[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Ara1

I read FlyPast and Aeroplane to keep up with the British POV, always a keeper those mags and I wish I could own every issue.

Originally Posted by Ara1

I also buy any Wings or Airpower from the '70s or '80s I can find at used bookstores. I have about half of all the issues and the collection of photography and articles is invaluable.

I used to be a subscriber to Airpower and Wings and have amassed a huge collection. I wish there was an efficient way to archive the volumes. The articles really come in handy when I need to do a research and brush up on things when questions come up on this forum for any information help. I also read FlyPast and Aeroplane like you do for the very same reason.

The other magazines I read deal with the current news on modern military airpower, and Air Forces Monthly and Modern Air Combat magazines are pretty good sources. For some 'eye-candy' warbirds picture jolleys - I always look at Air Classics and Warbird Illustrated magazines!

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Ara1

I read FlyPast and Aeroplane to keep up with the British POV, always a keeper those mags and I wish I could own every issue..

Have you ever come across any of The Aeroplane Spotter publications from the early 1940s? Have a collection starting with 13 March 1941 through 10 July 1948. It initially looks like they came out weekly (Thursday), but eventually shifted to biweekly (Alternate Thursdays). These old publications are just packed with aircraft information and to some point focused on aircraft recognition.

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Have you ever come across any of The Aeroplane Spotter publications from the early 1940s? Have a collection starting with 13 March 1941 through 10 July 1948. It initially looks like they came out weekly (Thursday), but eventually shifted to biweekly (Alternate Thursdays). These old publications are just packed with aircraft information and to some point focused on aircraft recognition.

Sounds like a must-have mag but I've never seen it... you can't beat period writing and period publications... it was how it was, no revisions. Propaganda, yeah there's some, but it's worth getting into the spirit of the day. Can you post a pic of a cover, CC?

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Ara1

Sounds like a must-have mag but I've never seen it... you can't beat period writing and period publications... it was how it was, no revisions. Propaganda, yeah there's some, but it's worth getting into the spirit of the day. Can you post a pic of a cover, CC?

There is definitely no revisions to history in these, just good clean history. The edition with the B-24 on the front has a great cut away drawing of a Fairey Firefly Mk.I in it. These publications really give a great picture for that period in history.

[Ara1]

VERY nice.. gorgeous Dakota!!

I will look out for these, I would buy them if I saw them. Have you learned anything new from reading these?

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Ara1

VERY nice.. gorgeous Dakota!!

I will look out for these, I would buy them if I saw them. Have you learned anything new from reading these?

At least two of the planes I identified in the Can you name this Plane thread were done so by using these old publications. It would be hard to say how many new planes I have seen in these. It is really interesting reading about the view points of certain types of aircraft at that time in history. The copy with the B-24 on the cover has latest information on the Irving--The Nakajima Gekko Night Fighter. It has a page devoted to aircraft recognition differences between the SAAB B18a and the Dornier Do 217 and also has some weird looking helicopter called the Kaiser Hiller-Copter. They do make for some great reading.

[Ara1]

Even today I know next to nothing on the Irving... Other than I love how it looks.

I have some 1990 reprint mags commemorating the Battle of Britain, these mags come with an analysis by a famous current historian, can't recall his name. But it was originally published in June of 1940, bad times for the British who were expecting the worst.