Pilot magazine - On Finals
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Pilot - On Finals
I know its been well aired over the last few months but the owner & editorial staff @ "Pilot" do not seem to have taken any notice of readers comments regarding the new format.
The February issue is the Pitts - do we really want Jim "zoom" Campbell hot from the USA or any of the other reprint features lifted from French etc. magazines.....
Its goodbye to my £3.25
The February issue is the Pitts - do we really want Jim "zoom" Campbell hot from the USA or any of the other reprint features lifted from French etc. magazines.....
Its goodbye to my £3.25
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Pilot arrives late here, I have just finished the January issue, and thought it was a huge improvement over the previous few issues.
Now I am not looking forward to the February issue with such great anticipation
Now I am not looking forward to the February issue with such great anticipation
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I enjoy Pilot. Flyer's articles seems too trivial. Today's Pilot is also an excellent mag but the articles seem to be aimed at the more inexperienced pilot (like myself - still training). The aircraft reviewed in Pilot mostly seem to be more interesting than the typical fixed u/c bubble canopy, low-wing 120kt variety.
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Got to say Pilot is not too bad at all. Indeed it went downhill for a while but its still a great read and appeals to everyone from the spotters to the pros and them in-between.
The interview with our good friend Nick Lappos is good too, pprune even gets a mention.!!!
Check out the beaver picture in the January issue where its pointing straight down.
The interview with our good friend Nick Lappos is good too, pprune even gets a mention.!!!
Check out the beaver picture in the January issue where its pointing straight down.
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The February edition is a big improvement on previous issues since James Gilbert departed as Boss, but I'm still not going to renew my subscription. Some good articles on the Turbulent, Old Buckenham, and the T67M.
If only Doug Bianchi, Neil Williams and Manx Kelly could return from the grave and do a 'Pilot special'!!!!!!
If only Doug Bianchi, Neil Williams and Manx Kelly could return from the grave and do a 'Pilot special'!!!!!!
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Agree with BRL - it's nothing like it was, but it is getting better again. I just renewed my sub, after saying that I wouldn't... 
Too many jokes, BRL... 
Check out the beaver picture in the January issue
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February?
My January Pilot arrived 2 days ago....you guys have your Feb edition?? 
I know Im in France but its not the moon, why is it taking so long to get here? A Chrismas rush
Must say that it was worth waiting for though, much better this last couple of months (Dec/Jan) than in the previous few. Dont know whether to look foreward to Feb edition now though....
Regards, SD
BTW - BRL, It has taken great restraint not to mention any Beaver jokes
I know Im in France but its not the moon, why is it taking so long to get here? A Chrismas rush Must say that it was worth waiting for though, much better this last couple of months (Dec/Jan) than in the previous few. Dont know whether to look foreward to Feb edition now though....
Regards, SD
BTW - BRL, It has taken great restraint not to mention any Beaver jokes
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Whatever may or may not be wrong with the way 'Pilot' is being run these days — and that's one oft-opened can of worms into which I have no desire to dive again — there can be no denying that standards of accuracy have fallen markedly. I understand that the latest issue has a lead news story headlined 'Rockwell in trouble', referring to Commander Aircraft seeking protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code. Rockwell hasn't been in the General Aviation aircraft manufacturing business since 1981!
If the present writers/editors of 'Pilot Notes' didn't know that, may I suggest they either invest in some copies of 'Jane's All the World's Aircraft' for reference during the fact checking process, or — an easier and cheaper option — spend some time browsing back issues of 'Pilot' from the days when it was written and edited by people who knew their stuff and above all cared. I must leave it to others to decide whether I fell into the first category, but I'm happy to boast that I was always firmly entrenched in the latter.
If the present writers/editors of 'Pilot Notes' didn't know that, may I suggest they either invest in some copies of 'Jane's All the World's Aircraft' for reference during the fact checking process, or — an easier and cheaper option — spend some time browsing back issues of 'Pilot' from the days when it was written and edited by people who knew their stuff and above all cared. I must leave it to others to decide whether I fell into the first category, but I'm happy to boast that I was always firmly entrenched in the latter.
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Before I begin, can I say to BCFC........I was waiting for that comment from someone. If you hadn't I would have!!!
Pilot seems to have been forgiven very quickly for what seemed to have got our backs up last year. I must admit I read my new issue with surprise and felt it was scraping its way back to the Flyer realms.
But let me ask you one question.
Assume you are a standard PPL(A) and want to read about your hobby, just as perhaps a scuba diver would want to read about theirs........
Flick through and tell me how many of those pages are applicable/suitable/of interest to YOU. Approximately 60% I would say. Pilot stretches itself to the point of inelasticity to meet the demands of every pilot from Hanglider to Mig pilot.
Turn to Todays Pilot and Flyer. The topics, articles, letters etc. etc. are aimed at the "average" GA person. And they are aimed bloody well too....... Is Pilot trying to please all men? I fear so.
My point is this: Pilot is not sure whether to err on the pro pilot format or the "sport" pilot format so it attempts both (with about 12 pages of antiques in the middle). Flyer knows what the readers want and delivers it.
Co-op and Waitrose??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
I rest my case
Pilot seems to have been forgiven very quickly for what seemed to have got our backs up last year. I must admit I read my new issue with surprise and felt it was scraping its way back to the Flyer realms.
But let me ask you one question.
Assume you are a standard PPL(A) and want to read about your hobby, just as perhaps a scuba diver would want to read about theirs........
