Suggestions for Magazine Articles
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Suggestions for Magazine Articles
There has been a number of threads recently about what we don't like about the flying mags. I too am guilty of starting one such thread.
So I thought I'd start a new one, that rather than being critical, we could actually suggest to them what we would like to see.
So and lets tell them what we would like to see articles about.
PLEASE KEEP THIS THREAD FREE FROM PURELY NEGATIVE COMMENTS and lets tell them what we would like to see articles on. I'm sure they are more likely to listen, when we aren't being so negative!
So my thoughts are:
1. The foreign trips articles can be interesting, but suffer too much from the took off, spoke to atc, landed had lunch thing. I would like to see such articles deal far more with the issues such as what you needed to fly there. Can you fly there on a JAA PPL? Do you need to get it converted? If so what are the contact details? What differences in ATC etc do you need to know about.
2. In a similar vain, how about an article that deals purely with the proceedures for any foreign flight. There are lots of questions on pprune asking what to do about special branch, what to do about customs for a cross water flight, so obviously this is something people get confused over.
3. When reviewing an airfield, move off the field. What is there to do nearby? Make it a city guide, rather than an airfield guide. When ever I look for somewhere to fly to, I always take out my Lonely Planet guide to see what's to do in the local town/city.
4. How about some reviews of aircraft that you can actually buy from a production line? Reviews of aircraft are always more interesting if you knew you could go out and buy one (if you had the money), rather than some rare plane, you would have difficulty finding. Maybe concentrated on the lower end of the price range ones? What could I but for less than €100,000 that is new, and I don't have to build?
Now your turn. Let them know what you want to read about in their mags. Maybe when they get an article that matches, they might be more inclined to publish it!
dp
So I thought I'd start a new one, that rather than being critical, we could actually suggest to them what we would like to see.
So and lets tell them what we would like to see articles about.
PLEASE KEEP THIS THREAD FREE FROM PURELY NEGATIVE COMMENTS and lets tell them what we would like to see articles on. I'm sure they are more likely to listen, when we aren't being so negative!
So my thoughts are:
1. The foreign trips articles can be interesting, but suffer too much from the took off, spoke to atc, landed had lunch thing. I would like to see such articles deal far more with the issues such as what you needed to fly there. Can you fly there on a JAA PPL? Do you need to get it converted? If so what are the contact details? What differences in ATC etc do you need to know about.
2. In a similar vain, how about an article that deals purely with the proceedures for any foreign flight. There are lots of questions on pprune asking what to do about special branch, what to do about customs for a cross water flight, so obviously this is something people get confused over.
3. When reviewing an airfield, move off the field. What is there to do nearby? Make it a city guide, rather than an airfield guide. When ever I look for somewhere to fly to, I always take out my Lonely Planet guide to see what's to do in the local town/city.
4. How about some reviews of aircraft that you can actually buy from a production line? Reviews of aircraft are always more interesting if you knew you could go out and buy one (if you had the money), rather than some rare plane, you would have difficulty finding. Maybe concentrated on the lower end of the price range ones? What could I but for less than €100,000 that is new, and I don't have to build?
Now your turn. Let them know what you want to read about in their mags. Maybe when they get an article that matches, they might be more inclined to publish it!
dp
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Nice thread topic dp, I will kick off with..............
1. I would love to see more "Owners and their Aircraft" type articles. One mag did one like this a few months ago about a guy and his Cherokee and I found it good honest reading. It's interesting to read about other peoples flying and their tips on maintenance, insurance etc. can be very useful. It wouldn't be expensive to do a series like this and rather than going for people like "Stavros and his modified Yak 18" I feel some down to earth ones like "Pete and his 182" etc. would be more useful!!!
Perhaps the owner who had the article written about him might be given a free watch for his efforts and time!!
Seriously though, I get tired of reading how "Janet and John went to Austria in their Rallye". We could all learn from solid articles about owners because many people who don't own, want to.
Just an idea.
2. I would agree entirely with dp on his "can we hear more about affordable planes". The exotic ones are great to read about and I appreciate that the magazine has to target a very wide audience. The space shuttle article a few years ago was the biscuit as far as I'm concerned and when an airliner is on the front of one of the three mag's I don't even take it off the shelf.
I think it was flyer that did an excellent series about 18 months ago where they discussed different aircraft that could be bought within different price brackets. That was "useful" journalism and I have re-read those articles several times especially when condsidering a change of a/c.
1. I would love to see more "Owners and their Aircraft" type articles. One mag did one like this a few months ago about a guy and his Cherokee and I found it good honest reading. It's interesting to read about other peoples flying and their tips on maintenance, insurance etc. can be very useful. It wouldn't be expensive to do a series like this and rather than going for people like "Stavros and his modified Yak 18" I feel some down to earth ones like "Pete and his 182" etc. would be more useful!!!
Perhaps the owner who had the article written about him might be given a free watch for his efforts and time!!
Seriously though, I get tired of reading how "Janet and John went to Austria in their Rallye". We could all learn from solid articles about owners because many people who don't own, want to.
Just an idea.
2. I would agree entirely with dp on his "can we hear more about affordable planes". The exotic ones are great to read about and I appreciate that the magazine has to target a very wide audience. The space shuttle article a few years ago was the biscuit as far as I'm concerned and when an airliner is on the front of one of the three mag's I don't even take it off the shelf.
I think it was flyer that did an excellent series about 18 months ago where they discussed different aircraft that could be bought within different price brackets. That was "useful" journalism and I have re-read those articles several times especially when condsidering a change of a/c.
Last edited by ToryBoy; 11th Feb 2004 at 00:23.
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Ideas..
The JAA / FAA jungle explained in a way anyone can easily digest it would be great for any commercial hopefuls...
Also,would be interesting to see what advantages and disadvantages there are in registering a plane to another country (ie G-ABCD to N123BB)
The case for PPL/IR..
Also,interesting landings section.Insurers probably won`t approve,but show us some of the tighest and most exciting landings in the UK,and how to do the approach properly.I can name North Farm in Washington (Near Worthing,West Sussex) as a great example.
Other than that..as Ali G says,keep it real.
The JAA / FAA jungle explained in a way anyone can easily digest it would be great for any commercial hopefuls...
Also,would be interesting to see what advantages and disadvantages there are in registering a plane to another country (ie G-ABCD to N123BB)
The case for PPL/IR..
Also,interesting landings section.Insurers probably won`t approve,but show us some of the tighest and most exciting landings in the UK,and how to do the approach properly.I can name North Farm in Washington (Near Worthing,West Sussex) as a great example.
Other than that..as Ali G says,keep it real.
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DP
I know that some of the editorial staff of the mags read PPRUNE and I am sure this thread will prompt some ideas.
I guess the point is as much about balance as it is about content as many of the things asked for are already there.
The suggestion from Toryboy is one which I know is already being worked on and I think both of the mainstream mags are conscious of covering stuff which is relevant to the greater part of the audience. There is quite a bit more now about ordinary pilots and ordinary aircraft.
DP your item 3 is already being done. In the past six months I have written reviews of both Liverpool and Norwich airports and at least 25% of the article was about things to see and do in the nearby area / cities (althouhg most people don't tend to go much further than the nearest restaurant).
Some of the othetr points about putting hard advice in alongside the commentary is probably also being actioned so maybe the mags are starting to go in the right direction but need a bit more encouragement and ideas.
Keep them coming - the more ideas for me to write articles the better!. Seriously if there are some good ideas here I will approach the editor and try and get commissioned so I am certainly interested in listening. Feel free to PM me with ideas if you wish.
I know that some of the editorial staff of the mags read PPRUNE and I am sure this thread will prompt some ideas.
I guess the point is as much about balance as it is about content as many of the things asked for are already there.
The suggestion from Toryboy is one which I know is already being worked on and I think both of the mainstream mags are conscious of covering stuff which is relevant to the greater part of the audience. There is quite a bit more now about ordinary pilots and ordinary aircraft.
