Aeroplane
December 2003

Reviewed by Jim Schubert

Internet Modeler does not usually review monthly magazines but this issue of Aeroplane is special. It celebrates, in the way that only an English enthusiasts' magazine can, the centenary of the world's first controlled, sustained, powered, manned flight. The Database feature gives us, in 20 lavishly illustrated pages, the story of the events and work leading up to the Wrights' success of December 17, 1903 and follows their subsequent paranoid secretiveness and decline as designers/builders of aeroplanes. Other articles relate to the 100 years of aviation since then. A century of aviation films is briefly reviewed for you film buffs. Yorkshire experimenter Sir George Cayley (1773-1850) is given his due as a predecessor of the turn of the century experimenters.

You need a copy of this issue in your souvenir collection along with a copy of the Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine for march 2003 to commemorate the first century of flight.

In my opinion Aeroplane is the, consistently best, aviation history enthusiast's magazine. I have been a subscriber since the beginning and have all the issues from Volume 1, No. 1 of May 1973 to date. If you need an article from an old issue, let me know and I'll copy it for you.

If you are not yet familiar with this outstanding magazine, take a chance and spend US$6.75, about seven Euros, at a newsstand near you for this special centenary issue. You can also take a look at their web site at to see more of what this magazine is all about.