Flick through and tell me how many of those pages are applicable/suitable/of interest to YOU. Approximately 60% I would say. Pilot stretches itself to the point of inelasticity to meet the demands of every pilot from Hanglider to Mig pilot.
Turn to Todays Pilot and Flyer. The topics, articles, letters etc. etc. are aimed at the "average" GA person. And they are aimed bloody well too....... Is Pilot trying to please all men? I fear so.
My point is this: Pilot is not sure whether to err on the pro pilot format or the "sport" pilot format so it attempts both (with about 12 pages of antiques in the middle). Flyer knows what the readers want and delivers it.
Co-op and Waitrose??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
I rest my case
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Pilot is not sure whether to err on the pro pilot format or the "sport" pilot format so it attempts both
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It's interesting what's in a name.
Pilot, Flyer and Today's Pilot all seem to be (at least to some extent) lifestyle magazines about being a pilot, e.g. lot's of reviews of aeroplanes wiht loads of pictures.
I read Flying from the US, which is IMHO much more focused on aviating as the name implies.
I'm not knocking the three UK titles at all and the prior posts show that they are very popular.
It's just that I'd rather read a page of Dick Collins or Tom Block because they share not only their knowledge but an obvious deep love of flying - the same emotion that I pick up in the prose of Richard Bach's earlier books.
Pilot, Flyer and Today's Pilot all seem to be (at least to some extent) lifestyle magazines about being a pilot, e.g. lot's of reviews of aeroplanes wiht loads of pictures.
I read Flying from the US, which is IMHO much more focused on aviating as the name implies.
I'm not knocking the three UK titles at all and the prior posts show that they are very popular.
It's just that I'd rather read a page of Dick Collins or Tom Block because they share not only their knowledge but an obvious deep love of flying - the same emotion that I pick up in the prose of Richard Bach's earlier books.
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Final 3 Greens: I love the idea of a 'passion for flying' test, which you might extend to magazine publishers, editors and contributors alike.
So, to keep to the original subject of this thread: Pilot, two years ago - publisher/editor a past aerobatic fiend and respected book writer of over thirty years standing, now flying company-owned aircraft; Pilot, as we know it now - publisher either a non-aviator or (depending on which story you beleive) a chap just learning to fly, and the editor a man with no aeroplane to his name (according to his own editorial).
Cue he who has no direct involvement popping up in instant defence...
This is all such fun (but I will stop, if people tell me I am boring them).
So, to keep to the original subject of this thread: Pilot, two years ago - publisher/editor a past aerobatic fiend and respected book writer of over thirty years standing, now flying company-owned aircraft; Pilot, as we know it now - publisher either a non-aviator or (depending on which story you beleive) a chap just learning to fly, and the editor a man with no aeroplane to his name (according to his own editorial).
Cue he who has no direct involvement popping up in instant defence...
This is all such fun (but I will stop, if people tell me I am boring them).
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Same can be said for the yachting mags.
Once great titles such as Practical Boat owner have turned to $hite........New editor, new ideas, loss of readers..........
Once great titles such as Practical Boat owner have turned to $hite........New editor, new ideas, loss of readers..........
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Having read the Feb issue in the newsagent today, I would say that either the editorial team have had new ideas, or they have had a wake up call from the comments previously aired last year. It's definately improved, but there's still "that something" missing which would make it the well informed and broadly interesting magazine it once was.
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Pilot
So Nik Nak - you are one of those immensely irritating people that have no shame in standing in front of the magazine displays spending - in my experience - a considerable time dog-earing the next bona-fide customers copy.
The audacity in complaining about something that you have no intention of buying - and have thus read at the publishers and bona-fide readers expense - is staggering.
Pilot - I suggest you 'bag' every issue.
This thread generally - and there are some notable exceptions - is, I suspect, being used as a forum by those with a hidden agenda.
Can I suggest that anybody slagging of Pilot -or any other magazine - declares an interest in doing so if that is the case?
All 3 make a great contribution. Aren't we lucky to have such a choice?
Do what I do and flick through a feature that doesn't appeal. We do it every day with newspapers?!
However, at least buy the ruddy thing before you feel qualified to comment.
As far as Dave Calderwood is concerned - why has his non ownership of an aircraft any bearing on his ability to do his job? He is a current, cautious pilot who flies as often as a man with a demanding job and a large family can.
He is as passionate about it as any pilot.
HP
The audacity in complaining about something that you have no intention of buying - and have thus read at the publishers and bona-fide readers expense - is staggering.
Pilot - I suggest you 'bag' every issue.
This thread generally - and there are some notable exceptions - is, I suspect, being used as a forum by those with a hidden agenda.
Can I suggest that anybody slagging of Pilot -or any other magazine - declares an interest in doing so if that is the case?
All 3 make a great contribution. Aren't we lucky to have such a choice?
Do what I do and flick through a feature that doesn't appeal. We do it every day with newspapers?!
However, at least buy the ruddy thing before you feel qualified to comment.
As far as Dave Calderwood is concerned - why has his non ownership of an aircraft any bearing on his ability to do his job? He is a current, cautious pilot who flies as often as a man with a demanding job and a large family can.
He is as passionate about it as any pilot.
HP
The Feb issue is a real curate's egg: Moroccan trip by Christina Belton is interesting, in typical "old" Pilot style, but then "Channel Hopper" by Eddie Vann just seems like a pointless waste of trees...