DP your item 3 is already being done. In the past six months I have written reviews of both Liverpool and Norwich airports and at least 25% of the article was about things to see and do in the nearby area / cities (althouhg most people don't tend to go much further than the nearest restaurant).
Some of the othetr points about putting hard advice in alongside the commentary is probably also being actioned so maybe the mags are starting to go in the right direction but need a bit more encouragement and ideas.
Keep them coming - the more ideas for me to write articles the better!. Seriously if there are some good ideas here I will approach the editor and try and get commissioned so I am certainly interested in listening. Feel free to PM me with ideas if you wish.
How about some hints from magazine staffers on what they want.
particularly a practicle list of do's and don'ts.
particularly a practicle list of do's and don'ts.
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Good thread DP. After my criticisms on "the Watch thread" here are my positive suggestions-
The three main UK GA mags are called Flyer, Pilot and Todays Pilot. However despite the nature of their titles they tend to concentrate more on the lumps of old metal found in hangars rather than the people that fly them. I would therefore like to see more "people based" stories ("human interest" stories sounds a bit twee). Some suggestions along these lines might be-
1. Try and alter prejudices and defy expectations - why not take a confirmed "nosewheel snob" (or indeed someone who has only tried nosewheel spamcams and is therefore a little in awe of taildraggers -like myself) and get them to to undertake a farmstrip flying course in a tail dragger?
2. The veterans who ditched their 172 on the way to their reunion dinner on the Scillies certainly have tale to tell. To be still be flying at thier venerable age is pretty impressive, but to succesfully ditch in the Atlantic in Winter and all be safely rescued is a great achievement. Did the plane sink, how did they vacate, did they aim to ditch near the fishing boat, etc etc.??
3. Diary type articles - for example visit someone building a PFA kit aircraft a couple of times a year for 2 / 3 / 4 years for short updates on progress and detail the real meaning of what 500 or 1000 or 2000 hours locked away in their garage really feels like. What will the project really cost once the paints on the wings and the inks on the permit to fly? Are they still married ?! Or why not follow an ab -initio PPL student over the course of training over a year. Just think of the value they could have got out of the Pink Aviator if they had known what we know now!
4. Car and motorbike magazines often get a number of ordinary joe's to test new models preferably with a wide span of experience. There was a recent article in one of the mags (I forget which) with this format regarding the new Diamond single. It is a format that could be expanded upon.
However..... what is really neded is better quality writing across the board. Rather than wait for someone to send in an article on say perhaps farmstrip flying and decide to go with it despite the quality or otherwise of the writing (& the photos) as often seems to happen at present, how much better it would be if they could actually pay and commission decent writers and journos to put the articles together.
100 years on from the first powered flight, and as a pretty new PPL I can attest to the fact that flying is a pretty extraordinary thing to do. From the staid writing in the mainstream mags you would be hard pushed sometimes to believe this. What I would really like to see in the aviation mags is more verve, passion, and perhaps controversy.
Mr. W
The three main UK GA mags are called Flyer, Pilot and Todays Pilot. However despite the nature of their titles they tend to concentrate more on the lumps of old metal found in hangars rather than the people that fly them. I would therefore like to see more "people based" stories ("human interest" stories sounds a bit twee). Some suggestions along these lines might be-
1. Try and alter prejudices and defy expectations - why not take a confirmed "nosewheel snob" (or indeed someone who has only tried nosewheel spamcams and is therefore a little in awe of taildraggers -like myself) and get them to to undertake a farmstrip flying course in a tail dragger?
2. The veterans who ditched their 172 on the way to their reunion dinner on the Scillies certainly have tale to tell. To be still be flying at thier venerable age is pretty impressive, but to succesfully ditch in the Atlantic in Winter and all be safely rescued is a great achievement. Did the plane sink, how did they vacate, did they aim to ditch near the fishing boat, etc etc.??
