EAA Sport Aviation Magazine vs. The Rest

[colohan]

I recently joined the EAA, since I was taking some of their builders classes and the EAA discount made it irresistible. This means I recently started getting the EAA Sport Aviation magazine. And I am floored.

This magazine is way more interesting than AOPA pilot, Flying, or any other glossy magazine I've seen. The articles are less about "here's how you can spend more money on planes, and hey, you really should" and much more about "here's how it all works, and how to get the most flying fun for your dollar". Other flying magazines I tend to read when I'm bored, but this one I tend to read instead of doing other things.

One of the most interesting articles I've seen in this month's issue is on "Reliability Centered Maintenance", which talks about the theory behind standard maintenance scheduling techniques. (Perhaps it just appeals to the engineer in me.)

Anyways -- in case there are others who have not seen this magazine (like me), I thought I'd point this out...

Chris

 

[kyleb]

I recently joined the EAA, since I was taking some of their builders classes and the EAA discount made it irresistible. This means I recently started getting the EAA Sport Aviation magazine. And I am floored.

This magazine is way more interesting than AOPA pilot, Flying, or any other glossy magazine I've seen. The articles are less about "here's how you can spend more money on planes, and hey, you really should" and much more about "here's how it all works, and how to get the most flying fun for your dollar". Other flying magazines I tend to read when I'm bored, but this one I tend to read instead of doing other things.

One of the most interesting articles I've seen in this month's issue is on "Reliability Centered Maintenance", which talks about the theory behind standard maintenance scheduling techniques. (Perhaps it just appeals to the engineer in me.)

Anyways -- in case there are others who have not seen this magazine (like me), I thought I'd point this out...

Chris

I agree that it is head and shoulders above most of the competition. But, believe it or not, it used to be better than it is today...

 

[Dean]

It ranks #1 in my book with Kitplanes #2.

 

[ScottM]

They recently revamped their mag. The one issue of the new format I have seen is much better than their previous format. The old one must have been great if you were a builder but for me it was pretty much a waste of paper. AOPA, to me, is too much about new planes. It is just airplane porn for most people. I like a couple of the articles, but I mostly just look at the pictures and dream.

The one magazine I like a lot is Pilot Getaways. That is one that I do read and get some value out of. I used to like IFR, but the price went up and the issues repeat themselves too often, so I dropped it.

 

[Steve]

I noticed that article immediately. I was involved in developing RCM criteria at a power plant in a former life. It wasn't unusual to reduce repetitive maintenance costs on some systems by a non-trivial amounts over the previous program. Other systems were constrained by regulatory requirements so the effect was less noticeable.

I also believe there's no such thing as a "random" failure. But that's another thread.

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One of the most interesting articles I've seen in this month's issue is on "Reliability Centered Maintenance", which talks about the theory behind standard maintenance scheduling techniques. (Perhaps it just appeals to the engineer in me.)

Chris

 

[nddons]

I was very impressed by this new magazine. It seem to have some things for most walks of aviation.

 

[flyersfan31]

EAA Sport Aviation, AOPA Pilot, Kitplanes, Trade-a-Plane, GAN, Flying, Plane & Pilot, Aviation Week & Space Technology, Air & Space -- I get 'em all and I love 'em all.

Besides, I don't have to hide under the covers with a flashlight to read airplane porn.

 

[RickH]

The insurance discounts alone make EAA and AOPA membership and the magazine basically free, but I also get TAP, Flying and GAN. About all I really get out of the latter two are Martha Lunken and Deb McFarland's columns and the AARs. The new Sport Aviation is the first magazine of any kind, in a very long time, that I've spent more than 20 minutes reading. The next issue should be here any day now and I'm still not through reading and rereading January. Well done EAA!