Page 4 - Volume 15 Number 12

editor’sbriefingChanging The CommandWith this issue, Twin & Turbine begins a slight (very slight, hopefully) editorial change, as our long-time leader Dianne White takes on a lot of new responsibilities as Vice President of Corporate Communications forCessna Aircraft. We tried our best to keep her right where she’s always been, making the copy flow here at T&T, but with her increased duties it couldn’t happen.So, this month, Twin & Turbine magazine has a different name on the contents page. My name is LeRoy Cook, brought up from the farm team as Interim Editor; some of you may have seen me in these pages over the past half-dozen years, writing about airplanes and airplane people. Dianne spotted me one day, holding a sign on the side of the road, and was kind enough to shepherd me further along as a writer. Kindred spirits, both of us learned to fly in the unfettered skies of the midwest and have discovered the joy of personal travel in general aviation airplanes.When I started writing about aviation subjects some 40 years ago, these great owner-flown airplanes we have in today’s fleet were just getting started. Turbocharging and its associated cabin pressurization were new, turboprops like the King Air and Turbo Commander had only been around a few years and the light jet revolution, sparked by the Cessna Citation, was still in development. And, back then the term “glass panel” would have given rise to crashworthiness fears! Owner pilots, however, haven’t changed. They still want to know how to best use and maintain their aircraft, how to minimize costs whilemaximizing performance, and how to keep safe while enjoying their flying. Twin & Turbine Magazine has always tried to help you along the way.To do this, we depend on a crew, and we’ve got a great one at Twin & Turbine. Our faithful columnists, Kevin Dingman, David Miller and Thomas Turner, know how to turn a phrase so it’ll stick with you. Our other contributors are carefully chosen for the expertise and content they bring. And we’ve been honored to have preeminent aviation photographer Paul Bowen grace our pages with his artistry. Publishers Dave Moore and Scott Lizenby have been very supportive during this sudden transition (Dianne’s summons to Mahogany Row came quickly, while we were both out on the show circuit). And, for my part, I’ve been very grateful to find an accessible staff that I didn’t know we had in the back rooms at Village Press, Inc., putting all the ingredients together to make the first-class package you hold in your hands.Some of our finest stories originate from reader input. I’m already scratching around in the never-ending hunt for good material, and you’ve probably seen some interesting aircraft or owners out there that other pilots would like to know about. Tell us about them; it’s your ideas and input that make T&T a unique magazine, so don’t be afraid to communicate. I’m at cookleroy@ argolink.net or 2779 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686, when I’m not out flying.LeRoy Cook, Editor22 • TE DECEMBER 2011WWIIN &&&&TT T TUUURRBBIINNE