A selection of Aeroplane issues published during 2011, including our special centenary issue (June), with a specially-commissioned 1930s-style retro painting on the cover, and someexclusive cover subjects – the P-40F (October) and SpitfireMkI (January 2012).It is amazing for me to realise that this issue of Aeroplane marks my twelfth as editor; just where does time go? In that year I have listened to the many positive and encouraging comments from you, the magazine’s loyal readers, both personally and in letters or e-mails, and, using that information, have done my utmost to continue to bring you a magazine which includes all that you expect. With that in mind, for continuation I have retained the existing series and regular columns which you have all become accustomed to seeing in the magazine. However, I have added to them a few new ideas to bring further variety to our content.

I continue to be excited by the sheer diversity of subject matter in Aeroplane. I know of no other magazine which regularly offers such a wide variety, from the earliest civil aircraft to the jetliners of the 1950s and 1960s, and from the fragile “fabric-and-wire” biplanes of the pioneer era and First World War to the military jet “hot-rods” that emerged with the advent of the jet age. Take this issue, for example, in which the aircraft illustrated in the feature on test pilot Lt Wilfred Parke RN are in stark contrast with the incredible TSR.2 covered in our latest Database.

Then there are the restoration projects and warbird flyers that we have included in the past year. It has been of particular note to me that Aeroplane has been able to bring you several major exclusives during 2011, which I am sure you enjoyed seeing before they were published anywhere else. We have plenty of exciting plans and ideas for 2012, too, so I trust we shall reward your loyalty to Aeroplane with plenty of great historic aviation reading in the year ahead.

I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday period with your families and friends. Many thanks for your continued support of Aeroplane, and I especially look forward to meeting even more of you during 2012.

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