3. Diary type articles - for example visit someone building a PFA kit aircraft a couple of times a year for 2 / 3 / 4 years for short updates on progress and detail the real meaning of what 500 or 1000 or 2000 hours locked away in their garage really feels like. What will the project really cost once the paints on the wings and the inks on the permit to fly? Are they still married ?! Or why not follow an ab -initio PPL student over the course of training over a year. Just think of the value they could have got out of the Pink Aviator if they had known what we know now!
4. Car and motorbike magazines often get a number of ordinary joe's to test new models preferably with a wide span of experience. There was a recent article in one of the mags (I forget which) with this format regarding the new Diamond single. It is a format that could be expanded upon.
However..... what is really neded is better quality writing across the board. Rather than wait for someone to send in an article on say perhaps farmstrip flying and decide to go with it despite the quality or otherwise of the writing (& the photos) as often seems to happen at present, how much better it would be if they could actually pay and commission decent writers and journos to put the articles together.
100 years on from the first powered flight, and as a pretty new PPL I can attest to the fact that flying is a pretty extraordinary thing to do. From the staid writing in the mainstream mags you would be hard pushed sometimes to believe this. What I would really like to see in the aviation mags is more verve, passion, and perhaps controversy.
Mr. W
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1 - Feature articles on ATC - how the world looks from their point of view, how they feel about GA and what PPLs can do to make life easier for everyone
2 - As above, but AFIS and A/G
3 - Experiental stuff by experienced pilots, but not in the style of 'lectures on paper', e.g. more like Dick Collins in Flying where navigating around a squall line or someting similar is described by an actual flight being narrated and the critical decisions and decision points being explained - these could be written ad infinitum and are very valuable
2 - As above, but AFIS and A/G
3 - Experiental stuff by experienced pilots, but not in the style of 'lectures on paper', e.g. more like Dick Collins in Flying where navigating around a squall line or someting similar is described by an actual flight being narrated and the critical decisions and decision points being explained - these could be written ad infinitum and are very valuable
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How about more informative flight tests, that give you an idea what the aeroplane might actually be like to own? Are there any significant ADs on it, are spare parts readily available, can it be certified in the UK (lots of "tests" of Eastern European microlights say that they can be flown at heavier weights in the "experimental" category. Not in the UK they can't...), and so on.
Any article submitted as a "flight test" where the author has flown for less than an hour with either a company demonstration pilot or the owner who's trying to flog his aeroplane should be binned by the editor!!
Any article submitted as a "flight test" where the author has flown for less than an hour with either a company demonstration pilot or the owner who's trying to flog his aeroplane should be binned by the editor!!
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The challenge lies in the fact that the UK flying crowd is going to be very different from the pprune crowd. Only a tiny % of pilots are online. Most PPLs I know have never used the internet for weather info, for example - what a waste!
So any wish list we come up with isn't going to be of much help to the magazine.
Having said that, I would have more post-PPL material, aimed at people who want to go places. Radio navigation (GPS/VOR/DME) and how it may be done in different places (e.g. France has no DMEs, only TDMEs). Easy and quick flight planning using the internet for weather and notams (some article I read recently suggested that a foreign trip should be planned at least 1-2 months ahead!!!!). Instrument flight (surely there must be SOME people whose IMC Rating has not expired??). The routes to PPL/IR (FAA, N-reg). The CAA won't like the last bit written about but until we get a usable European IR they have to accept it.
I would like to see an acknowledgement that the PPL training is too basic to enable most fresh pilots to confidently go to places, and offer information on how to progress to the next stage. This means a complete inclusion of GPS for example, much as many won't like that.
So any wish list we come up with isn't going to be of much help to the magazine.
Having said that, I would have more post-PPL material, aimed at people who want to go places. Radio navigation (GPS/VOR/DME) and how it may be done in different places (e.g. France has no DMEs, only TDMEs). Easy and quick flight planning using the internet for weather and notams (some article I read recently suggested that a foreign trip should be planned at least 1-2 months ahead!!!!). Instrument flight (surely there must be SOME people whose IMC Rating has not expired??). The routes to PPL/IR (FAA, N-reg). The CAA won't like the last bit written about but until we get a usable European IR they have to accept it.
