Here at Left Hander we are
constantly comparing ourselves with our peer magazines. If Pilot
runs an article on flying a Spitfire then we won’t, if Flyer
gets a free trip into space then we wouldn’t dream of asking
and if Today’s Pilot suddenly did a write up of what it’s
like to do a PPL/IR then naturally we would not want to be accused
of being copy cats (well if it was free that might be a different
matter – Ed).
To make sure that we are ahead of the game and not second guessing
our peers all the time we decided to get inside the heads of the
editors to see what really makes them tick in an attempt to continue
being highly original (and completely fictional) in our quest
to reach the No 1 spot in the GA world – well you’ve
got to aim high eh?
We commissioned a highly thought of market research company to
design a questionnaire that would reveal the innermost thoughts
of the editors of the four GA mags worthy of mention in the UK
(Sorry there’s GASCO and GASIL too which are pretty decent
but we’re trying to create an atmosphere here, and anyway
you have to subscribe to those) and then to conduct face to face
interviews.
So click here and find out just what makes the editors, that’s
Nick Wall from Flyer, Dave Unwin from Today’s Pilot, Dave
Calderwood from Pilot and myself from Left Hander, tick.
Post script from Steve
Well I would have answered if you had asked me you cliquey git!
Not that I care anyway about your stupid bloody questionnaire!
Floooouuuunce!!!!!
|
Name |
Dave Unwin |
Nick Wall |
Dave Calderwood |
Rob Sawyer |
Magazine |
Today's Pilot |
Flyer |
Pilot |
Left Hander |
Position
in magazine |
Editor |
Editor |
Dave didn't
want to take part in this (the spoilsport) so we
don't know much about him and legally can't make it up. However
we do know that he likes to appear in crap TV programmes about
trying to win old battles and failing miserably. |
Editor I think |
Public
school toff? |
No |
Of course |
Absolutely not - unfortunately |
Level
of education?
|
A level |
Minimal (see above) |
Gave up PhD on welding at Cambridge in 1983 |
Licence |
CAA PPL/FAA CPL/FAI Silver C |
Licence – To thrill |
PPL |
Ratings |
Single Engine Land, Single Engine Sea, Multiengine
Land, BGA 'B' cat instructor |
Ratings – I try to avoid seamen |
IMC and Night |
Total
hours |
3,600-ish |
Who's asking; you, the CAA or a CFI? |
about 310 |
Ever
been in a helicopter? |
Yes |
Y-e-e-e-e-e-e-s |
Yes R44 and S61 (hideous) |
Ever
been in a microlite? |
Sure |
Yes |
No thankfully |
Ever
been in a glider? |
Once or twice |
Are you kidding? |
Yes - tedious 4 flights 15 minutes total time |
Ever
been in a balloon? |
Been what in a balloon? |
Sadly, no |
No sadly not |
Ever
had a near death experience? |
Plenty |
Are we talking motorbikes or flying? |
Yes and it really was close |
All
time favourite aeroplane |
Buhl LA-1 Bull Pup |
Extra (till next week) |
NA P51 Mustang |
All
time hero in anything |
Eric Brown |
John Farley |
David Gilmour |
Favourite
landing surface |
Water |
Whatever |
Tarmac - long and wide |
Favourite
airfield to land at |
Talgarth |
The one I can find |
Guernsey possibly |
Favourite
airfield to take off from |
Talgarth |
The one with the aeroplane |
Leeds after that incident glad to get away |
Favourite
toilets at an airfield
|
The Gents |
The nearest |
Kemble |
Favourite
airfield to eat at
|
Santa Paula, CA |
Are you paying? |
Lots - Old Buckenham Rochester and Turweston were
good |
Which
airfield do you hate the most?
|
I don't hate anything |
The one I can't see |
Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green - sorry |
Favourite
GA accessory
|
An aeroplane |
GPS (see above) |
GPS |
Favourite
Airfix kit |
Spitfire |
Lancaster |
1/32nd scale P51 Mustang |
Favourite
alcoholic drink |
Jack Daniels |
Any (apart from vodka) |
Stella |
Favourite
food |
Mexican |
Curry |
Sausage beans and chips |
Favourite
band / artiste |
Tom Waites |
Michael Schenker |
Pink Floyd |
Last
CD you bought |
REM-best of |
Blue Oyster Cult Live 2002 |
Katie Melua |
Favourite
book |
Round The Bend - Neville Shute |
Piece of Cake |
Behind the scenes at the museum - Kate Atkinson |
Last
book you read |
The Log From The Sea Of Cortez - John Steinbeck |
Bring Back My Stringbag (Lord Kilbracken's adventures
in WW2) |
Wrecks and Relics the Album |
What
do you want for Xmas? |
Amphibious flying boat |
Chipmunk |
I forgot I did this so long ago er a skiing holiday |
What
do you wear in bed?
|
Nothing is worn in bed, it's all in perfect working
order. |
Goggles, helmet… |
My left hand! |
What
is your favourite GA mag? |
!!!!!!! |
You need to ask |
That would be telling |