FlyPast Redesign

Well, it has taken me ages to get back onto the forum…………I have to say that unfortunately, I do not like the new format for either FlyPast magazine or the forum.

I will give the magazine another month, but if I do not like it I shall be cancelling my membership of the magazine.

I just received mine. 

At first glance it comes across as strangely “retro”.

Reminds me of old Aeroplanes.

Looked through a colleague’s copy as I have cancelled mine, I would say it is better but not a “new” format, it has simply reverted to an older earlier format and is in all probablity an effort to reduce costs, having all the pages more or less as white paper cuts down on the ink costs associated with doing full page colour images with text overlaid, that was bloody awful to read sometimes.

I have just opened my latest issue of FlyPast and had a glance through it, must say that I am pleasantly surprised. I was expecting something quite awful like what has been done to this forum but I am pleased to say that I really like the new format, as the mag was in need of an update. Well done on that score.

Out of interest, what date are we to expect seeing the ‘new revived’ Flypast in the shops?

You set me thinking….

So I checked

Monthly

Air Enthusiast Vol 1 to Vol 5 (1971 – 73)

became

Air Enthusiast International Vol 6 (Jan to June 1974)

became

Air International Vol 7 (July 1974 onwards)

Quarterly/Bi-monthly

Air Enthusiast Quarterly No’s 1 – 4 (Nov 1976 – Oct 1977)

became

Air Enthusiast No 5 onwards (Nov 1977 onwards)

Thanks for making me realise I have been reading AE/AI for nearly 50 years………

About AI predating AE, that was not the case here in the states in the early 70s. 

AE was definitely a monthly  at that time. I can’t address anything before circa 1972 when it t began showing up here at a very few newsagents.

Several aviation friends all discovered it at the same time, it was definitely new to everyone I knew.

I never saw an issue of AI until the 80s.

I have many monthly AE issues from the early-mid 70s.

Air Enthusiast did not become Air International. They came from the same stable but AI preceded AE. Both had the wonderful Wilf Hardy artwork on the cover to start with. AE started on a quarterly basis then moved to a two monthly basis.

I still miss the late Air Enthusiast which became Air International. 

AE was great, covering historic types and events and modern topics including airline and military orders. It features commentary by the likes of guys like Roy Braybrook, a modeling section with color profiles and reviews, even a aviation comic.

Truly a “one stop” publication. It was difficult to find in the states so I didn’t get all the copies but I’ve kept most of the ones I bought then and even found a bound collection at a used bookstore.

Yes I liked it as well, noticed the odd factual error though. As a former 633 VGS student, I’m sure I went to Cosford rather than Kinloss!

Do we really need adverts for comfy trousers though? Seems a bit at odds with the new yoof vibe of the website.

Don’t forget the fact that they killed off Air Enthusiast which carried really detailed articles on sometimes esoteric subjects, long before they acquired Aeroplane

Just reading my copy now. I like it! Much better layout clearer to read and more aviation preservation content which is why FP was set up in the first place. It was always my thought that on acquiring Aeroplane, Key would do this and make Aeroplane the mainly historic magazine whilst FP did the show and restoration scene.  Aeroplane has really turned around since the Kelsey days and I wish FP the best with their new refreshed look.

TT