I would like to see an acknowledgement that the PPL training is too basic to enable most fresh pilots to confidently go to places, and offer information on how to progress to the next stage. This means a complete inclusion of GPS for example, much as many won't like that.
Last edited by IO540; 11th Feb 2004 at 16:08.
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DP - I'm generally moderately happy with the one mag I subscribe to regularly (which begins with a 'P' 
), but would support 'all of the above' as suggestions - doing flight reviews of Gulfstreams / Citations / Shuttles always strikes me as a bit inappropriate for the GA audience (more a Flight International sort of topic, I'd have thought!)!!
The two biggest gripes I have about 'P*l*t' are the fact that the 'Old Timers' section could either be binned or cut to maybe one page (with Anoraks Weekly using most of rest of the material). plus the fact that by the time I receive my copy through the mail, half of the fly in events in the diary have already happened and the rest are too adjacent to plan for. I'd seriously like the UK fly in diary to cover at least 10 wks from the date of receipt of the magazine, not 3 - 6 wks.
Just my little bit.
), but would support 'all of the above' as suggestions - doing flight reviews of Gulfstreams / Citations / Shuttles always strikes me as a bit inappropriate for the GA audience (more a Flight International sort of topic, I'd have thought!)!!The two biggest gripes I have about 'P*l*t' are the fact that the 'Old Timers' section could either be binned or cut to maybe one page (with Anoraks Weekly using most of rest of the material). plus the fact that by the time I receive my copy through the mail, half of the fly in events in the diary have already happened and the rest are too adjacent to plan for. I'd seriously like the UK fly in diary to cover at least 10 wks from the date of receipt of the magazine, not 3 - 6 wks.
Just my little bit.
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Mr Wolfie:
Pat Malone sought out Bernard Maslin, Fleet Air Arm veteran and pilot of the 172 that went into the sea off the Scilly Isles. We published Bernard's account of the traumatic ditching in the December 2003 issue of General Aviation
Please PM me for a copy - I am sure I can rustle one up from somewhere. Same applies to anybody else who is interested...
Pat Malone sought out Bernard Maslin, Fleet Air Arm veteran and pilot of the 172 that went into the sea off the Scilly Isles. We published Bernard's account of the traumatic ditching in the December 2003 issue of General Aviation
Please PM me for a copy - I am sure I can rustle one up from somewhere. Same applies to anybody else who is interested...
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I really like 3 green's suggestion of an article from an ATC'ers point of view. As a PPL, I'm sure I'm not alone in never haveing seen the inside of an ATC tower, or a controlers ATC sceen actually working (as apposed to a photo).
So I'd definately second the idea of an article from their point of view. Maybe that one could run as a short series, so as not to be too superficial?
dp
So I'd definately second the idea of an article from their point of view. Maybe that one could run as a short series, so as not to be too superficial?
dp
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Great thread.
Apart from the stuff in the other thread
1. Greasy spoon awards.
2. Instead of just a pilot telling you about an airfield how about approaching the SATCO of said field and asking what some of the normal vistor cockups that occur.
3. Engineering niggles: not ripping the pee outa one organisation but if someone has a long on going problem which seems to be going in circles (usually electrical i must admit) what the problem was and the solution.
4. ATC section is a must if you can get a ATC type to write about GA errors and misconceptions.
5. Section on whats changed in the AIP and ANO and don't just do the GA stuff. There are some of us who fly bigger machines who still enjoy GA. For not much extra space you will have a happier pro readership as well.
MJ
Apart from the stuff in the other thread
1. Greasy spoon awards.
2. Instead of just a pilot telling you about an airfield how about approaching the SATCO of said field and asking what some of the normal vistor cockups that occur.
3. Engineering niggles: not ripping the pee outa one organisation but if someone has a long on going problem which seems to be going in circles (usually electrical i must admit) what the problem was and the solution.
