I managed to buy a copy of Pilot for the first time in a long time last week. (For some reason Flyer is readily available in France, Pilot not at all....).
On the basis of the October issue, I've got to agree, it's not what it used to be. There were still some good things - John Templeton Smith, who's articles are always a pleasure to read, and the article on the SE5a for example. Some of the rest was a bit off target though. The flight test of the Italian microlight was rather too obviously just a quick jolly from the passenger seat, and was pretty dire.
And please, bring back Lynn Williams! The illustrations that accompanied Nick Bloom's article on side-slipping really weren't pretty - the little aeroplane looked as if it belonged in Tellytubbyland. (Interestingly in this article I learnt that side-slipping a Pitts down to the flare takes "years of practice"..... Most people I know who've tried learn after 4 or 5 circuits.)
I hope things recover soon. It would be a huge shame to lose Pilot. I see that James Gilbert is a "consulting editor" - I hope the new team are consulting him.