Is AOPA Forgetting about the little guy?

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
link.net...
If memory serves, their was a Tripacer followed by a Bonanza followed by
aWaco followed by a Twin Commanche. If they are going to do a different
plane every year what would you have them give away? They don't give away
airplanes to provide members with airplanes, they do it to provide a
subject
for a series of articles. It would be tough to make ten articles from a
Cub.

Granted, they do the give-away as a publicity stunt. And you're also right
about the articles. If you recall, during the year of the Bonanza, every
month had an article. For the Waco, it was every other month. I would like
them to alternate, one year, do a 182, next year, a Bonanza, etc.

The problem is, the Waco is not a useful airplane, except for doing
acrobatics. I wouldn't pay anyone $200k for a Waco, no matter how well
appointed. The Bonanza was upgraded to the point that it was a great
crosscountry machine, but not a good, knock around machine. How about a
little restraint? Do a Bonanza, but don't go overboard.

Really, a twin? What is it, like 8% of the private pilots have ME ratings?
I shutter to think of the insurance for someone like me who has no twin
time. (I know it wouldn't be a problem for you, but we're in different
fincincial areanas.)

They used to have two versions of Pillot, one of which was called Turbine
Pilot which had one or two additional articles. They decided it would be
easier to give everybody the same magazine, so now everybody gets what
used
to be Turbine Pilot. The magazine has everything it always had but, in
addition, it has the one or two turbine focused articles, so you are
complaining about recieving MORE magazine for your money.


Well, not really, they seem to be recycling articles. Every fall, there
will be the same article about flying in ice. Every spring, an article
about knocking the rust off you skills. I guess I'm getting tired of
reading the same stuff over and over.


Personally, I would like to see more articles about long flying
"adventures"
like flying around the world or through Alaska/Patagonia/Siberia or
perhaps
to the tip of South America. I think that AOPAs main purpose is to
provide

I agree. More articles like their postcard articles.


general aviation a voice in government and they do that fairly well.

Agree.



Mike
MU-2



"James Blakely" wrote in
message ...
Is it just me, or is it that AOPA is starting to ignore the Spam-can
pilot?
I've been a member for about 5 years now and each year, the airplane
they
give away becomes more impractical. They claim the Waco is worth $200k
but
it is a day VFR only aircraft. How useful is that? Now, next year,
they
are giving away a twin. What percentage of pilots have a ME ticket?
How
many could get insurance?

It is not just the airplanes either. I used to think that the AOPApilot
magazine was one of the best. Now, almost half of it is dedicated to
turbine operations. I do not see a turbine in my future at all.

It really seems to me like AOPA is moving away from the weekend pilot
and
moving toward the semi-professional pilot. It seems to me that they are
just supporting part 91 operations just because that is where most
professional pilots get their start.

So, what do you think?