First 75 Years, The

Dear Readers:

Model Airplane News was there right at the beginning. It was 1929, and gas-powered model engines weren't readily available when my grandfather, George C. Johnson, launched the magazine. he was an exceptional mana cavalry officer, pilot, journalist and publishing visionary-and he wanted to be part of the bright future he saw for aero modeling. he had already produced some of the most widely read detective and romance magazines of the day, but he decided to embark on the production of what would be his lasting legacy and an American publishing icon.

The era during which Model Airplane News was introduced was one of inspired adventure. Higher, faster, farther-record-setting pilots with their radical new airplanes were the heroes for several generations of young people. And Model Airplane News was the information pipeline that helped bring so many youngsters into the new field of model flight.

The magazine continued to grow with the nation; it kept up with aviation and modeling trends through World War II, the Korean War, the jet and experimental developments of the '5Os and on into the Space Age. In the '80s and '90s, we transformed Model Airplane News and Air Age into a topnotch, truly professional media company, and our magazine family grew with RC Car Action, RC Nitro, Backyard Flyer, RC Boat Modeler, RC MicroFlight and Flight Journal.

Today, in 2004, after 75 years, Air Age Media is healthy and thriving. This year, we'll publish more than 12,000 pages in 70 issues. And we've broadened the scope of our activities by expanding into multimedia, the Web, books, DVDs, innovative trade and consumer shows-and more. Only our mission hasn't changed: to give our readers the most exciting, most comprehensive and best-respected RC journalism in the industry.

But we couldn't have achieved any of this without your input and J support. We will continue to honor that tradition as we salute you-our readers-on this milestone in publishing.

Sincerely yours,

Louis V. DeFrancesco Jr.

President and CEO

Air Age Media Inc.

Copyright Air Age Publishing Jan 2004
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