Aerosphere

What Aerosphere does

Aerosphere is a privately held, founder-operated online aviation and space magazine publisher headquartered near Annapolis, Maryland, distributing free editorial content at aerosphere.com to aviation enthusiasts, military aviation fans, and space hobbyists. The company's core product is AEROSPHERE Air & Space Magazine, organized around 15+ recurring sections covering aerobatics, aeronautics, military aviation, space and astronautics, aviation safety (NTSB investigations), pilot proficiency, history, commentary, UFO updates, puzzles, and cover features. The operation runs on a lean editorial team of approximately four people — Publisher and Editorial Director Carlton W. Austin plus three contributing editors (John Carlisle, Jeff Pardo, and Darrin Silver) — with no disclosed institutional investment, venture funding, or corporate parent.

The business model is a freemium direct-to-consumer stack anchored on free magazine content delivered through aerosphere.com with paid e-commerce add-ons: limited-edition aviation art prints (e.g., Norman Rockwell's Man's First Step on the Moon at $75 plus $14.95 shipping; a George H.W. Bush aviation print at $50 plus $14.95 shipping) and the publisher's novel 'Second Eden' sold as a $3.99 e-book through the website, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. Founded in 1987 as an aviation art publishing business, the company has incrementally diversified into adjacent lines: a Consulting Services Division (marketing, telecommunications, human factors engineering with Oxford Research Institute, and internet development with Quicknetimage), aerobatic flight instruction, and book publishing. There is no disclosed revenue, no advertising business, and no subscription fee, and partnerships (Oxford Research Institute, Quicknetimage, GNC) are classified as minor. The technology surface is a static website and e-commerce storefront with no mobile app, no API, no patents, and no AI/ML components in evidence.

Name

Aerosphere

Legal name

Aerosphere

Website

https://www.aerosphere.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aerosphere is a magazine that publishes articles and news.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Harwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. E-commerce merchandise sales: Sales of aviation-themed art prints, including Norman Rockwell limited edition prints ($75) and other aviation art ($50).
2. Book sales: Sales of Carlton W. Austin's novel Second Eden through Barnes & Noble and Amazon ($3.99 e-book).
3. Free magazine content: Free subscription-based online magazine driving traffic and merchandise sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aerosphere publishes AEROSPHERE Air & Space Magazine, a free online aviation and space publication offering original articles across aerobatics, military aviation, space exploration, pilot training, history, and safety topics. The company also sells aviation-themed art prints (including Norman Rockwell limited editions such as Man's First Step on the Moon), publishes the Second Eden novel by Carlton W. Austin, provides aerobatic flight instruction services, and offers consulting in marketing, human factors engineering, telecommunications, and internet/e-commerce development.

Product overview

AEROSPHERE is a diversified company offering an online aviation and space magazine as its primary digital product, supplemented by aviation art publishing services and consulting services. The magazine provides original articles and news across multiple content sections covering aviation history, military aviation, space exploration, aerobatics, pilot training, and UFO research. The company also publishes the novel 'Second Eden' by Carlton W. Austin and operates an Art and Photo Gallery featuring aviation-themed imagery. Additionally, Aerosphere provides aerobatic flight instruction services and consulting services for marketing, aviation, telecommunications, and internet development industries. Founded in 1987 near Annapolis, Maryland, the company expanded from its original aviation art publishing business into online magazine publishing and various consulting services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flying Off The Handle: Commentary and Opinion section of the magazine
• Fright Flight
• GUMP CHECK
• Lazy Eights
• Mile-High Maiden
• Second Eden

Products and services

• AEROSPHERE Air & Space Magazine Free online aviation and space magazine offering original articles, news, and features across multiple editorial sections (Aerobatics, Aeronautics, Cartoons, Flying Off The Handle commentary, Fright Flight NTSB accident investigations, General Aviation, GUMP CHECK pilot proficiency, History, Lazy Eights puzzles, Letters, Mile-High Maiden, Military, Reviews, Space & Astronautics, and UFO Updates) for aerospace enthusiasts, pilots, and hobbyists.
• Aviation Art Prints Aviation-themed limited edition and standard art prints sold direct via aerosphere.com, including Norman Rockwell's Man's First Step on the Moon limited edition print ($75 plus $14.95 shipping) and historical aviation prints such as the George H.W. Bush aviation print ($50 plus $14.95 shipping), targeted at aviation enthusiasts and collectors.
• Second Eden Novel
• Aerobatic Instruction Services
• Consulting Services Specialized consulting services covering marketing and sales, aviation services and training, advertising and promotion, human factors engineering (in conjunction with Oxford Research Institute), internet development and e-commerce (in conjunction with Quicknetimage), and telecommunications consulting, targeted at business clients including ISPs and telecom operators.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Oxford Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Human Factors Engineering consulting services
• GNC (GNC Holdings)minorMarketing PartnerGNC sponsored the MiG-29 experience trip contest; promotion for product marketing

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Flying Magazine: Flying Magazine is a long-running aviation publication covering general aviation, pilot training, and aircraft reviews. Directly comparable as a print/digital aviation enthusiast magazine serving pilots and aviation hobbyists, the same core audience as Aerosphere Air & Space Magazine.
• AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association): AOPA is the largest aviation association in the U.S., publishing AOPA Pilot magazine and extensive digital content for general aviation pilots. Comparable as a content publisher and membership organization serving the same pilot/enthusiast demographic, though at vastly greater scale.
• Sport Aviation (EAA): EAA's Sport Aviation magazine serves the experimental aviation and aerobatics community — overlapping directly with Aerosphere's aerobatics coverage. Comparable as an aviation enthusiast publication targeted at pilots and builders.
• Plane & Pilot: Plane & Pilot is a digital-first aviation enthusiast publication covering aircraft reviews, pilot tips, and aviation news. Comparable as a peer aviation enthusiast magazine with a similar target reader and editorial mix.
• AVweb: AVweb is a digital aviation news and information platform serving pilots and aviation enthusiasts. Comparable as a digital-first aviation publication covering news, safety, and product reviews for the same pilot/enthusiast audience.
• General Aviation News: General Aviation News is a long-running independent publication covering general aviation news, aircraft, and pilot topics. Comparable as an independent enthusiast aviation publication serving a similar reader profile.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine: Smithsonian Air & Space is a flagship aviation and space publication covering aviation history, space exploration, and military aviation. Comparable in topical coverage to Aerosphere's space and history sections, but operates at vastly greater scale and editorial depth.
• FLYING (Bonnier Group): FLYING is a Bonnier-owned aviation enthusiast brand with digital, print, and video properties. Comparable as a multi-format aviation media brand, though backed by a major publishing conglomerate versus Aerosphere's independent operation.
• Aviation Week Network: Aviation Week is the leading aviation industry trade publication covering commercial, defense, and space sectors. Comparable in aviation editorial focus but targets industry professionals and defense contractors rather than enthusiast readers, making it adjacent rather than directly competitive.

Regional players

• In Flight USA: In Flight USA is a U.S.-based aviation publication covering general aviation, warbirds, and aviation events. Comparable as a smaller independent aviation magazine targeting enthusiast readers, similar in scale and editorial niche to Aerosphere.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerosphere