AMA's e-zine "Sport Aviator"
04-17-2005, 12:31 PM
#1
Thread Starter
AMA's e-zine "Sport Aviator"
Within this forum the subject of AMA's magazine commercial magazine Model Aviation has been beaten and dissected in a multitude of ways.
So what are the opinions concerning the e-zine Sport Aviator? Again another item basically supported by member dues.
Quoted from the April issue of Model Aviation page 126, "Sport Aviator is a FREE service from the Academy of Model Aeronautics and you don't have to be an AMA member to use it."
Quoted from the AMA e-zine Sport Aviator: Emphasis added for special note.
Sport Aviator’s Growth
Only because of your support, Sport Aviator has become one of the fastest growing model aircraft publications in recent times. While less than nine months old, Sport Aviator’s readership has already grown to levels that have made all the hard work and extra AMA expense more than worth it. On a personal note, I would like to thank each reader personally for their support, for their encouraging notes and for the knowledge that there are model pilots all over the world that have gotten some benefit from Sport Aviator. Believe me when I say that your kind words have meant more than anyone could know.
Model Aviation’s Sport Aviator is, and always will be, a free service of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) that is open to all the World’s model pilots. Sport Aviator is especially designed to assist those pilots just starting out in the Sport, but we try to present topics that every model pilot can find interesting. There is no charge, nor is there an enrollment form and non-AMA members all over the world are as welcome as are all of America’s 175,000 AMA members.
The Model Aviation Community is made up of more than just the millions of model pilots and their families, many of whom support and participate in model aviation events. It also consists of thousands of hard working individuals and companies that supply the products we use in our sport. In the 1940’s, model pilots had to carve their own propellers and nearly every flying model had to be built from plans only. Compare that to today when a high-quality, RC Trainer can be built and made ready to fly in less than 20 minutes.
This second part of our Modeling Community has asked to have a small presence in Sport Aviator beyond just a few product reviews. Companies have asked to be able to place small advertisements in Sport Aviator. After careful thought, we think this is a good idea. Here are our reasons:
1) New model pilots need the most product information possible. Even for Sport Aviator, it is not possible to present the many thousands of products designed to help new pilots. Advertisements can present more products, more quickly than we ever could.
2) Many smaller companies cannot afford to advertise in the big, expensive model publications. They make great products, designed just for the newer pilot, but have no way to tell anyone. Sport Aviator can help fill that gap.
3) The funds raised through advertising will help Sport Aviator to offer more services to our readers. As you all know, my mail response has been slow. That will change. We can also use these funds to buy a wider product range to test. We can employ additional experienced authors to present more information, more quickly and covering a wider scope than is possible at present.
4) In my own opinion, most of the companies in the modeling community have earned the right to speak directly to our readers. They work hard, many for little or no profit, to enhance our sport. Most of them are owned by single individuals who are working hard more for the love of the sport than to get rich.
But accepting advertisements, nor matter how minor, could have certain negative effects. These will not happen in Sport Aviator.
1) Advertisers will not have any effect on our product reports. As we do now, Sport Aviator product reports will always show the good, the bad and the ugly of every product we review. New model pilots count on Sport Aviator for product information that they have not yet had a chance to learn. Our policy of complete disclosure will always be uncompromised.
2) Advertisements will be very limited to small spaces in the magazine. There will never be “pop-ups” or advertisements that distract from our content. Advertisements will not occupy more than 10% of a page and only five pages in the all of Sport Aviator will have advertising space. These are the Home Page and four “table of contents” pages.
3) The reader will always stay on Sport Aviator. Advertisements will only open in a separate “window” that can be quickly closed when the reader wants to return to Sport Aviator.
We hope you will join us in welcoming the manufacturing part of our model aviation community to Sport Aviator. They belong here with the rest of us.
Sincerely,
Frank Granelli
Editor
-------
Welcome to Model Aviation’s Sport Aviator On-line magazine. MA’s Sport Aviator is the only AMA publication devoted entirely to the new model pilot. Our publication is dedicated solely to helping less experienced pilots enjoy their model flying experience. MA’s Sport Aviator is a free service of the Academy of Model Aviation (AMA) – the world’s largest sport aviation organization. (www.modelaircraft.org)
Model Aviation’s Sport Aviator is open and available to everyone, even non-AMA members. Readers do not have to register. There is never any charge or fee. There are no “Members Only “ sections. However, AMA membership has so many valuable benefits that you may want to become an AMA member. (AMA Introductory Membership Program)
Sport Aviator’s entire editorial content is available to every aircraft modeler, and to those who want to join the world of Model Aviation. While the first few issues will concentrate on RC modeling, we hope to present helpful, informative articles about Control Line and Free Flight modeling soon.
Readers are invited to write to us (Contact Center) with questions or observations. Our editorial staff will do their best to help provide answers and technical assistance. Sport Aviator’s content is designed to help model pilots solve technical and aircraft setup problems (Flight-Tech). We’ll also be addressing flying techniques from those first landings and takeoffs (Pri-Fly) to advanced aerobatics (Advanced Training). As often as possible, we will examine new airframes, kits (On The Flight Line) and accessories (Baggage Compartment).