4. ATC section is a must if you can get a ATC type to write about GA errors and misconceptions.
5. Section on whats changed in the AIP and ANO and don't just do the GA stuff. There are some of us who fly bigger machines who still enjoy GA. For not much extra space you will have a happier pro readership as well.
MJ
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To Monocock and the other humourless anoraks - my posts on this thread and the now closed watch one, were err, jokey. There unfortunately isn't a smilie character for a snare drum and cymbal crash so you'll just have to trust me.
Now back to the thread - Flyer is out this week and Pilot next. Why don't posters here critique the articles in both saying what they liked/disliked?
For example, the ILAFFT and new aviation websites which are regular features in Pilot have, while being good ideas for features, been pretty dull of late. I'm prepared to be pleasantly surprised though.
Now, anyone here from Poughkeepsie?
Now back to the thread - Flyer is out this week and Pilot next. Why don't posters here critique the articles in both saying what they liked/disliked?
For example, the ILAFFT and new aviation websites which are regular features in Pilot have, while being good ideas for features, been pretty dull of late. I'm prepared to be pleasantly surprised though.
Now, anyone here from Poughkeepsie?
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Magazine suggestions
Hi All
Just a quick note (lot of work to do preparing the next issue, the biggest of the year) to let you know that I appreciate your thoughts and, perhaps oddly, to say that I agree with many of the comments made.
Like you I am a flyer (bad pun, sorry
) and I love reading good features and books about flying (just finished No Escape Zone by Nick Richardson, Sea Harriers in Bosnia and well worth reading, and I've just started on First Light).
There are many issues involved in producing a magazine, particularly in a small, specialist market such as ours, which range from getting hold of, and producing, the quality of material you (and I) would like read through to ensuring that it is all done within a realistic budget.
The feedback here, though, is very valuable and noted. I suspect you'll see some of the articles you'd like to read in print (not necessarily just in our magazine) before too long.
If anyone feels they would like to write any of them (or suggest an author – I've been trying to do the ATC one for some time but ATCOs I have spoken to are concerned about their employment contracts, even writing anonymously) and would like to discuss the idea, please feel free to call me on 01225 481440 or email me [email protected] (or indeed get in touch if you have any other comments you'd like to make).
Nick
Flyer Ed
Just a quick note (lot of work to do preparing the next issue, the biggest of the year) to let you know that I appreciate your thoughts and, perhaps oddly, to say that I agree with many of the comments made.
Like you I am a flyer (bad pun, sorry
) and I love reading good features and books about flying (just finished No Escape Zone by Nick Richardson, Sea Harriers in Bosnia and well worth reading, and I've just started on First Light).There are many issues involved in producing a magazine, particularly in a small, specialist market such as ours, which range from getting hold of, and producing, the quality of material you (and I) would like read through to ensuring that it is all done within a realistic budget.
The feedback here, though, is very valuable and noted. I suspect you'll see some of the articles you'd like to read in print (not necessarily just in our magazine) before too long.
If anyone feels they would like to write any of them (or suggest an author – I've been trying to do the ATC one for some time but ATCOs I have spoken to are concerned about their employment contracts, even writing anonymously) and would like to discuss the idea, please feel free to call me on 01225 481440 or email me [email protected] (or indeed get in touch if you have any other comments you'd like to make).
Nick
Flyer Ed
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My tuppenyworth:
1. I like the foreign trips articles but I could live without the articles themselves. Just give me the pictures to inspire me to go to the places concerned. If the author hasn't got pictures, either get stock ones or publish something else. The pictures don't really need to be "in flight" - they just need to inspire you to go to the place. Photos of runways should be banned.
2. It would be useful if the authors could also think back to when they were planning the trip, the things they didn't know, the questions they had and write from the point of view of someone who hasn't yet been. And don't just write the legal details, write about what happens in practice - for example, all that stuff on customs and immigration in Pooleys is, in practice, condensed into one form which the airfield will help you with, so why not say so?
3. An article on things coming up this year would be nice, rather than reviews of things which have already happened. I appreciate there is the list of events but those are just lists and unless you have personal experience of the events, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. (Yes, I know one man's wheat is another man's chaff but give it a go - it doesn't have to be perfect).
