New Warbird Stuff & Thank you

ALL forumites,

James showed me this magazine on Sunday and if you liked the old WW then you will love this. Its a superb magazine.

I am going to subscribe as I am sure many others will.

Well done James and team!

Hi Hamtech,

I’m rather surprised at your response, as your posts usually are a lot more thoughtful, and a little less dismissive. A few answers and some clarification!

While I suspect this magazine is aimed at a north American audience so this wont really matter, I’m not so enthusiastic looking at the preview issue:

First off, As an Australian currently in the UK, married to a Canadian, I take the ‘international’ element of Warbird Digest very seriously; in fact as Commissioning Editor of the journal, keeping it international is a key part of my job. No, not ‘just America’.

I did a quick count. The longest article, at 9 pages is Matt Denning’s feature on operating and restoring his Boomerang. (Australia.) There is a 4 page article on the Aviodrome by me (that’s in Holland) plus a 2 page article on the ‘Proctukas’ (Britain) the 2 page article (again by me) on the Duxford AirSpace project, which is intended to be a brief and a chance for readers to give feedback on the project to Duxford, not quite what you suggested! Out of 47 feature pages (which excludes the news, reviews, editorial and advertising) 25 pages feature non-US aircraft. I leave you to do the math(s).

I’m currently soliciting (oo er!) articles from, literally, all over the world. Rather than looking at the half full glass, maybe you’d like to suggest or offer some content? We are always interested (as many magazines are).

1. Editorial page “From enthusiast to pilot” comment. For warbirds more than any other form of aviation the single most important people are the ones that take the aircraft from a twisted lump of metal to a serviceable flying machine. Almost always these people appear in the background or not at all. Genuine question here – do glossy photo’s and pilot reports sell magazines?

Er, yes, glossy pictures and Pilot Reports do sell magazines. That’s why they are there. We intend to back up the pics with content from people on the inside, which some magazines don’t. Yes, we regard the rebuilders (who are often the pilots, and who always started as enthusiasts) as central. About half our content is from these guys.

2. First Issue – Summer 2004. How hard is it to have the month listed for the rest of the planet’s readers?

It’s ‘Summer’ because it’s quarterly – that’s a normal convention of quarterly magazines and journals – it’s Summer in the Northen hemisphere, and don’t tell me (as an Aussie) that the Antipodies find this an unexpected shock in global magazine classifications. I’m not arguing about ‘Fall’ vs ‘Autumn’. 😀 Good America, bad Australian, different times of the year!

I will say honestly, “Aeroplane” and “Flypast” are the only two I have found that think globally in their presentation across the board. Great to read articles from a variety of countries, not just a bombardment of the north American scene with a report from Duxford to satisfy the UK audience.

It’s not a ‘news’ magazine, and it’s not competing with Flypast, Aeroplane (or Classic Wings) as they all cover a broader arena of aviation, which they do very well – but in the Warbird field, we are going to be offering the best content – because the people featured and writing are involved in all aspects of the business, and they can stretch themselves in terms of more depth and how it really works – yes, we regard the rebuilders (who are often the pilots, and who always started as enthusiasts) as central. We aren’t going to replace Flypast or Aeroplane – but I hope, believe (and am working to) ensure a lot of Warbird people find us useful, and hopefully essential.

3. “Fresco” article. Fresco is a NATO code name used to identify aircraft they considered hostile. This is not the designation of the aircraft. A tip – if you are ever talking aviation with Russians don’t use NATO code names.

I think we can assume that most of the readership and forumites are familiar with the concept of NATO (OTAN, if you really want to be international) reporting names. It’s his aircraft. I think he (and we) can call it Fresco if he wants. To draw a comparison – perhaps it’s always the Mitsubishi Type 0 to you, but most people more familiar with the use of ‘Zero’. And yes, we don’t wish to cause offence, we want Russian subscribers, but I have the liberty of disagreeing with you on that naming point.

Rather than us nit picking and disagreeing, can I just ask you to have another, closer look, and I’d be delighted to hear from you. PM me for an e-mail address.

We are actively want subscribers and contributors from all over the world – and those reading this who are thinking of writing something, do it – get in touch with the magazine of your choice, and see how you get on. I’m always happy to discuss ideas, and if it’s not for, I’ll happily us suggest who else (such as Flypast) might be interested.

Regarding the other points – David – We’ll be here in a year. We know there’s a market as we’ve had lots of requests to go from where Warbirds Worldwide’s niche was – but we’ve already found that there’s a new requirement we are fulfilling as well. We aim to move the concept even further, be better, have more colour, more quality content. If you are serious about Warbirds, anywhere in the world, we’ll be there.

Constructive feedback, via PM or the Warbird Digest website is very welcome.

Best wishes,

Daz, I think you might be wise to get shares in Andrex.

Septic.

This photo arrived too late for the Warbird Digest article.

Who needs porn when you can see this kinda stuff! 😀

I don’t realy mind a North American tilt on a magazine. It’s certainly true that
the scale of the museum and warbird activity in the U.S is far larger than the
U.K /Europe so I don’t really see a problem.
The ‘acid test’ in any magazine will be if it’s still around in a year – I wish them luck.

