| Aircraft Magazines Guide |
United States |
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'Aero' [? publisher, ISSN 0001-9097]
Los Angles-based General Aviation magazine edited by Dennis Shattuck. Initially bi-monthly (Vol.2 No.4 was dated Jul/Aug 1969) but later monthly (Vol.21 No.8 was August 1988). Merged with 'Private Pilot' magazine in August 1988. No further information. |
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'Aero Connections' [ASC-Aero Sports Connection, ISSN ?]
'Aero Connections' Magazine is a Light Sport Aviation Magazine providing technical, training, and general information about the sport to members of Aero Sports Connection and the general public. It offers today’s ultralight and light sport aviation enthusiast information about the sport. Included are technical features, industry news, event calendars, safety, education and club events. Published monthly since 1998. |
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'Aero Trader & Chopper Shopper' [Trader Publishing Company, ISSN ?]
'Aero Trader' is a national magazine dedicated to photo advertisements. It comprises over 130 pages with hundreds of photo ads for aircraft, parts, accessories, services and equipment etc. Published since 1977. |
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'A/C Flyer' [McGraw Hill Publishing Co, ISSN 0194-8652]
A magazine focusing exclusively on buying and selling private aircraft. Each issue includes a directory of aircraft for sale, details of dealers and brokers, products and services buyers guide and various articles dealing with aircraft ownership issues. The magazine offers readers a pictorial selection of nearly 1,000 aircraft for sale worldwide. Its monthly "Flight Watch" section covers the news and market trends in the resale marketplace. |
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'Aero Digest' [Aeronautical Digest Publishing Corp., ISSN ? ] Monthly magazine of the aviation industry. In the 1920s it was entitled 'Aero Digest: The Magazine of the Air' with typically 72-150 large format pages each, but by 1941 it was called 'Aero Digest including Aviation Engineering'. Each issue contained a number of feature articles plus a number of regular columns including: Digest of the News; Air Transportation; At the Airports; Private Flying; Washingtonia; The Air Services; About People; School Activities; Financial Notes; Coming Events; Reviews of Books etc. Aviation Engineering appeared as a pull-out supplement, concentrating on the latest technical innovations and techniques, aircraft design features and manufacturers news. Early 1940s era issues had 230-270 large format pages each, but many of these pages were advertising. Postwar issues typically comprised 136 large format pages, with hundreds of adverts.
Vol.10 No.10 was dated October 1927. By the 1940s each volume comprised only 6 months - Vol.41 No.6 was December 1942. Circa 1943 the publishing frequency was increased to twice a month, with a volume comprising only 3 months - Vol.47 No.3 was dated 1 November 1944. At the end of WW2 the frequency reverted to monthly. Publication continued until at least October 1953 (until 1956?). |
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'Air Classics' [Challenge Publications, ISSN 0002-2241] 'Air Classics' describes itself as the top magazine of vintage aircraft and the history of aviation. It covers military and civil aircraft, aviation museums, air racing, and related topics, as well as restoration projects and biographies of the men and women pioneers of flight.
Each issue contains in-depth articles on vintage and classic aircraft, aces and pioneers, major air show coverage, profiles on great fighter aces and the works of aviation artists, together with first-person accounts and photos of aircraft and pilots. A glossy A4 size magazine with typically 78 pages in each issue, illustrated with many colour and b+w photos. It often includes non-US subjects and air forces histories. Publication started off quarterly in 1964, then became monthly from March 1965. |
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'Air Facts' [? publisher, ISSN ? ]
Subtitled 'The Magazine for Pilots'. Founded, owned and edited by Leighton Collins. The magazine was primarily focused on helping pilots to understand the risks of flight, and persuading them to fly more safely. Most issues are between 75-85 pages, although in the 1970s they reached 98 pages. Published between 1938 and May 1976 (Vol.39 No.2). No further information. |
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'Air News' [Duell, Sloan and Pearce, ISSN ? ]
Subtitled 'The Picture Magazine of Aviation'. Published between August 1941 and December 1945 at least. Edited by Phillip Andrews. Merged with 'Air Tech' to produce 'Air News with Air Tech' magazine in late 1945. Ceased publication in 1946. No further information. |
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'Air Progress' [Challenge Publications, ISSN 0002-2500] 'Air Progress' was first published in January 1938 (or 1941?). It was published quarterly until sometime in 1962, it then increased frequency to bi-monthly, and became a monthly publication circa early 1966. In October 1995 it changed it's name to 'Air Progress Affordable Flying', but reverted to 'Air Progress' in November 1996. It finally ceased publication in June 1997 (Vol.59 No.2). Until the 1970s, the magazine devoted most of its space to military aviation topics. With 98 pages in each issue, it included many b+w photos, scale views, cutaway drawings, technical data etc. In the 1970s it was transformed into a magazine for private pilots. Issues typically included aviation news, light aircraft flight tests, flying careers information, homebuilding info, pilot proficiency features, air racing, avionics etc. It often included historical features of interest to pilots. Printed on glossy paper, with 82 pages each, illustrated with b+w and colour photos.
