Girl Fox and a Bat

Not at all. I happen to think Paul a talented writer. His first submission, the Avplan app, was written after he co-piloted a trip with me up to Bundy. I flew, and he navigated, using the app. He was so impressed with it, he thought it merited a review. For his work he was gifted an annual subscription to the app, worth $70. For his second submission, the cover story in November's SP, I invited him to write a personal story about his own aircraft. He was planning to hire an aviation photographer to take mid airs of his aircraft at some point, and I obviously gave him copies of the ones we took for the feature, saving him that cost and hassle. That's the way it seems to work, in aviation. I flew across the country supported by the generosity and kindness of the pilot community. I wrote my column for no renumeration for two years, because I didn't have the audacity to believe I could walk into a field and demand pay without proving myself first. May I ask you, what is your profession? Ross and John, thank you kindly for your offers. I'm planning a trip up the coast in Feb and it would be a delight to catch up (or re-catch up in JGs case)

Thing is, If we start paying it will be for talent. How much street cred have you got, OME? Tommo, glad to hear your brother had a top time. We left first thing on Monday and tracked inland to Tamwoth. Powerin, thanks for your kind words. I'd like to say what I lack in experience, I make up for in enthusiasm. Col, g'day!

Tommo, hey! It was me, although I don't often receive the compliment of 'lady'... How was your brother's trip? OME, thank you for your reccommendation, I shall read the article with interest. The intention of my Jabiru article was to be a pictorial demonstration of a Jabiru factory build. Maybe because I've never built an aircraft myself, I thought our readers would be interested in the process and an inside look at the Jabiru factory. You'll be pleased to know Paul Turner has written the main feature in November's edition. I look forward to in-depth contributions from you in the future....

Old Man Emu, I need to clarify, I'm the deputy editor; I'm in no way experienced enough to be the editor. As a dep ed my duties are to compile the storyboard - the submissions we receive, the columns from the experts, the cover photo, etc. Brian is responsible for the editing and has the final say on all content. I write features, yes, but am in no way an expert in all fields. My hope is as the magazine progresses more and more members - people who DO know the difference between a clevis pin and a cotter pin - will contribute. My job is to encourage contributions, send them for subbing and make sure the magazine has a balance of content. I can't reiterate enough: it's your mag, if you want to see in depth features - send them in - we'll edit them, and make them flow, but it will be your content. It's a members' mag, and so should be written by members. While we're not in the position to pay for contributions at this point, I've managed to persuade our advertisers to give up some pretty splendid prizes (a sim ride, a GPS, some iPad apps, weekend retreats) and I'm working on many more to attract people to write in. I certainly see your point, in paying people, and I hope in the future we'll be in a position to do just that. Please feel free to submit an in depth article on Jabirus, or on any other subject. Thank you for your welcome, very much appreciated. Fly-tornado, Ahhh, I'm the first of my family to be infected with the av-bug. My only exposure to the 'old boys' is drinking whisky with them and hearing their stories, or if I'm lucky, some aeros in their Yaks. In that respect, I'm wearing flares in the street cred department.

Well, firstly I have to say I wouldn't publish a comment on this forum without expecting to be challenged. I'm happy to rise to it and answer your questions. 1) How well known am I? I'm the deputy editor of Sport Pilot, the circulation for which is 15,000. I'm also the deputy editor of Australian Pilot Extra (the online magazine for AOPA members, circ 3000) and a regular columnist and contributing writer for Australian Pilot (circulation around 7,000). My regular column, Learning to Fly, has been running for just over two years. 2) How experienced am I? As a writer, see above. As a pilot, I'm relatively new to RA. I have 500 GA hours on single engines and recently embarked on a solo round-Oz trip, to Perth via Tassie. As I live in Sydney, my exposure to RA was limited until the big trip, where I met many RA Aus members and their aircraft. I'm three quarters of the way through my CPL, which I funded by selling my small business (a bookshop). I have a degree in English and Creative Writing. My blog has had over 10,000 hits (although my domain name, girlwithastick, may be responsible for some misguided visits!) 3)How many years have I been in 'the game'? Just under three. I've been flying for just over three. 4)How's my rep on the street, etc? We need to define the street, don't you think? If it's a domestic, RA relevant street, then I'd say as a representative of Sport Pilot and Australian Pilot I've been very present. I was at Natfly, test flying aircraft; at Avalon; at Wide Bay. I was at Bankstown to welcome Dave Sykes, was present at the RA Aus cocktail party, and have met each and every one of the board members. Ditto the AOPA board members. I've yet to meet Paul Bertorelli, perhaps because he's not ordinarily present at RA Aus events, being based in the United States. I'm not terribly interested in an international presence, as I see my role as being involved in aviation events I can actually attend. 5) How about the others, against whom I compete? It's an interesting question. I don't really see it as competition, per se, as Sport Pilot is largely a membership magazine, although our aim is to attract new members via a vibrant newstand publication. Outstanding aviation journalists on home turf would include Paul Phelan and Shelley Ross, as well as our editor Brian Bigg, who's been in the game for over thirty years. I'm sure you know plenty about Mr Bigg already - producer of channel ten morning news, editor of Australian Pilot with a history in media far too weighty to mention here ( I note a googlewhack for Mr B returns over 6, 000, 000 hits). He's a pilot and RA Aus registered aircraft owner. If street cred were to be measured by passion, then I'd be hip. I love my job, and see my purpose to be making sure members have exposure in the magazine. The correspondence I receive from members is amazing, and it's my aim to make sure the readers feel represented. Of course, with a circulation of 15,000 it's always going to be difficult. The feedback goes along the lines of: the articles are too long; the articles are too short; there are too many readers' stories; there are not enough readers' stories; I hate Prof Avius; Prof Avius raises the most interesting points, etc. Previously, the magazine was edited and compiled by the publishing company, Zebra. As far as I know, they had no journalistic background. RA Aus hired Brian to create a magazine representative of its members. If we're not succeeding in that, then I'd like to hear about it. That's the very reason I'm here, on this forum. There are very few writers in aviation, because the combination of writing and flying is quite unique. We don't do it for the money, that's for sure; we're all here because of our passion. I guess it's over to you to decide whether I pass the 'street cred' test.

Ahem. Define 'street cred' and let me see if I tick any of your boxes....

Gah! That was my mistake. Apologies. It's quite obviously an Airbourne. I will print a correction.

Thanks guys! Brian Bigg and I are determined to give you - the members - the mag YOU want, so keep the feedback coming, and the stories and suggestions flowing in. We're all ears....

Sport Pilot would like to pay tribute to both gentlemen killed on Lake Jindy last week. If members have any memories, photographs or words they'd like to offer, please post here, or contact me via my inbox.

The staff at Sport Pilot would like to express our deepest sympathies. The next edition of Sport Pilot has gone to print, containing the Petrel's advert, and a feature on lake flying. The timing is terrible, but we were unfortunately unable to make any changes at this point in the printing process.

I agree the members should have taken a vote on the name; I just wanted to point out that Sport Pilot was not chosen by the publisher, but by a board vote. The advertising came over from Zebra - they're the same ads as have been in the last few editions, as most advertisers are on a contract.

Ummmm, the board?

The board came up with the name, after making a choice from over two hundred....