New 'Classic' Aircraft Illustrated

[zigzag]

Got my latest AI yesterday - an event I look forward to each month. Well, looks like it will be the last in the current style - lots of info of how its going in a new 'Classic' direction as of next month .

From what I can see it will now mainly be focussing on cllassic and historic aviation in response to reader feedback.

My first thoughts are of of total disappointment, as for me AI was the best mag on the market, nicely balanced content with a mix of history, warbirds, airlines/airports, modern mil, airshows, and news (mil, civ, preservation). It pitched its writing at just the right level (Airliners for me is a bit too low level, whilst Combat Aircraft is too US, and AFM is too technical/weapons systems biased, and Im not too onterested in the historic scene so dont ever peruse those mags).

The market surely has enough mags to cover the classic/historical scene as it is, the loss of the all-rounder AI will be sorely missed .

I might be wrong, and Ill give it a try until the end of my current subscription, but on the basis of what Ive read then I for one wont be buying it in future.

[Pen Pusher]

Some nice pictures at the bottom of page 46 though

I'll wait and see what the new look is like first before passing comment but sounds more my thing

Brian

[AlexC]

The market surely has enough mags to cover the classic/historical scene as it is, the loss of the all-rounder AI will be sorely missed.

Exactly my initial reaction. I buy and read AI (and have since the very first issue, and have still got them all) because I've always considered it to be the best all round aviation magazine, and I don't want to also have to get a modern combat aircraft plus plus a modern commercial aircraft magazine, in fact I don't think I could get them past my wife! Also how is this 13 issue thing going to work? Spaced out evenly thoughout the year, or an extra issue at Christmas? Very strange idea IMO. Is the magazine even to still be called Aircraft Illustrated? Looking at the cover it appears to be just Aircraft, which seems a bit of a misnomer, even though I see in small print 'The Classic Aviation Magazine'. And as far as the new dedicated Air Display section is concerned, is this going to be warbird or classic airshows only? So many questions. This whole new magazine thing seems to have been poorly thought out it seems to me. I might just as well switch to Flypast, which I've always considered the best warbird and classic magazine anyway.

[Harlequin67]

Got my latest AI yesterday - an event I look forward to each month. Well, looks like it will be the last in the current style - lots of info of how its going in a new 'Classic' direction as of next month .

From what I can see it will now mainly be focussing on cllassic and historic aviation in response to reader feedback.

My first thoughts are of of total disappointment, as for me AI was the best mag on the market, nicely balanced content with a mix of history, warbirds, airlines/airports, modern mil, airshows, and news (mil, civ, preservation). It pitched its writing at just the right level (Airliners for me is a bit too low level, whilst Combat Aircraft is too US, and AFM is too technical/weapons systems biased, and Im not too onterested in the historic scene so dont ever peruse those mags).

The market surely has enough mags to cover the classic/historical scene as it is, the loss of the all-rounder AI will be sorely missed .

I might be wrong, and Ill give it a try until the end of my current subscription, but on the basis of what Ive read then I for one wont be buying it in future.

I must also add my own stong reservations to this change in AI's direction.

If this "new" magazine was to run along side AI then I could understand this. AI was the all-rounder, Aircraft could have been the Classic only mag. Too niche.

There are already 2-3 classic aviation titles and only 2 good all-rounder mags, AI and Air International (?). I do not have any subscriptions to classic aviation magazines, and I really don't want a classic aviation magazine. I will give this new magazine a try when my subscription copy arrives, but I am quite sure this subscriber may well be leaving.

I think the disgruntled AI readers may well end up at Air International.

I have one question/thought on this matter. Why change the direction of AI, so radically? Have subscriber numbers fallen so much? Is circulation declining? If not, why move into a sector of the market that appears to be well catered for.

I hope the risks have really been thought out on this.

[PhilW]

I think the disgruntled AI readers may well end up at Air International.

Yep, I can see me doing that myself. I already subscribe to FlyPast, so don't need another 'classic' magazine.

AI as was suited me perfectly. I wonder if they'll be offering subscribers a refund, seeing as this isn't the magazine we paid for?

[Ben Dunnell]

Thanks, everyone, for your comments.

I would like to provide what I hope will be some reassurance regarding the balance of contents in the new Aircraft magazine.

