Australian Sport Pilot – Issue 114, April 2026

Summary

$9.95 buys Issue 114 of Australian Sport Pilot, the official publication of Recreational Aviation Australia, and the cover feature — "97 YEARS YOUNG: The oldest new plane you can buy" — is the kind of engineering curiosity that compels even non-pilots to read on. The April 2026 edition runs 98 pages, with Phillip Prinzing's photography anchoring a feature on a vintage aircraft type that somehow remains in production.

Editor Nicholas Heath and deputy Sam McMillan deliver seven feature articles ranging from Ashton Nelson's "3500 Feet and Climbing" personal update to Phillip Ware's Neptune flight memory piece and "The Other Charles" — a retelling of the first transpacific flight. Regular columns cover safety data from November 2025 to January 2026, airworthiness culture, flight operations, photography and product reviews. The Anzac Airshow on April 18–19 is flagged as a key upcoming event.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Vintage Aircraft

p.16 · 97 YEARS YOUNG — THE OLDEST NEW PLANE YOU CAN BUY
A feature on an aircraft design that has remained in production for nearly a century, examining why this machine still attracts buyers in an era of glass cockpits and composite airframes. Anyone considering a classic-type aircraft purchase should study the ownership economics described here.

▸ Flying Features

p.22 · BORROWED WINGS — A FIRST OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO MUDGEE
A pilot recounts his first night-flight experience landing at Mudgee, covering the planning, radio procedures and personal lessons learned. Student pilots working toward their night endorsement can use the flight-log details as a practical checklist.

p.32 · 3500 FEET AND CLIMBING
Ashton Nelson updates readers on his latest aviation experiences, continuing a regular personal column that chronicles a pilot's development. Newly licensed pilots will relate to the milestones and mistakes described.

p.40 · RELIVING THE MEMORY
Phillip Ware's account of flying a Neptune aircraft, mixing historical reflection with hands-on flying impressions. Warbird enthusiasts get first-hand handling notes they will not find in a museum placard.

p.48 · THE OTHER CHARLES
The story of the first transpacific flight, revisited through archival research and modern perspective. Aviation history readers gain a fresh angle on a milestone they thought they knew.

p.56 · THE FLEDGLING FLIGHT
A step-by-step account of navigating solo for the first time, from pre-flight nerves to the post-landing debrief. Every student pilot will recognise the emotions and can compare their own solo experience against the author's.

p.62 · FLIGHT SPOTLIGHT — EXPERIENCE A GETAWAY CLOSE TO HOME
A destination guide for a short flying getaway within Australia, combining scenic value with practical landing and fuel information. Weekend-flyer club members can plan their next cross-country trip around this recommendation.

▸ Regulars / Safety & Maintenance

p.38 · BEFORE YOU DESCEND — CHRIS WINDLE: SAFETY
Safety columnist Chris Windle addresses a specific operational risk. All RAAus members should log the safety message for their pre-flight briefing files.

p.44 · SAFETY SUMMARY — NOV 2025 – JAN 2026 SAFETY DATA
The quarterly safety data digest for the November-to-January period. Club safety officers need these figures for their incident-tracking databases.

p.58 · AIRWORTHINESS IS NOT A FORM, IT'S A CULTURE
Jared Smith on airworthiness and maintenance philosophy, arguing that compliance paperwork alone does not guarantee a safe aircraft. Owner-builders and maintainers can adopt the cultural mindset described here.

p.78 · THIS AIRCRAFT STOPS HERE — MARTY PETERS: FLIGHT OPERATIONS
Flight operations columnist Marty Peters on the responsibilities that come with being the final decision-maker on a flight. A permanent reference piece for any pilot who signs a maintenance release.

▸ Lifestyle & Community

p.66 · FLYING IN PICTURES
The best reader-submitted photographs from the RAAus community, showcasing Australian aviation scenery and aircraft. Photo enthusiasts can study the composition and settings used.

p.86 · A GLARING ISSUE — CLEARING THE SKIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
A guide to aerial photography technique, covering glare management, window reflections and camera settings. Pilot-photographers gain practical fixes for common airborne shooting problems.

p.92 · WHAT'S HOT — PRODUCT REVIEWS FOR FLYERS
Product reviews covering gear relevant to the RAAus pilot community. Anyone planning a cockpit equipment purchase should check this before spending.

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Editor's Take

Issue 114 delivers exactly what a membership magazine should: features that only this community can produce. "97 Years Young" is a genuinely interesting engineering story, and "Borrowed Wings" offers the kind of first-person night-flying account that training manuals cannot replicate. The regular safety and maintenance columns — especially Jared Smith's airworthiness-culture piece — provide substance that pays off in real-world operational habits. Weak areas: the "Flying in Pictures" spread, while visually pleasant, takes up four pages that could have held another feature. "Flight Spotlight" is a short destination piece that reads more like filler. The strongest audience for this issue is the active RAAus member who flies regularly and participates in club culture; the casual aviation reader will enjoy the features but may find the regulars too insular.

Strengths
• "97 Years Young" feature on a 97-year-old aircraft design still in production
• "Borrowed Wings" provides a practical night-flying narrative for students
• Airworthiness and safety columns offer genuine operational value

Weaknesses
• "Flying in Pictures" uses four pages for community photos with minimal editorial value
• "Flight Spotlight" destination piece lacks depth

Verdict: Recommended — a strong membership magazine with two standout features and reliable regular columns.