As a sometime contributor to 'Pilot', and a subscriber since 1978, I have to say that the magazine has changed under new ownership - and not for the better. But IMHO it's still better than the opposition.
Before the recent changes, 'Pilot' was owned and edited by James Gilbert. Because of this independance, James was able to stamp his personality onto the mag. Not everyone liked the result, but I certainly did, and it had a great deal of character, was not afraid to be opinionated, and didn't pull its punches.
James wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but as a contributor I always found him, and the editorial office generally, a delight to work with. Maybe it still is - I havent submitted anything for a year or so so don't know.
When James sold up, the magazine came into the ownership of a large publishing organisation. The editor was no longer the owner - he was an employee of this organisation - the same situation
AFAIK as at the other two mags. This is bound to have a profound effect on the mag's character- and it has. I think (and this is purely my opinion, not neccessarily fact, so I may be wrong) that James' successor tried to continue editing 'Pilot' in the manner that James had done - and this might be why the axe was wielded in the editorial office. The editor was sacked, and several other members of the team resigned in sympathy.
'Pilot' was unique in its editorial freedom - and we are the poorer that it no longer exists in that guise. Perhaps, these days, it just is no longer possible for a market leading magazine to exist as a completely independant entity - more's the pity.
'Pilot', with one or two exceptions, always IMHO had better regular writers than the opposition - Bob Grimstead and Maxi Gainza come to mind, and the increadibly good Brian Lecomber always used it for his all-to-rare forays into print. I will admit, however, that in John Farley 'Flyer' probably has one of the most interesting contributors on any aviation mag - but 'Flyer' also carries regular copy (though not so much these days) from one who is IMHO the very worst aviation writer ever!
I still think 'Pilot' is the best, but if Grim Bedstead and Maxi (and Brian?? - we can but hope!) start writing for one of the others, that may change.
SSD