It is true that the publication will be taking on a more classic, historical bias, but without forgetting the modern era and current in-service aircraft. The expanded Air Display section will be covering airshows in exactly the same way as Aircraft Illustrated always has done – we will still preview and report in depth on such events as RIAT, Paris and Farnborough, to name but three, and featuring all aspects of the scene, rather than concentrating merely on historic airshows and display acts.

And there will be many main feature articles of interest to enthusiasts of current and recent military and civil aviation. Aircraft will look at in-service types that are shortly to be no more, and at those older machines that are soldiering on in operational use, as well as aircraft that have just been retired. We will also link past and present – for instance, a major feature in the first ‘new’ issue will cover the Airbus story on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the A300’s first flight, taking that story right up to the latest developments.

So, while there will be a much greater focus on history (not least the post-Second World War period, with many fascinating features on the Cold War, ‘Desert Storm’, and even more recent conflicts as appropriate) and preservation, one of our aims is still to appeal to the reader whose interests lie more in the present, but who also has fond memories of the recent past.

[PhilW]

And there will be many main feature articles of interest to enthusiasts of current and recent military and civil aviation.

Ben, could I perhaps read in to this that the future layout of the magazine would be fairly similar as it is now, except for the first 20 pages or so, which currently carry 'breaking' news and the latest in military and civilian operations?

Phil

[AlexC]

Well all I can say Ben is that the '100% Pure Classic' is very misleading. I have to say that if I had been a subscriber, I would have been really upset, as this change appears to have come out of the blue, at least the first I'd heard about it was when I picked up the mag this morning.

I'll wait until next month before making up my mind whether to change the habit of a lifetime, and leave the new look 'Aircraft' on the newsagents shelf? When is it to be published generally BTW, still the second Friday of the month, as I don't think I'll be at Legends this year?

[Harlequin67]

Well all I can say Ben is that the '100% Pure Classic' is very misleading.

I agree with this statement. How does the modern airshow like RIAT, or trade show like Paris or Farnborough sit with the cover/content of the new magazine? Nowhere does the front cover even hint at modern stuff. The word Classic is used 3 times at least.

I honestly thought that this was a whole new magazine, a "classic" sister to AI.

I am very worried that my two year subscription will be wasted as I am not getting the magazine I originally subscribed too.

[zigzag]

Firstly, thanks for the reply Ben, it has shed a little more light on the situation, and perhaps the 'new' magazine will be a little less classic than I originally thought.

Still cant help feeling a tad disappointed as classic isnt really my thing, but I guess the proof of the pudding will be seen once the new mag hits the shelves/comes through my letterbox. Ill reserve judgement until a few issues have gone by and the new slant has had time to bed-in.

[AlexC]

The word Classic is used 3 times at least.

Four times to be exact!

[PhilW]

It is true that the publication will be taking on a more classic, historical bias....

Hopefully then there'll be more chance of some coverage of ex-RAF, Cold War vintage V-bombers based at Southend?

(I should add a thanks for listing all of our events for this year )

[APG]

Probably quite a wise move moving away from the day to day news, by the time a story/image gets in to a monthly it can be nearly two months old. Blame the advance of the interweb for making today's news irrelevant in a months time in print media.

Good luck AI in the new direction

[AlexC]

Can't say that I fully agree with that. Not all of us have your connections maybe. For instance, the report on the Victor airborne at Bruntingthorpe in this months AI gives background to the story that I was not fully aware of.

[rdchawk]

I for one will be cancelling my subscription. Just because i'm not that interested in everything classic.

[jetwash]

AI was my No.1 mag each month, because (as said above), it covered all of the bases, I enjoyed a little of airliners, alot of mil, some historic and the airshows.


I for one unfortunately will not be buying next months issue, as I'm not really into all of the historic stuff.

I guess I will have to find another all rounder, but AI (as it is) will be sorely missed .

[docman]

Thank you Ben for your reassurance. Having had AI since the 1970s I must admit I feel it is the best of the "one stop" magazines for the aviation enthusiast, and if anyone wanted more of the specialist areas there were already good options available. I for one would be sad to loose the current updates (although much of it is available elsewhere and here on UKAR). I will await the new look with interest.

http://www.richarddigby.com

[zigzag]

Mmmmm......weight of opinion on here seems firmly against the new look.

I guess historic websites may well be in favour.

Cant help feeling it might be a mistake, time will tell.

