AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - (Page 58) PILOTAGE BY MARK R. TWOMBLY 25 going on 50 M percent of the magazine’s lifespan, and 43 percent of mine. For the first 11 of those years I was on the magazine’s staff as an employee—first as news editor, then associate editor, senior editor, and, finally, editor in chief. Since I left the magazine in1994 I have been a contributor, writing the “Pilotage” column each month (my first, “To Live Is to Fly,” appeared in the May 1993 issue while I was still on staff ). I’ve also been writing for AOPA Flight Training magazine since January 1997, responsiwinter break. A few hours into the journey the Mark R. Twombly ble for the “Continuing Ed” and “What It Looks talk turned to the future. Specifically, where do is a former editor Like” columns each month. In my career as we most want to live and work? My apologies to of AOPA Pilot. a writer and editor I am most proud of the time the good folks who live and fly there, but it was I spent as an employee of AOPA working on not New Jersey. We happened to be passing through Washington, D.C., at the time, and it hit me. “We like AOPA Pilot, and subsequently as a contributor to it and AOPA this part of the world,” I said. “AOPA is in Frederick, Mary- Flight Training. So, what’s it like to work at the world’s largest-circulation land. I can try for a job on the magazine.” And so I did. Ed Tripp, who was running the Publications Division at aviation magazine? A lot different now than when I was on the time, and his executive editor, Steve Thompson, seemed staff, except for a couple of things. First, many of the smart, interested and assigned me a feature story as a you’re- competent, and dedicated people I worked with are still in-or-you’re-out test. They bought the story—“Slugs At there including Tom Haines, Tom Horne, Alton Marsh, Speed” about T-6 racing at Reno, which I knew something Machteld Smith, Miriam Stoner, Mike Kline, Mike Fizer, about since my father was a competitor—but they did not Brenda Ridgley, and advertising reps Norm Schindler and buy me. Someone else was hired as associate editor at AOPA Brian Curpier and his team. That continuity is key to the magazine’s steady rise in prominence. Pilot magazine. A word about Phil Boyer. He was hired as president of I was bummed, but only for a little while. Tripp called a few weeks later to offer me a job as news editor. It would be AOPA, succeeding John Baker, when I was editor. I intera brand new title on the magazine masthead, I didn’t know viewed him, and like many in the building, I looked a little exactly what I would be doing, and I was pretty sure it was askance at a guy whose entire career had been in the broadan also-ran position to associate editor, but I jumped at cast industry. Would he know enough about working Capitol the chance. I mean, AOPA Pilot was the second-largest avia- Hill as a pilots’ advocate, growing the membership even as tion magazine in the world by circulation—the entire the pilot population was declining, and managing an associworld!—and I was being asked to join the fraternity of staff ation staff of about 175 disparate people? He most certainly did. Boyer has more than proven himwriters. Soon Susie and I were headed south again, this time self to be the smartest guy in the association business. I don’t to Frederick. That was in 1983. A lot has passed under our wings since. think it’s a stretch to say that, for its size, AOPA is among the Susie and I got married, I outlasted the guy who originally most effective associations in Washington, and over the last was hired over me, and AOPA Pilot became the largest-circu- 17 years we have Phil Boyer to thank for that. Want some dish on Boyer from a guy who reported to him lation aviation magazine in the world. The entire world. This issue of AOPA Pilot commemorates the fiftieth directly for four years? Sorry, got none. He was a terrific boss. anniversary of the magazine. Congratulations on a fabu- Unqualified support of the magazine, and loyal to his emlous record of longevity, growth, and success. Of course, ployees. What more can you ask? I’ve been fortunate—25 years, 178 columns, and lots of AOPA Pilot’s accomplishments go hand-in-hand with AOPA’s growth and success. A key strategy in AOPA’s mis- other work in the magazine, so far. But there’s one more sion to be an effective advocate for general aviation pilots thing that I’m chest-thumping proud of, and that is my and aircraft owners is publishing a magazine that members middle son, Ian. He is a new staff writer on the magazine. consider relevant and interesting. The association and the I’d like to say he is my legacy, but the truth is I had nothing magazine complement each other. It’s a wonderfully syner- to do with him being hired. He pursued the job on his own, and was awarded it on his own merits. And, unlike Dad, he gistic relationship. In fact, I’m celebrating an anniversary of my own. This went directly to associate editor. Good choice, AOPA Pilot. year I will have been a part of AOPA Pilot for 25 years—50 Go get ’em, son. AOPA PILOT • 38 • JANUARY 2008 y girlfriend, Susie, and I left our very little house in New Jersey early in the morning and headed south toward Florida for a little
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