AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 73

AOPAPILOT 50 years AOPA’s big idea How the number one aviation magazine was born BY THOMAS A. HORNE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ROSE lthough AOPA Pilot’s first issue may have come out in March 1958, it’s informative and entertaining to look at the history behind the decision to make the magazine a standalone, independent publication. That decision, made in the closing months of 1956, was a long time coming. A Early days Ever since its founding days in 1939, AOPA had a monthly publication. But back then the association was small, underfunded, and competing with a number of other pilot associations. It couldn’t finance a magazine startup on its own; it needed to strike up an agreement with a large-circulation publisher. So a deal was struck in March 1939 between AOPA’s founders— Laurence P. and Philip T. Sharples, C. Townsend Ludington, Alfred L. Wolf, and J. Story Smith—and The Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. At the time, Ziff-Davis published Popular Aviation—the most successful of the many aviation publications of the day. Ziff-Davis loaned AOPA $500, then $1,000 in monthly cash payments for the purpose of building AOPA’s membership base. It also gave AOPA a few pages of free editorial space in each issue of Popular Aviation, a page of free advertising per month, and even threw in editorial assistance and office space at Ziff ’s Chicago headquarters. Once AOPA got on a better financial footing, it would pay a minimal fee to continue publishing in the magazine. What a deal! In return, AOPA made Popular Aviation its official publication, and agreed to repay the loans. Oh, and the association had to obtain 2,500 members by the end of 1939. Which it did. Thus was born AOPA’s first efforts at magazine work. “AOPA News” first appeared in the September 1939 issue of Popular Aviation, and then was expanded to a four-page insert called the “AOPA Section” in November 1939. By March 1940 this grew to nine pages, and included full-page photographs by renowned aviation photographer Hans Groenhoff. Gill Robb Wilson—AOPA’s first member—who was then the director of New Jersey’s state aeronautics commission wrote “AOPA News.” AOPA’s first employee, Joseph B. “Doc” Hartranft, wrote the “AOPA Section,” with Wilson serving as editorial director. Post-war expansion By the end of World War II, AOPA’s success was evident. In 1946 membership was 20,000 and climbing—this was twice the pre-war level. Ziff-Davis’ fortunes were also looking good, as its page count climbed on the popularity of stories featuring military aircraft. In August 1940, Popular Aviation was changed to Flying Photos of Joseph B. “Doc” Hartranft (left) and Max Karant (right) in 1948 rest atop archival memos and conceptual notes from 1956. By late 1956, AOPA was in the final stages of deciding to publish The AOPA Pilot as a standalone magazine. AOPA PILOT • 73 • MARCH 2008

AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008

AOPA Pilot - March 2008
Contents
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
AOPA Action
Catch-A-Cardinal Sweepstakes
Pilot Briefing
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Pilotage
License to Learn
Safety Pilot
Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot’s 50th Anniversary: First 50
AOPA’s Big Idea
Magazine Milestones
Designs Through the Years
Location, Location
Cessna 182: Then and Now
Irving Krick’s ‘Weathercasts’
The Ladies Fly
The 36-Pound Radio
Whatever Happened To...?
The GA Fleet—Through the Decades
The Lucky Ones
America’s Airports: Tale of a Gem
Endurance Test, Circa 1958
Test Pilot
Never Again
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - AOPA Pilot - March 2008
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 16a
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 16b
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 16c
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 16d
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Catch-A-Cardinal Sweepstakes
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Pilotage
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - AOPA Pilot’s 50th Anniversary: First 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - AOPA’s Big Idea
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Magazine Milestones
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Designs Through the Years
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Location, Location
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Cessna 182: Then and Now
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Irving Krick’s ‘Weathercasts’
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - The Ladies Fly
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - The 36-Pound Radio
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 114
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 115
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 116
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 117
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 118
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 119
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 120
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Whatever Happened To...?
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 122
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 123
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 124
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - The GA Fleet—Through the Decades
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 126
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 127
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 128
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 129
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 130
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - The Lucky Ones
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 132
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 133
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 134
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - America’s Airports: Tale of a Gem
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 136
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 137
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 138
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 139
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 140
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Endurance Test, Circa 1958
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 142
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 143
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 144
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 145
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 146
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 147
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Test Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 149
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 150
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 151
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 153
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 154
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 155
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 156
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 158
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 159
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 160
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 161
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 165
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - 166
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com