Model Aviation is a very deep sport. In On The Horizon you will learn what activities, model shows and events may be in your modeling future once you get past the initial learning experience. Cross Country has a list of Model Aviation links you may enjoy and find useful.
Unique to MA’s Sport Aviator is the Test Pilot’s Report section. In this section, our editors will examine the flying characteristics of a particular aircraft in great detail. They will put the airplane through “heck” and let you know exactly what happened. Their reports are not the usual “one-flight wonders” or vague, two-paragraph flight reports. All the planes are extensively flown and are actual flying models belonging to experienced model builders and pilots. Many reports contain exact flying specifications such as stalling speeds, glide distances and rates of climb.
In addition, we hope instructors and student pilots alike will share their learning experiences with the rest of the world’s model pilots in Student Pilot Logbook and Instructor’s Logbook. Your experience could help another model pilot avoid a problem or save a plane.
Each Menu Section contains information and articles we hope you will enjoy. Visit each of the article sections listed in the menu. We will be adding new content at least weekly, sometimes even more frequently, but every article will remain available regardless of when it was first published.
If you find an article useful, please let us know. If you don’t like something, make sure you let us know. Sport Aviator exists to serve the modeling public and your input, as much as possible, will always be part of this magazine.
Finally, you may want to know the editorial staff’s modeling experience. We will shortly be listing our authors’ modeling biographies, but for now, this is the editor’s. Since the editor (me) is not one of those “famous names”, you certainly should examine my modeling resume.
Started RC flying in 1970.
An AMA sanctioned “Intro Pilot” (Instructor) since 1998.
Student Pilots trained to date – about 450.
Flying ability – Currently flying Masters Class Precision Aerobatics (Pattern).
Former Northeast Intermediate and Advanced Class Aerobatic Champion
Currently National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA).
District One Vice President.
Authored several modeling Product Reviews in multiple publications since 1981.
I had several excellent instructors who taught me to become a model pilot. Their lessons were free, except they came at a very high price. That price was the request that I teach as many new student pilots as possible in return. As editor of MA’s Sport Aviator, that will be my only goal: To help everyone who has the desire to become a model aircraft pilot, to become one.
Sincerely,
Frank Granelli
Sport Aviator Editor
__________________________________
IMO, at least AMA is trying to reach out. Too bad that Model Aviation isn't a profitable non-related business item for AMA and out among the masses on news-stands, etc., where the non-choir can find out about all these good things.
edited: bad words
So what are the opinions concerning the e-zine Sport Aviator? Again another item basically supported by member dues.
Quoted from the April issue of Model Aviation page 126, "Sport Aviator is a FREE service from the Academy of Model Aeronautics and you don't have to be an AMA member to use it."
Quoted from the AMA e-zine Sport Aviator: Emphasis added for special note.
Sport Aviator’s Growth
Only because of your support, Sport Aviator has become one of the fastest growing model aircraft publications in recent times. While less than nine months old, Sport Aviator’s readership has already grown to levels that have made all the hard work and extra AMA expense more than worth it. On a personal note, I would like to thank each reader personally for their support, for their encouraging notes and for the knowledge that there are model pilots all over the world that have gotten some benefit from Sport Aviator. Believe me when I say that your kind words have meant more than anyone could know.
Model Aviation’s Sport Aviator is, and always will be, a free service of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) that is open to all the World’s model pilots. Sport Aviator is especially designed to assist those pilots just starting out in the Sport, but we try to present topics that every model pilot can find interesting. There is no charge, nor is there an enrollment form and non-AMA members all over the world are as welcome as are all of America’s 175,000 AMA members.
The Model Aviation Community is made up of more than just the millions of model pilots and their families, many of whom support and participate in model aviation events. It also consists of thousands of hard working individuals and companies that supply the products we use in our sport. In the 1940’s, model pilots had to carve their own propellers and nearly every flying model had to be built from plans only. Compare that to today when a high-quality, RC Trainer can be built and made ready to fly in less than 20 minutes.
This second part of our Modeling Community has asked to have a small presence in Sport Aviator beyond just a few product reviews. Companies have asked to be able to place small advertisements in Sport Aviator. After careful thought, we think this is a good idea. Here are our reasons:
1) New model pilots need the most product information possible. Even for Sport Aviator, it is not possible to present the many thousands of products designed to help new pilots. Advertisements can present more products, more quickly than we ever could.
2) Many smaller companies cannot afford to advertise in the big, expensive model publications. They make great products, designed just for the newer pilot, but have no way to tell anyone. Sport Aviator can help fill that gap.
3) The funds raised through advertising will help Sport Aviator to offer more services to our readers. As you all know, my mail response has been slow. That will change. We can also use these funds to buy a wider product range to test. We can employ additional experienced authors to present more information, more quickly and covering a wider scope than is possible at present.