BTW, it should have been “North American”, instead of “north American”, and “enthusiastically”, not “enthusiastic”, in your last sentence above.

Steve

Oooooh! Handbags at fifty paces then. 🙂

While I suspect this magazine is aimed at a north American audience so this wont really matter, I’m not so enthusiastic looking at the preview issue:

Wow Hamtech, let’s get the rope out and string these fellas up! While I accept your points concerning an American tilt in some of the content of this, their VERY first issue (after all the new editor is an American), I believe the intent is to have an international flavor. Thank you for your patience and understanding (not to mention omnipotent editing skills) as this new magazine takes fruition.

BTW, it should have been “North American”, instead of “north American”, and “enthusiastically”, not “enthusiastic”, in your last sentence above.

Steve

While I suspect this magazine is aimed at a north American audience so this wont really matter, I’m not so enthusiastic looking at the preview issue:

1. Editorial page “From enthusiast to pilot” comment. For warbirds more than any other form of aviation the single most important people are the ones that take the aircraft from a twisted lump of metal to a serviceable flying machine. Almost always these people appear in the background or not at all. Genuine question here – do glossy photo’s and pilot reports sell magazines?

2. First Issue – Summer 2004. How hard is it to have the month listed for the rest of the planet’s readers?

3. “Fresco” article. Fresco is a NATO code name used to identify aircraft they considered hostile. This is not the designation of the aircraft. A tip – if you are ever talking aviation with Russians don’t use NATO code names.

I will say honestly, “Aeroplane” and “Flypast” are the only two I have found that think globally in their presentation across the board. Great to read articles from a variety of countries, not just a bombardment of the north American scene with a report from Duxford to satisfy the UK audience.

Looks to me like there is a lot of content from around the world. By my count the article on the Boomerang has the largest page count of any article.

If you look on the website and actually read the editorial it looks as though they intend to cover all facets of the warbird industry.

I also doubt that the publishers are really too concerned with getting Russian subscribers 🙂

While I suspect this magazine is aimed at a north American audience so this wont really matter, I’m not so enthusiastic looking at the preview issue:

1. Editorial page “From enthusiast to pilot” comment. For warbirds more than any other form of aviation the single most important people are the ones that take the aircraft from a twisted lump of metal to a serviceable flying machine. Almost always these people appear in the background or not at all. Genuine question here – do glossy photo’s and pilot reports sell magazines?

2. First Issue – Summer 2004. How hard is it to have the month listed for the rest of the planet’s readers?

3. “Fresco” article. Fresco is a NATO code name used to identify aircraft they considered hostile. This is not the designation of the aircraft. A tip – if you are ever talking aviation with Russians don’t use NATO code names.

I will say honestly, “Aeroplane” and “Flypast” are the only two I have found that think globally in their presentation across the board. Great to read articles from a variety of countries, not just a bombardment of the north American scene with a report from Duxford to satisfy the UK audience.

Daz, I think you might be wise to get shares in Andrex.

Septic.

This photo arrived too late for the Warbird Digest article.

Hi Alanl,

We’ll be featuring some great photogs, some familiar names form the past, some who post here, some others – so far I don’t think the 3 you mention are in yet… But! 😀

Sub details etc are on the website – I an’t go into detail here for obvious reasons. But it’ll be well worth it!

Cheers!

Hi James ,looks a great magazine,looks just the thing to fill the hole left by the demise of WW,have you any idea of the subscription cost from the uk and is it possible to pay by sterling check?
Regarding WW ,do you no if photograpers like Patrick Bunce and Thierry Thomassin and Uwe Glasser etc will be featured in the magazine?

Hi Daz,
As Septic, you & I are all members of the ‘real Messers have Merlins club, you’ll just have to subscribe to see what’s there, eh? More Buchons to come too (Plus Mustangs, Spitfires, P-47s etc, etc, etc…

Are you sure Daz wouldn’t be interested JDK!

(Photo Elwyn Aud 2004)

Septic.

Dammit, Septic, now I’m gonna have to clear all this drool up….!!

(Off to get the bogroll)

James, read your story on the D day landing stripes, very good piece…had to part with the issue to a friend in Denver, am working on an article on a group in Denver called ‘AirPower West’ for issue 3, am about halfway through writing it now…and have shot some LOVELY air to airs for it….might have you peruse it before I send it in to Tim and Jim…whaddya think?

Mark

Are you sure Daz wouldn’t be interested JDK!

(Photo Elwyn Aud 2004)

Septic.

The CAF one? Sounds good….!

It’s about a certain Buchon in the USA – you wouldn’t be interested… 😉 (It’s by septic.)

Glad you like it PDS!

JDK – what’s the thing about the “Oklahoma Messerschmitts”??

Thanks for that.

I for one have just subscribed.

It reminds me of Warbirds Worldwide (which I have every copy).

I am looking forward to my first copy..

PDS