Pilot Mag Oct (Merged)

[AfricanEagle]

All magazines have good months and occasionally a few less good months.

I read the two major British mags, a couple of Italian ones and the american Flying every month.

I personally want to read about flying stories and fun in the air and enjoy travel write ups (if it is well written).

The mag that never disappoints me is Flying: there can be good or bad features, but the columnists are always excellent.

The great Gordon Baxter and Len Morgan have been well replaced and every month there is at least one story that transfers the joy and passion of flying.

AE

[Whirlybird]

If I laugh out loud at an article I know it has been good.

So do the editors of the flying mags. One told me recently that comedy would always be welcome. But somehow, when it comes to aviation writing, it's incredibly hard to do. I thought about it...and shelved the idea for the time being...but still thinking about it. I'm not quite sure why it's so hard to be funny, or even light-hearted, when it comes to flying. Do we all take ourselves too seriously, maybe? After all, spending one's leisure time at 2000 ft is a serious business. OTOH, I had a flight into Manchester recently where a lot of little things went wrong, and I had several of my friends in stitches when I told them the story. Why don't I write about it, even on PPRuNe? A number of possibilities - fear of criticism, not being so funny on paper, a pretty short flight so does anyone care...I don't know; I'm thinking out loud here.

As you say, Monocock, an interesting topic.

[Monocock]

I'm happy to proof read for a constructive opinion if you want?!

[Confabulous]

Obvious perhaps, but...

Why don't we all try our hand at 'articles', either topics dear to our heart, or maybe a new type we've flown recently, or a trip, or something excellent and new like cloud69's recent contribution... and post them here for critiquing?

No-one says we have to submit them to the magazines, just give ourselves what we want, get constructive feedback and maybe give each poster a bit of a different perspective on GA.

Requests, anyone? It'll take me a few days to write something (probably about learning to fly from a student's perspective - hopefully a fresh look!

Confab

[Andy_R]

Go for it Confab. We all have different ideas on what would be a good readable subject, until you try you won't know - nor will we

[Confabulous]

Shifted to the 'Articles thread....

[sunday driver]

How very timely. Looks like the poisoned barbs found a target.

"Pilot has been an influential player the heart of the aviation community for over 40 years and needs a vibrant and clear thinking editor to further develop this major brand in print and online in order to strengthen its number one position."

We've got your names, lads and lasses, so form an orderly queue at the door of . . . Bob Crawley, Publishing Director, Archant Specialist 01799 544200. (sits vac - pilot oct 2005) . . . and let us know how you get on.

SD

[Wide-Body]

Hi Flash

Sorry to dissagree with you old chap, but I do agree mostly with Jetscream.

I did not enjoy the the October issue. I generally like pilot mag, but have not been a fan of the NB articles. The YAk 52 piece was one of the poorest I have ever seen. Our own SSD conveyed much more of the spirt of the aircraft in his review a few years ago. Reading his articles, by his own words, NB constantly displays poor handling skills, I for one will not let him near any aircraft I am responsible for. Based upon his OWN reviews

I disagree with him on the BD reviews. While anyone can have an off day, I think that Bob writes a good review and tells it from the heart. He displayed very able handling skills on the day we flew. I also like the humour and will never forget the Soko Krudj report (although anyone who has tried to sell one since will). Although I do belive a lot of his articles have been edited to remove humour over the last few yeas to avoid upsetting the PC brigade.

To reply constructively to your post Flash. Give all flight tests to BD and the master of them all Maxi Ganzi. As for me I would make an appauling journalist (I can not spell or type), it is a skill I do not posess.

And before the hammers of hell descend, I have told Nick my views and have never hid behind a cloak of anonimity. Myself and the very aviation expierienced Mrs WB were asked to an evening to talk about the new pilot format. She did pass many positive feedback points, but on the negative was given a very dismissive reply by the deputy editor. It was a mark of the man.

Good luck to Pilot, I hope the new editor can master the challenges before him. Like all new media in the country his critics await, only he will need to look on this forum to view the best.

Regards to all

Wide

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

I did not enjoy the the October issue. I generally like pilot mag, but have not been a fan of the NB articles. The YAk 52 piece was one of the poorest I have ever seen. Our own SSD conveyed much more of the spirt of the aircraft in his review a few years ago. Reading his articles, by his own words, he constantly displays poor handling skills, I for one will not let him near any aircraft I am responsible for. Based upon his OWN reviews

Glad you liked my '52 piece, WB. I hope your subsequent comments about 'poor handling skills' are referring to NB not me? Your post can be read either way (but then, you do admit you are a tad short of journalistsic skills ).

Cheers

SSD

[Wide-Body]

SSD

Most certainly NOT refering to you

Will work on the grammer

Regards

Wide

[Flash0710]

Hey Wide,

I was there too remember?

Agree with all of your points as raised and whilst BD may speak from the trouser a lot he still makes an informative read.

As for the Yak article the best one to ask about it for feedback with be our Soviet spinning friend. He keeps them all and is very keen to see if they describe the/operate AC in the ( correct ) way.

rgds to you and MWB....

F.

[The Right Stuff]

I regard Pilot as my newspaper and the first thing I read each month is ILAFFT.

There is a fairly limited amount of relavant material, but I found the helicopter article interesting, as it's another side to aviation and flying is what I'm interested in.

I realise some people have very specific interests, and for that very reason, they'll be less tolerant of material that doesn't interest them.

Reminds me of people I know in radio control model circles; I fly r/c model aeroplanes, but also have r/c cars and boats. So I'm into modelling generally, others however bemoan 'them', who aren't into the same things.

A magazine that always impresses me each month is Aeroplane, what was Aeroplane Monthly. All of aviation history to go at, as well as today's happenings, and some of the stories told do make me laugh. The technical stuff and database features are excellent.

