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I like Plane & Pilot, but they don't know about us. I have sent the ediotors (typo, honest) the following:
Your listing of type clubs had a serious omission, especially since it was a sidebar to the Buying A Plane article: the Cessna 150-152 Club. Click on over to Cessna150152.com and you'll begin to see what I mean.
Tom Winter

Their website has a two-free-issue deal at the bottom of page one.

How the Hey could they miss us????

150s-152' for cryin' out loud????

Oh my.

We need to talk to them.

We need to give the editor a lifetime membership ....

Maybe then they could stay abreast of the times!

That's funny. They're one of the magazines that hasn't responded to my inquiry about Clinton - I am trying to get an article and some slides I shot there published. AOPA didn't hesitate; they just said NO thank you...

Yeah.... guess we're not turbine powered, multi-engine, all glass, transonic, and all worth millions.

They don't know what they're missing. Their loss.

We'll just have to make a 40 cessna diamond like the RV guys did at OSH for the next AOPA expo to get their attention

Allow me to cast something out into the water and I'm very curious about how others view things regarding AOPA:

First off, I've been a member of AOPA for 27 years. All of my life I've been submerged with aviation and anything related to it.

About 10 years ago I started having negative thoughts regarding AOPA and my membership with them. Driving most of my negativity was the way they seemed to be driven by dollars. This drive continues to increase. I'm getting very tired of the way they continue to pat themselves on the back for fighting for this and fighting for that and portray themselves as the knight in shinning armor and without them armagedon is just around the corner. If I want to hear about doom and gloom or how I need to be taken care of I'll listen to a politician.

They caved in on the user fee debate with a compromise. We will see some user fees which is now the "foot in the door".

The fight should have been that the money we all have been paying in fuel taxes that created a 5 billion dollar surplus and the on going collection of these fuel taxes would easily fund our needs but the politcians raided our fund, stole the money, put it in the general fund to spend it on those 300.00 hammers and 600.00 toilets we've all heard about and it's gone.

The magazine articles are getting so boring. I don't mind reading an article about a Learjet once in a while but the jet setters are not what built AOPA and they don't represent our "grass roots" or the "base line" of aviation.

I get the impression that AOPA has and continues to loose it's focus on what aviation is really all about and what really built the AOPA organization. I understand that every segment of aviation above our GA level has it's place and duty to perform. I admire people who make their living flying planes above our level.

Why do they need to spend membership dollars to restore a plane every year just to give it away? Are they that hard up for members that they need to entice us this way? The AOPA membership is more like a lotto ticket regarding this yearly plane. Do they do it just so they have something "fresh" to write about to fill up the pages?

There are hundreds of planes that are restored every year that would make excellent grass roots articles that could easily fill this slot every year and years to come.

The article offer regarding our simple fly-in that they discounted so quickly only stregthens my belief that they've lost it. The Bonanza pilot over flying CWI who made the comment about "at least someone still knows how to have fun with their planes" (or something like that) recognizes what I'm talking about and what AOPA fails to see.

"AT LEAST SOMEONE STILL KNOWS HOW TO HAVE FUN WITH THEIR PLANES"

Would THAT not be the PERFECT headline above an article???????

Sorry to write a book. I let my membership expire last month but then reinstated it 2 days ago. I don't think I'll do it again a year from now.

Jim

Jim,

I feel the same way about AOPA like you do. I joined in 1995 when I started flying. Cancelled in 1997. Rejoined in 2001 only because I bought the plane and they give 5% discount on insurance, which pretty much pays for the membership.

I've been a member of AOPA for 46 years, since 1961. When I first joined I had second thoughts because they were against everything. Later I concluded that we needed a voice in DC and the AOPA was that voice. I'm having second thoughts now, and I see the EAA as our voice.

Jim, I'm also sick and tired of the "jet set" orientation of the AOPA Pilot, and I also think they have lost their "grass roots". And I don't have much patience with the airplane give away. Still, I'm not willing to give up on the AOPA just yet. Their safety programs, and medical advice are worthwhile to me (at my age).

Geo.

Is AOPA the only choice that we have? Is there another org that has the added benefits? I agree with most of the above and would like other options but will keep AOPA for now. The main reason is the legal department (had to use it once). I pay the extra for it each year and also get he 5% discount for insurance. As George stated their medical info is very valuable when one gets to that point. They might not be the best but are the only show in town (for the added stuff) that I know of. Options?