|
Post by colford on Aug 12, 2019 15:05:42 GMT 12
In the editorial for the August 2019 edition of Flightpath magazine that has hit the newsagents shelves in Australia today, editor Rob Fox has advised that the November 2019 edition of Flightpath will be the last issue of the magazine. Having been a part of the Australian Aviation publishing landscape for the past 21 plus years, it will leave a large gap in the print coverage of the Australian aviation history, warbird, restorers and maintainers and pilots space. Interesting to read that despite good readership numbers, continually increasing publication costs and the impacts of digital media (particularly sucking away advertising revenue) have tipped the balance and led to the suspension of publication.
Following this, I wonder how much the other publications in this particular market segment are faring and surviving? Will others, such as Australian Aviation up their percentage of aviation history, warbird and airshow coverage? Or will we see some of the existing Australian online websites covering this area "up their game" in terms of quality of their reporting and coverage? Or will we have to look to the likes of Classic Wings to metaphorically "spread their wings" a bit more to the west to help the fill the gap so to speak?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 12, 2019 15:34:09 GMT 12
Yes I saw Rob's announcement on Facebook a few weeks back. It's very sad, although I could never find it in bookshops here in recent years. Several forum members were regular contributors. Such a shame.
|
|
|
Post by vultee43 on Aug 12, 2019 20:59:08 GMT 12
Quite disappointing. It will leave a hole in the Australian (and wider) Warbird and Classic audience. We can be glad we still have Classic Wings and long may it continue.
|
|
|
Post by baz62 on Aug 13, 2019 6:35:52 GMT 12
It's very sad, although I could never find it in bookshops here in recent years. Strange as in Christchurch most of the shops that had aviation magazines usually had it for sale. Whitcoulls, Paper Plus were two of them. My wife got me a subscription last Christmas (which if you are serious about supporting a magazine is the best way) so I'm sad it's going as it was a great magazine. Second to last issue arrived yesterday.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 13, 2019 7:52:09 GMT 12
Well there's one of the few joys of living in a big city Baz.
It's been years since I even saw it in Hamilton magazine shops, although I try to frequent that place as little as possible. Shops that sell magazines are few and far between there now, Hamilton's specialist magazine store closed down two or three years ago, their Whitcoulls and Papers Plus are pretty pathetic compared with olden days and the last of their second hand book shops was closed down and gone last time I visited recently. I guess no-one reads in the same way that they used to, it's all online.
|
|
|
Post by vs on Aug 13, 2019 10:25:09 GMT 12
I wonder if Australian Aviation is suffering...I get endless emails from them asking to subscribe.
I used to read it all the time, but it now seems to be all about airliner seats and pilot shortages (which is always up for debate)
It is now around $14 an issue....not worth the cost
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 13, 2019 10:33:12 GMT 12
You can hear all about airliner seats and pilot shortages on almost any aviation podcast for free - except mine because I cannot think of anything more tedious than people measuring their seats.....
|
|
|
Post by horicle on Aug 13, 2019 10:49:10 GMT 12
It's the internet and Google. More younger people and giving up on printed news. I fear there is no cure.
|
|
|
Post by baz62 on Aug 13, 2019 15:39:10 GMT 12
Well there's one of the few joys of living in a big city Baz. It's been years since I even saw it in Hamilton magazine shops, although I try to frequent that place as little as possible. I guess no-one reads in the same way that they used to, it's all online. That's a shame. Love peering into the letterbox close to delivery time or scanning the magazine racks to see what's new.
|
|
|
Post by vultee43 on Aug 13, 2019 19:08:05 GMT 12
Although I get news online nothing can replace having a magazine/book to actually sit down and read. Besides books don't need charging.😉. Keep supporting Classic Wings. It's our only dedicated magazine left.
|
|
|
Post by johnnyfalcon on Aug 13, 2019 19:44:30 GMT 12
Agreed. You can't beat the tactile satisfaction of codex (he muses as he types an electronic message...)
|
|
|
Post by planecrazy on Aug 15, 2019 18:28:43 GMT 12
Sad Flightpath is going, been around for a while now, wonder how long? Sign of the times I guess, there is nothing like flicking through the pages and looking at the pics. An almost spiritual experience all in my house know when Classic Wings shows up it is do not disturb until it's cover to cover, done and dusted!
|
|
|
Post by vultee43 on Aug 16, 2019 0:54:49 GMT 12
Know the feeling on CW. My Wife ushers there kids out of the room. Flight path has been going since 1998.
|
|
|
Post by nuuumannn on Aug 17, 2019 18:59:31 GMT 12
Hm. That is sad, I was a subscriber for a number of years. I take it there is no online issue?
|
|
|
Post by colford on Nov 11, 2019 16:32:59 GMT 12
Final issue of Flightpath hit the newsagents shelves here in Australia today. This issue really sums up what we are going to miss going forward with an interesting mix of historic accounts, warbird updates, book reviews and as always some brilliant photograhy. Seems poignant that the final issue arrived on Armistice/Remembrance Day.
|
|