'Air Progress' also gave rise to 'Air Progress Warbirds International', which became 'Warbirds International' (See below), 'Air Progress - Ultralights' and the quarterlies 'Air Progress Aviation Review' and 'Air Progress - Military Airpower Review' (which see). |
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'Air Space Model' [OLR Publishing, ISSN n/a]
Subtitled The How-To-Do-It Magazine. Modelling magazine focusing on aviation and space topics. Includes scale modelling (super detailing, dioramas etc) and model rocketry. First issue dated January 1969. Survived until at least October 1969. No further information. |
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'Air Trails' [Street & Smith, ISSN ? ] 'Air Trails' magazine went through a whole series of name change during it's life. It first appeared in October 1928 as a monthly pulp-fiction magazine under the simple title 'Air Trails', but in June 1931 changed this to 'Street and Smith's Air Trails' before ceasing publication after the October 1931 issue. In February 1934 the magazine was revived as 'Bill Barnes Air Adventurer'. With effect from the October 1935 issue (starting Volume 5) it changed its name to 'Bill Barnes Air Trails', but this was simplified to 'Air Trails' from the February 1937 (Vol.7 No.5) issue. With the last name change the proportion of fiction was sharply reduced, and after September 1939 the fictional articles were dropped entirely. From the August 1942 issue (Vol.18 No.5) the amended title 'Air Trails Pictorial' was introduced. The name was changed again, to 'Air Trails and Science Frontiers' between January 1947 (Vol.27 No.4) and September 1947 (Vol.28 No.1), but reverted to 'Air Trails Pictorial' the following month. The simplified title 'Air trails' was again adopted with the September 1950 (Vol.34 No.6) issue, before changing to it's final title 'Air Trails - Hobbies for Young Men' from April 1954 (Vol.42 No.1) until the final issue of October 1955 (Vol.45 No.1).
For most of it's existence it featured articles of interest to young men, including gliding, aircraft modelling (with scale plans) and a few technical articles. Most issues had 80-100 pages each. The editors were: 1928 - 1931 Paul Chadwick, 1931 - 1937 F. Orlin Tremaine, 1937 - 1954 William Winter. |
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'Airways' [Airways International Inc, ISSN 1074-4320]
Subtitled 'A Global Review of Commercial Flight'. The first issue was dated March/April 1994. Initially published bi-monthly, but monthly from March 1998. A magazine devoted to the world of airlines and commercial aircraft. Covers many types of airliner and operator, the people behind them, the technology, the airports used and the airways they fly. Edited by John Wegg. Volume 10 No 1 (Issue No 85) was dated March 2003. |
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'Air World' [? publisher, ISSN ? ]
Subtitled 'America's Magazine of Model Aviation'. Published between January 1947 and December 1948 at least. A magazine focusing on free-flight and control line model aircraft, but including features on full-size aircraft. Ceased publication at a unknown date. No further information. |
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'Alaska Flying' [Interior Alaska Publications Inc., ISSN 0889-7778]
'Alaska Flying' was a magazine for pilots in Alaska, with the subtitle Adventure North. Produced by Jim & Kay Lasley, it was published quarterly and the typical content was articles and pictures of current and historical Alaskan aviation. It was first published in March 1984 (Premier issue). Issue #2 was July 1984 and issue #3 was September 1984. The last issue is believed to be July 1987. A total of 23 issues were published. Published by Interior Alaska Publications Inc. (issues 1-3), Alaska Flying Inc. (issues 4-6), Venture North Publishing (issue 7), and Pacific Quest Publishing (issues 8-23). |
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'Aviation Age' [? publisher, ISSN 1041-0619]
'Aviation Age' was an aerospace trade publication similar to 'Aviation Week' which consistently took a rather sensationalistic approach to its coverage of the Russian air threat. It was edited by Richard E. Stockwell and published between 1950 and May 1958 (at least). The December 1952 issue was already Vol.18 No.6 - with six issues per volume it must have been launched circa early 1944 under another title. In 1958 it became 'Space Aeronautics' (ISBN: 0885-9485) which was published until 1970. |
