other. I think its great that each region also has its own magazine because in some cases magazines such as Heli Ops, Vertical, Rotor & Wing etc cant give adequate coverage to a specific area or location because we have to try and be fair to everyone, and like the old saying goes, you againt going to please everyone all of the time.
Oh and Dan
even if I am a better snapper and a better pilot than he is
Yes you are right about being a better pilot but you can continue to live in fantasy land about the photography
Ned