[Manonthefence]

Without seeing the magazine I cant help but think its an odd decision. The "Classic" market is already pretty well catered for. I always thought AI stood up well against Air International. I must admit I have started reading Aircraft Illustrated again after a long lay off. I enjoyed its broad brush approach to aviation.

I will, however, reserve judgement until I have read it.

[APG]

Can't say that I fully agree with that. Not all of us have your connections maybe. For instance, the report on the Victor airborne at Bruntingthorpe in this months AI gives background to the story that I was not fully aware of.

And from my reading of what Ben has said that story would have still appeared in the "new/classic/whatever" AI

I think AI are moving away from current aviation news, not the tin triangle has flown again or a Spitfire has made its post resotoration flight, but say a story from today like Malev have signed for the SSJ. I think the "new" magazine will appeal to many, but nobody has seen it so no one can pass judgement yet can they?

[wv383]

I must admit that my main preference is for classic, preservation and history myself. However, I've always bought AI because of firstly the quality of it's production and secondly for the updates on the Military and Civil scene. Yes, I know I could browse the web earlier to get such information, but me being me I like to read it in a concise form in print.

I already get Flypast and Aeroplane Monthly to satisfy my main interest, so yet another magazine totally devoted to the 'Classic' scene is a bit disturbing. Will they all survive or will they start to take readers off each other?

One point about the current AI and the latest issue in particular. The production values are still top notch, however, 8 pages on Royal Netherlands AF and 12 on the Romanian Air Force out of a total editorial page count of 72, gave it more of a Combat Aircraft or Air Forces International feel than a 'general' aircraft magazine. Perhaps they gave so much space so that they could catch up before the re-launch.

I also notice that they are stating 'more pages'. With the current issue down at 84 pages, the page numbers have been shrinking over past months compared to previous years. I can well remember 96 and even 100 page issues and not just when there were supplements. So does the 'more pages' statement mean going back to what we used to get.

Don't get me wrong. I have always liked the magazine - except during the years when the paper quality was rubbish and photos were printed small (which made a bit of a misnomer of the Aircraft Illustrated title!). I think it has a lot to do with the paper and printing, but the photographic reproduction quality is second to none.

I am willing to give the 'new' magazine a go rather than write it off without seeing it first. But will be a shame to see it change out of all recognition.

[AlexC]

And from my reading of what Ben has said that story would have still appeared in the "new/classic/whatever" AI

Fair comment.

[Edicap]

I too am slightly puzzled by this decision. I know Ben frequents this forum so I wonder if he could maybe take the time to answer a couple of questions.

Was the decision to change from a well balanced aviation magazine to a "100% classic" magazine business driven? Being one of the few magazines that deals in all aspects of the market, I am surprised that AI has gone down the classic route when the shelves are already full of classic aviation mags (Flypast, Warplane to name just a couple). Surely by putting all of your eggs in one basket you will be limiting your audience?

This all seems very sudden and unless I am missing something, it has all been keep very quiet. I do remember filling in one of your surveys not that long ago so is this change in response to the comments made by your readers?

I also noted in your comments that the magazine will have features on modern aspects of military and commercial aviation alongside the classic theme, however, it is stated in the current mag that Aircraft will be 100% classic, surely this is a contradiction?

AI has long been one of my favourite magazines and its fantastic mix of civil, military, GA and preservation will be sorely missed. Personally although I spend a fair amount of time on the net, I don't always catch all of the news. AI has always been a great way to catch up.

Given the drastic changes I fear that AI may no longer be one of my monthly purchases. Having said that, good luck Ben and Aircraft and thank you for many years of happy reading.

[Manonthefence]

Lots of people cancelling their subscription before they have even seen the magazine. Madness!

[capercaillie]

I'm always intrigued by the word "classic" when referring to an aircraft.

For example, an F-15 Eagle is a true classic aircraft, a worldwide kill ratio of 120+ for no loss, probably the world's first highly agile jet fighter, 30+ years of frontline service, etc etc but it is still very much a modern warplane.

The Hawker Tomtit is very much a forgotten type and would rarely be considered an aviation classic, had a short service life, nothing overly remarkable happened in its career etc etc, but it is old and only one remains and very nice it is too.

Yet a magazine featuring "classics of aviation" would probably feature the Tomtit not the Eagle. Its a very loose term and I'm guessing that the new magazine layout will not be too different from the old. They could do with dropping all that games section though and leave that to computer magazines.