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'Fine Scale Modeler' [Kalmbach Publishing Co., ISSN ? ]
'FineScale Modeler' is a general interest scale plastic modelling magazine suitable for modellers of all skill levels. It shows how to create models of aircraft, armour, ships, cars and more. Every issue provides clear, well-illustrated articles that show how to assemble the latest model kits and how to master painting and finishing techniques. Also featured are kit reviews, new kit and product announcements, tips from the experts, and a gallery of readers' models. One third of the articles feature aviation subjects. 68 pages in each issue, with b+w and colour photos, and scale drawings of markings. It was first published in January 1982 as a quarterly, but had become bi-monthly by 1985. It is now published 10 times per year - monthly (except for June and August). |
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'Flying' [Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc., ISSN 0015-4806]
'Flying' is a magazine dedicated to professional pilots and flying, with not so much emphasis on sporting or recreational pilots. It has described itself as the "World's most widely read aviation magazine". Normal contents includes industry news and the general aviation market, aircraft flight tests, tips on navigation and flying techniques, new product reviews, first hand flying experiences etc. Only covers civil flying, piloting business airplanes. |
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'Flying Aces' [Magazine Publisher's Inc., ISSN ? ]
'Flying Aces' was launched in 1928 with a mixture of pulp fiction, model making and factual articles. During WW2 the majority of each issue was dedicated to the war effort, with few advertisements and mostly military aviation news and articles. It was subtitled 'Magazine of the Flying Age' at this time. Ceased publication sometime after April 1945. Roughly A4 size, with about 74 pages in each issue. |
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'Flying Safety' [AF Safety Center, ISSN 0279-9308]
'Flying Safety' is the official USAF flight safety magazine. It contains numerous articles and features on air safety with straight talking articles and numerous photos of incidents and accidents. First published in 1944. Since around 1997 the magazine has also been published in PDF format. |
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'Kitplanes' [Aviation Publishing Group, ISSN 0891-1851]
Since 1984 'Kitplanes' has been the premier periodical for people interested homebuilt airplanes, rotorcraft, ultralights and other special-interest, do-it-yourself flying machines. The magazine features pilot reports on the best kit-built and plans-built aircraft, builder surveys on the most popular projects and annual directories of hundreds of current kit aircraft, plus homebuilder supplies and aviation electronics. Every issue contains a wide range of topics from understanding aerodynamics to humour. |
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'Model Airplane News' [Walter Schroder, later: Air Age Publishing, ISSN 0026-7295]
A magazine covering flying and radio-controlled model aircraft. According to the publicity: 'Model Airplane News' magazine has been the world's leading authority on model airplanes since it began publishing in 1929. The magazine's content includes product and plan reviews, building hints and how-to articles. Early pre- and post-WW2 issues of circa 48 pages each are the most interesting, as they feature articles on both models and real aircraft of the day. There are now typically 122 pages each issue, with many b+w and colour photos and detailed scale plan drawings. It includes feature articles on modelling, kit reviews hints and tips etc. It also covered plastic aircraft modelling for a while. |
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'Plane & Pilot' [Werner Publishing Corp., ISSN 0032-0617]
'Plane & Pilot' magazine is aimed at recreational and sport pilots. It contains advice on piloting techniques, aircraft flight tests, product reviews, news and first hand experiences. It was first published circa 1964. |
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'Plane & Pilot News' [? publisher, ISSN ?]
A magazine focusing on General Aviation, published between 1999 and 2001 at least. No further information. |
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'Popular Aviation' [Ziff-Davis Publishing, ISSN ? ]
'Popular Aviation' was a magazine aimed at general readers, with a combination of factual articles, modelling features and fictional stories. It first appeared in 1927 under the title 'Popular Aviation', became 'Popular Aviation and Aeronautics' in 1928 and 'Popular Aviation combined with Aeronautics' (or simply 'Aeronautics') between June 1929 (Vol.4 No.6) and June 1930 (Vol.6 No.6), before reverting to the simple title 'Popular Aviation' in July 1930. In 1940 (Vol.27) the title merged with 'Flying' to become 'Flying and Popular Aviation', but in 1942 (Vol.31) the magazine became 'Flying' (see above). Issues during the late 1930s typically had 90 pages each with many b+w photos. |
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'Private Pilot' [Y-Visionary Publishing, ISSN 0032-8901]
'Private Pilot' describes itself as 'The World's Leading General Aviation Magazine'. It is produced for owners and pilots of single and multi-engine aircraft. Topics covered include learning to fly, improving piloting skills, navigation, and safety issues. Additionally, regular editorial coverage is devoted to new and used aircraft evaluation, the newest avionics, navigation aids, aircraft performance and efficiency improvements, maintenance, insurance and the financial aspects of aircraft ownership. Travel, event coverage and other feature stories of interest to the private pilot also appear. Previously published by Fancy Publications. It was first published circa late 1965. |
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'Scale Modeler' [Challenge Publications, ISSN 0036-5424]
'Scale Modeler' was a general interest scale plastic modelling magazine. It covered a wide range of subjects, including aircraft, armoured vehicles, ships, figures and dioramas. Each issued featured several long kit reviews with lots of photos of the model but few of the real subject, together with shorter kit reviews, coversions and super detailing features, model news etc. A majority of the features were of aircraft subjects. There were normally 75-100 A4 size pages in each issue, with 4-10 pages in colour. The 3-view line drawings included were usually to odd unusable scales. 'Scale Modeler' was first published in January 1966 and ceased publication after the September 1998 issue. |
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'Skyways' [Henry Publishing Company, ISSN ? ]
'Skyways' was launched circa January 1943, mainly covering US air power in WW2. By July 1947 it had become 'Flying Sportsman and Skyways' with 80 pages in each issue and mainly focusing on light aircraft. By April 1948 it had reverted to 'Skyways' with the subtitle 'Military - Civil - Commercial Aviation' and typically comprised 64 pages covering a broad range of topics. By January 1953 the magazine had become the official publication of the Corporate Aircraft Owners Assn. (later the NBAA), and devoted much of space to the growing market for business aircraft. It continued until at least 1963 issue 6. |
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'Sport Pilot Hot Kits & Homebuilts' [Challenge Publications, ISSN ? ]
This magazine was published around January 1993. No further information. |
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'The Aviation Consumer' [Belvoir Publications Inc., ISSN 0147-9911]
'The Aviation Consumer' specialises in testing and comparing all products associated with aviation - from maps to turboprop aircraft. It accepts no advertising, and therefore can deliver impartial evaluations on a wide range of items. It covers aircraft, avionics, accessories, equipment and more. It was first published in January 1970. |
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'The Slipstream Monthly' [Slipstream Publishing Company, ISSN ? ]
'The Slipstream Monthly' was an aviation trade magazine edited by Fred Franklin Marshall. It origins lie in 'Slipstream', the house journal of McCook Army Air Field, Dayton, Ohio, which Marshall edited between 1919 and 1923. It proved so popular that private publishers objected to the government-funded rival. In 1923 Marshall left McCook Field to publish 'The Slipstream Monthly' as a commercial magazine. It appeared between January 1924 and June 1928. The publication was then sold to the Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company of New York City. Marshall was employed by Simmons-Boardman as an Assistant Editor. The name of the magazine was changed to 'Airway Age' early in 1929, but it closed down not long after. |
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'The Sportsman Pilot' [The Sportsman Pilot Inc, ISSN ? ]
'The Sportsman Pilot' Was launched in the late 1920s under the title 'Yachting and Sportsman Pilot'. It was devoted mainly to the activities of wealthy Long Island yachtsmen and pilots who could afford to fly purely for pleasure rather than business. In the early 1930s 'Yachting' was dropped from the title and the publication became a strictly aviation magazine called 'The Sportsman Pilot'. The magazine gradually expanded its editorial focus from the rich and famous to also include those of less affluence who were gaining entrance to aviation via the little low powered Aeroncas, Cubs and other types then being introduced. |
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'U.S. Air Services' [Army and Navy Air Service Association, ISSN 1041-0473]
'U.S. Air Services' was originally titled 'U.S. Air Service' until January 1924. It was an intelligent magazine that dealt with aviation matters in both the civil and military sectors. The editor was Earl N. Findlay. It was published between February 1919 and December 1956 (Vol.41). By 1942 the publisher was named the Air Service Publishing Company, Washington DC. It typically contained 48 pages in each issue. |
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'Western Flying' [Western Flying Inc, ISSN ? ]
'Western Flying' was a Los Angeles based magazine. It was published between January 1926 and 1951. Each issue typically had 50-58 pages printed on heavy paper. |
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| First Created: 9 June 1997 - Last Revised: 5 May 2007 | ||||
| Copyright © 1997 John Hayles. e-mail: john@aeroflight.co.uk | ||||