Warbird Information Exchange

Evening all,

First off, I'd like to declare an interest. I'm involved in producing the new Warbird magazine Warbird Digest (as many already know) and i've been involved in aviation journalism for exactly cough cough years.

I'm currently looking at what places we want to see our journal appear, so people can buy it. As DaveM2 rightly put in another thread, subscriptions are the way magazines like Classic Wings and Warbird Digest survive, so if you want to see more issues of your fave, pleae subscribe.

The warbird biz is an international one, but 'over the counter sales' vary a lot from coutry to country in terms of ease, availability and price, so I'm very keen to hear for anyone, anywhere in the world. Do we have any Antarctic or Arctic readers here?!

I thought an informal straw poll would be fun and useful, and posted here it's avaliable for any magazine editors to watch and comment on! So, to kick off:

What (aviation) magazines do you get?

Where do you buy them?

Do you subscribe? If not, why not?

What do you think the magazines should do better / different?

Do you think you get 'value for money'?

Do you read them on the news-stand and put them back afterwards? (Every time you do that, a Sub Editor starves... )

Any other thoughts, rants or ideas?

If you think of something you'd rather NOT put here, but think is important, please fire it at the magazine in question. Feedback is vital.

Cheers!

James K

Here's what I get by subscripton- Air Classics, Smithsonian Air and Space, Sport Flying(EAA), Flying Models, Stunt News(Control-line modeling aerobatics), and Model Aviation which comes with the AMA membership. I'll buy an occassional issue of Aviation History, Wings, Airpower, Flight Journal, and usually pick up a Flypast when I get to one of the big book stores. Guess I should subscribe to Flypast. Guess I'd have to count General Aviation News also although it's really a newspaper.

I subscribe to Warbirds Intl, Air Classics, and Warbird Digest.On occasion I will pick up Aeroplane and Fly Past at the nearest Barnes & Noble. I haven't yet subscribed to the British magazines as they seem expensive, though good quality. As for what to change, I would personally like to see more on recoveries and restorations.

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Dan Johnson

Hi James,

I have to say I dont buy very many at the newstand. I just read Aeroplane Monthly and Flypast at the store and occationally purchase one. The subscriptions are the best thing going. Right to your mailbox and usually discounted. I get Air Classics (mainly because I have just about every issue... so more collecting than for content), Classic Wings, Sportsman Pilot, Skyways and Flight Journal. Because I belong to an Association I get AOPA Pilot, Sport Aviation, Vintage Airplane, Air & Space. Wow... am I done yet!?!?

So now that Warbird Digest has come out... I signed up right away. Great plan to have the owners and pilots writing along with true enthusiasts supplying the latest in Warbird world news. I look forward to recommending it to friends.

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Blue Skies,
Dan
http://www.flytoanothertime.com

I once subscribed to Warbirds International, but budget cuts a number of years ago put an end to that. I am not interested in resubscribing now as people like Eric Dumigan are no longer contributors. Their articles helped give some local relevance. I now subscribe to Classic Wings and Warbirds Digest. I occasionally pick up Flypast or similar, but the price tag on the shelf here in Canada compared to others often makes me change my mind despite the high quality.

Articles on the search for, and recovery of, airframes would be welcome (as already stated).

Perhaps a section which is a collection of small articles (maybe just one or two sentences) where each describes the status of a restoration. A sort of "Update" regular column.

Of course many of todays Warbirds are decades old and were not always in museums or on the airshow circuit. Perhaps articles on specific airframes covering their military and civil history (working warbirds) before wearing their Warbird crowns? Pictures when available would be welcome.

Actually I just had a thought... (it does happen from time-to-time ) ...one of articles Eric Dumigan wrote a number of years ago was about Ontario's Roadside Warbirds. I found this article extremely useful as it helped me find a number of warbirds on outside public display around the province. Perhaps a feature article in each issue covering a country, state or province. This way everyone would get a turn at some local interest.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Rob

