Favourite GA magazine (UK)

[Stampe]

A real plea to all the editors of all our excellent flying magazines to ensure flight tests are written by pilots qualified to speak on their subject .To qualify pilots require either extensive and varied experience on the type tested or be a test pilot who has been trained to carry out an objective analysis of an aircraft.All to often I read a flight test report in a magazine of a type I have experience of and think the author is describing a different type.One flight of an unusual aircraft is totally insufficient to gain any sort of knowledge of an aircraft type,I can certainly remember several types I,ve firmly dislked on initial acquaintance and come to have great respect for with more exposure.Poorly written and inaccurate flight tests can potentially harm a types reputation and second hand values as well as giving new entrants to the hobby false information.Poor journalism also potentially discredits the whole credibility of information held within a journal.So lets see flight tests from pilots who really know their subjects not "quick flip joyriders".

[t'aint natural]

One of the problems I've always found with reports written by qualified test pilots is that they tend to be dry in the extreme. I can think of very few such exalted beings who could also turn a phrase. If you want exactitude, read the manual. Most pilots who pay their money for the above magazines want something a little more engaging and accessible.
That's not to say inaccuracy should be tolerated. In the old days of James Gilbert there was enough expertise at editorial level on Pilot magazine to ensure that very few howlers got through. Not so any more; Pilot has come down to the level of the other two.

[Stampe]

True Tn there,s no doubt that the production of a good magazine article first and foremost requires the literary skills of an empassioned wordsmith.For a flight test this needs combining with a worth while background and depth of experience as a pilot.The writings of the late great Neil Williams ( a test pilot) are superb and of course Brian Lecomber combines the skills superbly.Andy Sephton chief pilot of the Shuttleworth Trust has produced some very worthwhile work recently bringing his test/display pilot background together with huge experience from PFA types to Fast jets.When guys of this calibre speak or write the results are invariably both entertaining and worthy of note!!. Perhaps flight tests should be proceded with a little info on the tester so we can all assess the likely worth of the report .Quality guys are out there lets see their work.

[t'aint natural]

Williams is dead and Lecomber is busy, and not even Andy Sephton could service three magazines a month.
For my money the best aviation writer in Britain is Maxi Gainza, who used to write for Pilot until the change of ownership. He writes with a passion and elegance that has seldom been matched; shades of the great St Exupery sometimes. I think he'd meet most people's experience criteria, too.
Gainza's work is all the more praiseworthy when you consider that English is not his first language.

[Aerohack]

Not only did the new brooms at Pilot sweep away Maxi Gainza (whose exceptional writing you so correctly laud, t'ain't natural), but Bernard Chabbert -- who also has the air (no pun intended) of St Ex. about him, and was his Godson, Stephan Wilkinson and Bob Grimstead, all hugely talented writers. For many years I had the privilege of working with them and seeing their work 'in the raw', and I remain awed by their craftsmanship.

[Philip Whiteman]

Those who have missed Maxi's wonderful writing will be pleased to learn that I am running his piece on taking a Yak 52 to the Alps in the December issue of General Aviation

[Spamcan defender]

I reckon its a close call between Flyer and Todays Pilot. I'm that indecisive, I buy both (or blag them from the flying club when I can :o :o ).

[PhilW]

I second the comment re Maxi Gainza being a great writer. My favourite article has to be Max's story about his first solo circuit in a jet (I cannot remember the type...Hunter?). I was on the edge of my seat all the way. Fantastic writing.

Flyer number one choice, also subscribe to Pilot. Enjoy both styles, would be boring if all mags were the same. I feel we need to support the GA mags as they help keep GA alive by providing a voice, keeping people interested and attracting new people. GA is a small and fragile industry that needs all the help it can get.

[skua]

T'aint N
You have missed a trick in saying all TP's are dry in their writing. I agree the style of people like Roly Beamont is unlikely to get them into the best-seller lists. But what about John Farley? He is a real catch for Flyer, and can communicate the essence of technical topics in a way that few can match (currently). On top of that, he is a great supporter of PPrune, and an all-round nice chap.

End of grovel!

[t'aint natural]

Not all... merely the vast majority.