[MikeGodsell]

Try the French aviation mags for a comparison.

I love the way they rubbish the politicians / regulations / burocrats etc See the editorial by Bernard Chabbert in June edition of 'Aviasport' : Quote.."In their terrifying and pathetic appetite for regulation they demolish, sabotage, ruin, and destroy all that is of the essence of human endevour"

Also look out for 'Vol Moteur' which covers light aeroplanes and microlights. They have often have the first news of new developments (of which there are many in France) For instance the Dieselis an Opel car diesel engined two seater with 80 MPG on Jet A1 fuel was featured recently.
May edition has a report on the Hirth two stroke engines using electronic fuel injection and blown exhaust. Resulting in no pollution, huge increase in MPG, and proper lubrication of bearings.....goodby Rotax!

'Aviation & Pilote' is the nearest equivalent to our Pilot mag and has a similar broad mix of articles, but no ILAFFT.

MG

[Complex_Type]

In James Gilbert's ownership, the magazine attracted some really excellent contributors over the years, like Brian Lecomber, Bernard Chabbert, Stephen Wilkinson, Doug Bianchi, Neil Williams, Manx Kelly, etc.

I would add Maxi Gainza to that list, really good stuff in his second language but I reckon he is one of the more expensive contributors as he is in less often these days.

I pick up the mags and buy the one with the most intersting stuff in it. Not buying many of late.

[Penguina]

Deciding who the audience is, and what level to pitch articles at, is difficult.

Had a chat about this with my brother-in-law (your archetypal once a month bimble in the local area PPL) a while back.

Our conclusion was that we have a bit of a saturated market problem. My feeling is that were each of the three magazines just to hone their content towards a certain audience and stop hedging their bets quite so much, then the content may be a little less insipid.

Currently, it has to be one-size-fits-all and, as such, simply can't compete for liveliness with these forums or a chat down the club, in which you can be as flippant or serious, as generalised or specialised, as anecdotal or discursive as the mood takes you.

Also, in order to learn something from a magazine, they have to give you information about an area of aviation that you're not likely to have experienced and thus have no personal interest in as such, as you can't relate to it. And let's face it, that always makes reading more interesting.

If Pilot was mainly for young aspirationals, Flyer for average recreationals and vintage-lovers and TP focussed on PPL student pilots (for example) and new PPLs, that might work.

Or maybe if one were erudite, one an easy read and one a little less factual and contained more discussion of the experiences of flying, then each would pick the one with the tone that suits. I'm thinking of daily newspapers, that present the same news but with different delivery and weighting providing for different readerships.

I presume that this honing of content I describe wouldn't lead to sufficient sales, though, or surely it would have happened already?

One told me recently that comedy would always be welcome. But somehow, when it comes to aviation writing, it's incredibly hard to do.

Let's face it. The funniest bits of aviation are the bits we'd be too embarrassed to put in print...

[Jumpin Jaques]

Hi all,

A friend of mine highlighted this forum, and indeed this thread to me. I hope you do not mind me joining the forum to express a few comments. Lots of interesting comment in this thread, and it is quite obvious that everyone shares differing views. Yes it is true that Pilot potentially need some work to take it to the next level. The loss of DC may not actually be a bad thing, and NB is acting editor for the time being. There have been many comments about the content of the articles and in the same vain, many of you have mentioned some good ideas. The next few months will see development, and I hope that you will already have seen some of this by way of better quality covers (a small start, but a step in the right direction). At Archant Specialist, we would welcome your views, and I would encourage you to write to the editorial team to tell them your ideas, and even offer to write for them. The word passion has been used in previous posts, and this is exactly what makes a good read. You all appear to be passionate individuals, and that’s encouraging to us.

I would stress that it is always difficult to keep everyone happy all the time, and it is certainly our aim to keep the majority entertained. If you wish to express further opinion in this thread, I will ensure that like the previous entries, it is fed back and taken on board. Please don't take this as an opportunity to shoot me down, but rather as an opportunity to help make a difference.


Thankyou

[Final 3 Greens]

same vain

Pilot potentially need some work

pssionate

oppertunity

oppertunity

Jaques - is English your mother tongue?

I do not wish to shoot you down, but if you represent Archant and have difficulty with spelling and grammar, it does not give a very good impression of editorial rigour.

For your information, I am a member of the editorial board of a specialist journal in another field, so I am sympathetic to your cause, but the typos in your post undermine your credibility.

[Final 3 Greens]

WR

Whilst you are quite entitled to your opinion, which you express in a very reasonable way, I think that you may have misunderstood my post.

I believe that Jaques' mother tongue may not be English.

He may not be claiming to be the editor, but does imply that he works for Archant and the tone of his mail is authoritative.

Whilst your point about the difference between an internet post and an article in Pilot is generous and helpful, there will be others reading this thread who take a different view.

Therefore I'm doing him a favour, as someone in a different part of the same industry and gently pointing out that he needs to be more careful with his writing. The odd typo is normal, but 5 in less than 300 words ( and I did not point out the sixth in the sign off) is quite a lot.

And whilst you are perfectly entitled to disagree with my view, it is based on expert knowledge of the type of feedback that my colleagues and I receive about our journal and our forays into related fora.

[Jumpin Jaques]

Fair comment, my spelling is awful (especially at 7am on a Saturday morning!), for which I am sorry! Spelling is now corrected. I am very much English, and part of the Archant Specialist team. The point of my post is to generate ideas for moving the magazine forward.

[stiknruda]

my spelling is awfull (especially at 7am on a Saturday morning!),

Is that why you've even got your own name wrong, Jacques?

Stik