Some interesting points on what you would like to see in a mag. There is a few things I have found since I started working at Classic Wings and the problems involved with content. To start off there is a finite number of pages, this governed for us, by the high cost of postage if we go over 200 grams (postage doubles at that point !) The way around this is to either increase the price or produce an extra mag per year. The extra mag was trialled for a while, but was found at that stage to be uneconomic, it will only be reconsidered if we can the amount of advertising ( one part of my brief that I don't enjoy at all ).
The other problem is that we must balance what article and news content we have, we are , after all the Journal of the N.Z. and Australian Warbirds, so we are obliged to cover Downunder topics, sometimes at the expense of Northern Hemisphere. Of course I am more interested in N.H. stuff, because I live Downunder ! It is a very difficult thing to put aside your own preferences and try and view from the 'aviation publics' point of view..I often say to Graham for example ' restoration of Tiger Moth..that's a bit boring isn't it ?...what about replacing it with such and such? ' (normally a high profile big iron aircraft). I know JDK will be nodding his head from his days at Warbirds Worldwide with Paul and his passion for P-51s
But I am coming to understand the Tiger Moth is just as important as the 'glamour aircraft' and that it is of less interest to me is irrelevant. It is popular all over the world and an affordable aircraft that is within reach of the 'average joe' who reads the magazine.
To sum up, I have a lot to learn, but am getting there !

Dave

p.s. The views expresed are mine and not necessarily those of Classic Wings

Okay here goes, at the newstand, I occasionally pickup Flight Journal, and at the airport, a free copy of InFlight USA. Due to the ads on this site, I have just started subscribing to both Classic Wings, and waited until Thunder Over MI to get Warbird Digest. I wish I had picked up Classic Wings long ago, and look forward to the future of Warbirds Digest. I really enjoyed Dick Phillips photographic history that traced the P-51 in his article, good job! Also the article by Tim on the TBM was perfect timing to go with the YAF show.

I also started Sportsman Pilot as a trial this summer. I bought almost all of my copies of Warbirds Worldwide through Zenith and Historic Aviation catalogs, if I recall correctly. I too was very disappointed to see the demise of this last one.

For the past few years now I've subscribed to Smithsonian Air and Space, but am undecided as to whether I'll stay with that one or not.

I've been a long-time subscriber of the Pacific Flyer newspaper (which I write for) Air Classics, Warbirds Intl., FlyPast, and EAA Sport Aviation (as a member). The big disappointment with Air Classics and Warbirds Intl, is quite often you get the same aircraft covered in both books, but since my collection goes way back, I keep collecting.

Newsletters include NorCal AAHS, Wings of History, and Squadron Roundup (local chapter at Nut Tree).

What do I look for? I'm interested in the historical history of aircraft that are currently flying, or soon to be in the air. While I know a lot of you are after the "wrecks"; as I may not see the finished product for 5-10 years (?), if ever, it's interesting to read, but doesn't jump out at me. I've been to a few wrecks out here, and on the other hand, those do catch my attention (hypocritical, I know).

Everybody covers all the big warbirds and fighters, but I really enjoy reading about the little guys, whether it's a T-28 Trojan, T-6, Liasion aircraft or one of the many PT/BT models. Warbird jets work for me too. As I often daydream in the middle of an article, one or two pages on a plane will get read from end to end; an article covering numerous pages will usually lose me.

When do I find time to read all these and still surf the net for all the latest news? I'm still trying to figure that one out.

That's my ten cents worth...................Roger

Ok, I buy "Flight Journal" for those excellent "there I was..." stories they always have.

"Air International" because they cover the past, the present and the future of all things civilian and military.

"Fly Past" and "Aeroplane" because they are swell, although we can't get "Aeroplane" here in Montréal anymore...

"Avions" because they have incredible in-depth articles that span 5-6 issues.

" Le fana de l'aviation" same reason as above.

I subscribe to "International Air Power Review" and "Flightpath" because those two are the best.

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Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

I buy my magazines almost exclusively from Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble book stores. There's usually at least one or two other guys there checking out the flying mags as well. I think you could get lots of exposure there, and rack up a significant amount of sales. I also go to Borders book stores when I happen across one on the road.

So far I subscribe to Warbird Digest, and I get the others off the shelf

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Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

D'oh, forgot me subscription to "Warbirds Digest", "EAA Warbirds", "AOPA Pilot" and the COPA dealie with Eric's pictures!