4. I would like to see an article entitled "everything you need to do and know about now you own a plane". From personal experience, the move from renting to ownership is a big learning curve.
5. I like the series in Flyer which sets up the situation and asks what did they do wrong?
6. I don't need flight tests - I have a plane and don't need to know how fast other people's planes climb.
AF
1. I like the foreign trips articles but I could live without the articles themselves. Just give me the pictures to inspire me to go to the places concerned. If the author hasn't got pictures, either get stock ones or publish something else. The pictures don't really need to be "in flight" - they just need to inspire you to go to the place. Photos of runways should be banned.
2. It would be useful if the authors could also think back to when they were planning the trip, the things they didn't know, the questions they had and write from the point of view of someone who hasn't yet been. And don't just write the legal details, write about what happens in practice - for example, all that stuff on customs and immigration in Pooleys is, in practice, condensed into one form which the airfield will help you with, so why not say so?
3. An article on things coming up this year would be nice, rather than reviews of things which have already happened. I appreciate there is the list of events but those are just lists and unless you have personal experience of the events, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. (Yes, I know one man's wheat is another man's chaff but give it a go - it doesn't have to be perfect).
4. I would like to see an article entitled "everything you need to do and know about now you own a plane". From personal experience, the move from renting to ownership is a big learning curve.
5. I like the series in Flyer which sets up the situation and asks what did they do wrong?
6. I don't need flight tests - I have a plane and don't need to know how fast other people's planes climb.
AF
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Two thoughts:
Mark Hales did a few articles a while back in FLYER pitting one aeroplane against another, e.g. 4-seat tourer for under £30k. (DR250 vs AA5 I think in this case). Similar thing is done in car mags. Perhaps something again along the same lines for the odd feature article?
Also, reader's reviews, ey Nick? Hint
Mark Hales did a few articles a while back in FLYER pitting one aeroplane against another, e.g. 4-seat tourer for under £30k. (DR250 vs AA5 I think in this case). Similar thing is done in car mags. Perhaps something again along the same lines for the odd feature article?
Also, reader's reviews, ey Nick? Hint
How about contacting a few owners to do a quarterly article on the trials and tribulations they've had operating their aircraft. It could be split into a few categories:
Multis - Apahe, Aztec, Seneca, Seminole, C-337 etc
Complex Singles - Arrow, Bonanza, Commanche, C-177 etc
Tourers - Archer/Warrior, C172/182, TB-9/10, AA5A/B, DR400 etc
Trainers - C150/2, Tomahawk, Robin(??) etc
Vintage - Cub, Taylorcraft, Auster, Tiger Moth etc
Fun (New) - Squalus, Foxbat (Aeroprakt NOT MiG!) etc
Fun (Old) - Pietenpol, FRED, VP-1/2, etc
Microlights - weightshift, 3-axis (don't know many microlight models sorry)
It might give potential owners a feel for what goes wrong with various types of aircraft and which group their style of flying fits with aircraft group. It might also help current owners to spot potential problems or sort out existing problems. This also creates a potential pool of contributors to the magazine whose style and ability is known.
Multis - Apahe, Aztec, Seneca, Seminole, C-337 etc
Complex Singles - Arrow, Bonanza, Commanche, C-177 etc
Tourers - Archer/Warrior, C172/182, TB-9/10, AA5A/B, DR400 etc
Trainers - C150/2, Tomahawk, Robin(??) etc
Vintage - Cub, Taylorcraft, Auster, Tiger Moth etc
Fun (New) - Squalus, Foxbat (Aeroprakt NOT MiG!) etc
Fun (Old) - Pietenpol, FRED, VP-1/2, etc
Microlights - weightshift, 3-axis (don't know many microlight models sorry)
It might give potential owners a feel for what goes wrong with various types of aircraft and which group their style of flying fits with aircraft group. It might also help current owners to spot potential problems or sort out existing problems. This also creates a potential pool of contributors to the magazine whose style and ability is known.