4) In my own opinion, most of the companies in the modeling community have earned the right to speak directly to our readers. They work hard, many for little or no profit, to enhance our sport. Most of them are owned by single individuals who are working hard more for the love of the sport than to get rich.
But accepting advertisements, nor matter how minor, could have certain negative effects. These will not happen in Sport Aviator.
1) Advertisers will not have any effect on our product reports. As we do now, Sport Aviator product reports will always show the good, the bad and the ugly of every product we review. New model pilots count on Sport Aviator for product information that they have not yet had a chance to learn. Our policy of complete disclosure will always be uncompromised.
2) Advertisements will be very limited to small spaces in the magazine. There will never be “pop-ups” or advertisements that distract from our content. Advertisements will not occupy more than 10% of a page and only five pages in the all of Sport Aviator will have advertising space. These are the Home Page and four “table of contents” pages.
3) The reader will always stay on Sport Aviator. Advertisements will only open in a separate “window” that can be quickly closed when the reader wants to return to Sport Aviator.
We hope you will join us in welcoming the manufacturing part of our model aviation community to Sport Aviator. They belong here with the rest of us.
Sincerely,
Frank Granelli
Editor
-------
Welcome to Model Aviation’s Sport Aviator On-line magazine. MA’s Sport Aviator is the only AMA publication devoted entirely to the new model pilot. Our publication is dedicated solely to helping less experienced pilots enjoy their model flying experience. MA’s Sport Aviator is a free service of the Academy of Model Aviation (AMA) – the world’s largest sport aviation organization. (www.modelaircraft.org)
Model Aviation’s Sport Aviator is open and available to everyone, even non-AMA members. Readers do not have to register. There is never any charge or fee. There are no “Members Only “ sections. However, AMA membership has so many valuable benefits that you may want to become an AMA member. (AMA Introductory Membership Program)
Sport Aviator’s entire editorial content is available to every aircraft modeler, and to those who want to join the world of Model Aviation. While the first few issues will concentrate on RC modeling, we hope to present helpful, informative articles about Control Line and Free Flight modeling soon.
Readers are invited to write to us (Contact Center) with questions or observations. Our editorial staff will do their best to help provide answers and technical assistance. Sport Aviator’s content is designed to help model pilots solve technical and aircraft setup problems (Flight-Tech). We’ll also be addressing flying techniques from those first landings and takeoffs (Pri-Fly) to advanced aerobatics (Advanced Training). As often as possible, we will examine new airframes, kits (On The Flight Line) and accessories (Baggage Compartment).
Model Aviation is a very deep sport. In On The Horizon you will learn what activities, model shows and events may be in your modeling future once you get past the initial learning experience. Cross Country has a list of Model Aviation links you may enjoy and find useful.
Unique to MA’s Sport Aviator is the Test Pilot’s Report section. In this section, our editors will examine the flying characteristics of a particular aircraft in great detail. They will put the airplane through “heck” and let you know exactly what happened. Their reports are not the usual “one-flight wonders” or vague, two-paragraph flight reports. All the planes are extensively flown and are actual flying models belonging to experienced model builders and pilots. Many reports contain exact flying specifications such as stalling speeds, glide distances and rates of climb.
In addition, we hope instructors and student pilots alike will share their learning experiences with the rest of the world’s model pilots in Student Pilot Logbook and Instructor’s Logbook. Your experience could help another model pilot avoid a problem or save a plane.
Each Menu Section contains information and articles we hope you will enjoy. Visit each of the article sections listed in the menu. We will be adding new content at least weekly, sometimes even more frequently, but every article will remain available regardless of when it was first published.
If you find an article useful, please let us know. If you don’t like something, make sure you let us know. Sport Aviator exists to serve the modeling public and your input, as much as possible, will always be part of this magazine.
Finally, you may want to know the editorial staff’s modeling experience. We will shortly be listing our authors’ modeling biographies, but for now, this is the editor’s. Since the editor (me) is not one of those “famous names”, you certainly should examine my modeling resume.
Started RC flying in 1970.
An AMA sanctioned “Intro Pilot” (Instructor) since 1998.
Student Pilots trained to date – about 450.
Flying ability – Currently flying Masters Class Precision Aerobatics (Pattern).
Former Northeast Intermediate and Advanced Class Aerobatic Champion
Currently National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA).
District One Vice President.
Authored several modeling Product Reviews in multiple publications since 1981.
I had several excellent instructors who taught me to become a model pilot. Their lessons were free, except they came at a very high price. That price was the request that I teach as many new student pilots as possible in return. As editor of MA’s Sport Aviator, that will be my only goal: To help everyone who has the desire to become a model aircraft pilot, to become one.
Sincerely,
Frank Granelli
Sport Aviator Editor
__________________________________
IMO, at least AMA is trying to reach out. Too bad that Model Aviation isn't a profitable non-related business item for AMA and out among the masses on news-stands, etc., where the non-choir can find out about all these good things.
edited: bad words