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Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

Guys, thanks for all your replies, and please keep them coming. We want to make Warbird Digest the best magazine we possibly can, and to make it appeal to EVERYONE. Many of your suggestions are things we are already working on, and will bring you in future issues. The 'Warbird People' column is something I hope to implement in the future, where we will interview pilots/owners/restorers to get their bnackgrounds and aspirations. We also hope to have more pilots/owners/restorers write their stories and submit them, such as Will Ward did with his MiG-17 article, and Matthew Denning on flying his Boomerang in issue one. As much as we might have been tempted to make this OUR magazine, we fully realize it has to be EVERYONE'S magazine in order to survive. In that vein, we look forward to feedack such as this, and indeed appreciate it very much. We are the newset on the scene, and have a lot to learn. I think so far the formula is a good one, and we are on the right track. With your input, the sky's the limit! Thanks again! Jim

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Mustangs Rule!

What (aviation) magazines do you get?

Air Classics, Warbird International, Flypast, Aeroplane, Classic Wings, Warbird Digest, International Airpower review

Where do you buy them?

Primarily Barnes & Nobles

Do you subscribe? If not, why not?

Only to Classic Wings and Warbird Digest, the English ones are two expensive to budget the whole subscription price.

What do you think the magazines should do better / different?

Classic Wings and Warbird Digest are perfect. AC and WI should try to be a little different from each other

Do you think you get 'value for money'?

For the most part

Do you read them on the news-stand and put them back afterwards? (Every time you do that, a Sub Editor starves... )

Heh, never, always buy them, take them home and place them in the "Library" with its porcelien reading chair.

Any other thoughts, rants or ideas?

Maybe an online component for further research, such a links index on the Warbird Digest site the provides links, where available, to further information in association with the articles. For example a link to the Warbird registry entry for one of the P-51's in the latest issue or the Stormbirds site in regards to the Me 262. I for one would be willing to update the entry on an aircraft with information and additional pictures of a given subject in conjunction with the release of the latest issue containing an article on the subject. Including downloadable video in the entry.

Another idea is to offer a DVD companion to an issue with video and interviews and such. Maybe for a couple of bucks more per issue. Just an idea.

JDK, feel free to e-mail me off line and we can discuss things, ditto for Tim S.

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Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
Warbirds Resource Group - Warbird Information Exchange - Warbird Registry

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Wow, a great response, and quick too.

Thanks for posting everyone. Thank's to DaveM2; for contributing, and the Warbird Digest Team and dave are by no means the only editors who read stuff here, so keep it coming.

I like the suggestions put forward, some bread and butter stuff, some new ideas, and lots to think about. Those I'm talking to about articles know who you are, but if you've got an idea, and you aren't talking to someone, get in touch with your magazine of choice.

Can we have a few comments from eleswhere on the globe?

Another question prompted by my French Canadian friends - English is the most widely used language, but do you feel you get extra by access to french magazines? Anyone got any other language favourites (Spanish? German?)

Just one thing I'll point out about news-stands. I'll provide some facts (general, as I'm talking global) and you do the maths. To circulate to news-stands across a country is a killer, and very wasteful. You have to send out (say) 2 copies to each news-stand in the country. After the appropriate period, you'll get most (for aviation magazines it can be 95%) back (very few will sell in ALL locations). As most magazines are monthly, quarterlys like WD would come back after a month and a half quite often, or be so dogeared on the stand no-one will buy them. Once you've got them back, you can't sell them (they'll be shop worn and out of date) so you have to pulp them. Oh, and you often pay a lot to have them shipped around... So if you are thinking of getting Warbird Digest (or indeed Classic Wings...) Subscribe!

A couple more questions. What speciallist aviation shops to you frequent / rate?

Do you visit aviation museums regularly? If you do, and you don't see your fave magazines, tell them they should stock them. I'm fed up with buyes for the shops telling me "There's no demand." and my friends saying "If I saw it at Museum X, I'd buy it." Hah! Let's break the vicious circle and put a bit of cash thriiough your fave museums rather than big business like Barnes & Noble or WHSmiths!

Which museums DO well with their shops?

Keep it coming!

I do feel I get extras when I read my two French mags, because they provide insights on French aviation History that you wouldn't find elsewhere, and they are a darn good bunch of historians in general too, so you get excellent articles on the aces, especially in "Avions".

The aviation shop I hang around is API for all our hardware!!

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Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

I subscribe to Classic Wings as it cannot be bought at regular newsagents (apart from the one I bought in Antwerpen).

I also read FlyPast and Aeroplane, Flugzeug Classic (German), Verenigde Vleugels (Dutch) and aircraft modelling magazines. My bookshelves are bending under the strain.

Cheers

Cees