I picked up the September issue of The Southern Aviator while awaiting fuel at the Rowan County Airport only to find a special section on killing for sport. I looked to make sure I wasn”t reading Southern Redneck instead.
The article on page 18 “One bad apple can ruin an airport” was indeed an appropriate follow-up to your obvious promotion of the killing of innocent animals. The bad apple is your magazine.
What has this to do with aviation unless it is your own personal endorsement, as well as that of your staff, to entice readers to fly for the wrong reasons? With so few remaining warbird pilots left who risked their lives for freedom, one would think writing of their heroics would be far more heartwarming than reading about modern day thrill seekers who take a life for ‘sport.”
Either stick to aviation or move on to Field and Stream.
Marion Wethington
via email
Editor’s Note: We received several letters opposing the special section on hunting as well as some positive phone calls, but the overwhelming message from our readers – pro and con – was that we should stick to aviation, and that’s just what we plan to do.
Some future special sections we”re working on include special golf deals for pilots; the gift of flight, where Southern pilots use their flying skills to help the next generation and to rescue hurricane victims; a look at type clubs; a buyer’s guide to headsets; the future of training; the best ways to cut the cost of flying; living with your plane; Sport Pilot; seaplanes; and much, much more.
We suggest that readers not place too much emphasis on any single issue of the magazine – or the single issue of hunting, for that matter. We pursue a variety of themes and subjects, and feel confident that there will be plenty to interest everyone.