Flyer Forum.....
 

I wonder how many are drifting back here now there is a strange form of pay wall being introduced ?

Or is it a pie wall....... ;)

Well I'm back. But then I never left! :)

Forums require a critical mass of contributors to remain vibrant and relevant.

I wish Flyer well but they may have shot themselves in the foot - the Flyer Forum may wither on the vine.

I found the forum itself to be very informative and wish it could be have been run in isolation without all the 'fringe' benetits. I would willingly contribute a small amount to its running otherwise like I contribute to the ARG forum.

I remain present in both camps. I don't really have an opinion about the paywall, since I was already content to pay for membership.

G

I'm back too! Contain your enthusiasm!

Thanks for “Popham” back - we missed you :)

Welcome back Flyers...

We're delighted to increase discussion in this forum. There is also a British Isles Forum, though I'll ask that discussion in that forum be topics unique and specific to the UK (like airports, Pooleys, and local routes and destinations). Let's keep GA flying and airplane topics here, so that they have a worldwide audience...

Pilot DAR

Until 12 September 2025, one could join for only £5/month or £52/year for at least a year, although it has now gone up to £6/month (or £62/year). Imho, very good value!

Not quite the full story though is it. That is the cost of the digital magazine and other journalistic stuff that has been running for quite a while. The change is that the forum has been partly hidden behind the same paywall.

The change has not been, though, as initially described by the owner. At first he said that all non-paying members and visitors would only be able to see the first post of each thread for free. However it hasn't quite turned out like that as he may have been inaccurate in his description, or had a minor change of mind: Those who don't have any kind of log-in can only see the first post; non-paying members who obtain a free log-in account can see all of a thread as before, but cannot write a post.

As the paywall loomed, it got a bit 'them and us' over there. Many of the paid-up members of the "club" accused the long term members who had chosen not to pay as being 'free-loaders'. This'll be the same free-loaders who helped build up the forum's worth over the last 22 years (and before that in its previous incarnation).

I subscribed to the magazine way back for 2 periods of three years. After any couple of years reading the mag it becomes a little repetitive (this includes the LAA mag). I am not interested in taking out a subscription to the digital magazine, and therefore see no value in paying to be a full member of the forum. It's a shame because there are many invaluable experts on their own subjects who freely take the time to help others out.

It's gotten a bit quiet over there since. Many threads descended into reminiscing anyway, with several regular posters not being able to stay on subject.

I think it's been a big mistake to charge for the forum. Hosting it is not that expensive and it brought a lot of people into contact with the magazine who otherwise would not have chosen to read it. To it's credit the forum has attracted some very knowledgeable pilots whose expertise has been of benefit to the GA community. On the downside is the fact that it's also been very 'cliquey' with most of the long term posters knowing each other in real life.

As far as the magazine itself is concerned I found it hard going in comparison to 'Pilot'. The number and size of adverts drowned out the narrative and the subject matter always seemed to centre on 'White haired old men who tinker with microlights in farmers fields'. Nice but boring when your not interested in that kind of GA. To 'Pilots' credit, it has tried to ensure that subject matter appeals to the broadest audience.

As far as joining the 'Flyer Club' is concerned. Personally I do not wish to visit most of the fields offering free landings, and my good lady wife requires my presence at the dinner table on Thursday evenings at Seven Thirty prompt! Hence, I have no interest in the online chats and interviews. As for paying to read the thoughts of 'experts' I've been doing that here for free for over twenty years! ;)

The Flyer forum was indeed very useful and informative. Unfortunately, as currently shown in the Marshall/Cranfield thread things often go off topic all too often.

One of the major irritating features of the Flyer Forums, is the propensity of certain posters to include their name at the end of each and every post they make. It strikes me as more than a little unnecessary and egotistical.

See the top of your post? That's your forum identity. You don't need to tell us again.

Thank goodness that doesn't happen here on PPRUNE.

Oh. Hang on....

Guilty as charged your honour. But then we invented it here. ;)

There’s a fair bit of unrest due to over-moderation, which seems to be getting worse. By charging people to read other people’s personal contributions, and then moderating it so hard so that it reads how Flyer want it to read, there’s little chance of it having any longevity.

Oh dear, I had not thought of it that way... but rather "signing" some posts, to express an added bit of personal touch of welcome.....

I wish Flyer all the best, but £60+ a year just to read a forum is too much, I have no interest in free landings, or the magazine, and contributed to the forum infrequently. And my annual subscription bill is high to various professional bodies, etc.

It is a shame as it was a very useful source of information. On the other hand, the root source of the various information shared on it is free from the regulator.

My guess is that it will whither.

I still miss James Gilberts style of magazine ownership, his rather pithy editorial comment would not go amiss these days.

I agree.There were some great contributors to Pilot when I learned to fly back in the early 80’s.The Flyer forum has in my opinion declined to a clique’ who all appear to live in the south of England, know each other and spend a few hours at the weekend flying locally or to nearby airfields for the 100 dollar hamburger.I still pick up the odd copy of Pilot at newsstands, usually in airports to fill time on long haul flights.

However there are so many flying forums available nowadays I can’t see many prepared to fork out £60 or more for the privilege of access to what is available elsewhere for nothing.

Another ex flyer forumite
 

It doesnt cost £72 per user per year to host a forum. Its pure greed driving that decision. I would gladly pay a small subscription to cover costs, but not to subsidise the other services provided as I dont use them. Here I will now stay.

It's £62, and it's not just for the forum.....:ugh: