Plane & Pilot Magazine

What Plane & Pilot Magazine does

Plane & Pilot Magazine is a general aviation publication serving pilots ranging from students to experienced aircraft owners, with editorial content spanning aircraft reviews, flight training, product recommendations, avionics, ownership guidance, and industry news. Founded in 1965 (one source indicates 1970), the title has operated for over 50 years and is published six times per year, transitioning to digital-only format during the 2020 COVID-19 period. The product surface includes a print and digital magazine, a native iOS app distributed via the Apple App Store (supporting iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision with offline reading, bookmarks, customizable reading modes, and Text-to-Speech), free email newsletters, and integration with the FLYING Shop e-commerce storefront and the AircraftForSale.com marketplace.

The company is a privately held asset under Firecrown Media Inc., a holding company that unites nine aviation media brands including Flying Magazine, AVweb, AirlineGeeks, Aircraft For Sale, KITPLANES, The Aviation Consumer, FLYING Finance, FindAPilot.com, and FLYING Shop. Operating from Chattanooga, Tennessee with a team of 8 employees, Plane & Pilot functions as both a standalone editorial brand and a node within Firecrown's broader aviation media network. App development and digital subscription infrastructure are handled through Flying Media Group, LLC, suggesting a corporate structure where Firecrown Media Inc. is the parent holding company and Flying Media Group manages digital product operations.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring magazine subscriptions (print and digital at $35.95/year via subscribe.flyingmag.com), digital subscriptions and single-issue purchases on the iOS App Store ($1.99–$4.99 per issue), and advertising sales delivered through Firecrown Aviation's cross-brand media kits. The go-to-market approach is multi-channel, combining the planeandpilotmag.com website, social media presence on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, email newsletters, mobile app distribution, and on-the-ground coverage at aviation events such as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Customer segments include general aviation pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation enthusiasts, with no named enterprise or B2B customers and revenue derived from a long tail of individual consumer subscriptions and aviation industry advertisers.

Name

Plane & Pilot Magazine

Legal name

Firecrown Media Inc.

Website

https://planeandpilotmag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plane & Pilot Magazine is a long-running general aviation publication serving pilots and aircraft owners with aircraft reviews, flight training content, product recommendations, and industry news, distributed via print, digital, iOS app, and newsletters under Firecrown Media Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Subscription-based revenue from print and digital magazine subscriptions sold through the Flying Media Group platform. Subscriptions available via online order form and mobile app.
2. Digital Subscriptions: Digital-only subscriptions for mobile app and web-based content access. App offers single issue purchases as well as subscription tiers.
3. Advertising Revenue: The magazine sells advertising space to aviation industry partners, with media kits available for both print and digital placements. Firecrown Aviation unites multiple aviation media brands for advertisers.
4. Newsletter Subscriptions: Free newsletters delivered to subscribers, with potential for premium or sponsored newsletter content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Plane & Pilot Magazine is a general aviation magazine published six times per year in both print and digital editions, covering aircraft reviews, flight training, product recommendations, safety, and aviation news. Distribution is supported by an iOS mobile app, free email newsletters, and an e-commerce merchandise store under the Firecrown Aviation media group. Target readers are general aviation pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation enthusiasts in North America.

Product overview

Plane & Pilot Magazine is a general aviation adventure-based publication operated by Firecrown Media Inc., offering a unified print and digital magazine experience along with a native iOS mobile application. The portfolio includes the core Plane & Pilot Magazine (print and digital editions, 6 issues per year), the iOS mobile app with offline reading and text-to-speech capabilities, free email newsletters, and the FLYING Shop e-commerce store. The publication covers aircraft reviews, flight training, pilot proficiency, avionics, aircraft ownership, and industry news, with sister brands including FLYING Magazine, AVweb, AirlineGeeks, Kitplanes, and Aviation Consumer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plane & Pilot Magazine (Print & Digital) General aviation magazine published six times per year covering aircraft reviews, flight training tips, product recommendations, industry news, safety information, and pilot proficiency content. Targeted at general aviation pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation enthusiasts. Available in print through the Flying Media Group subscription platform and digitally via the iOS mobile app.
• Plane & Pilot iOS Mobile App Native iOS application for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision offering offline reading, bookmarks, customizable light/dark/sepia/gray reading modes, text-to-speech, search across all issues, and cross-platform account login. Distributed via the iOS App Store with single-issue purchases and annual digital subscription options.
• Plane & Pilot Email Newsletters Free email newsletter subscriptions delivering Plane & Pilot aviation news, articles, and updates directly to subscribers' inboxes.
• FLYING Shop Online e-commerce store offering aviation-themed merchandise, gifts, and products for pilots and aviation enthusiasts, operated under the Firecrown Aviation brand umbrella.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Firecrown Media Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirecrown Media Inc. is the parent company and publisher of Plane & Pilot Magazine. The company unites aviation's most trusted media brands including Flying Magazine, AVweb, AirlineGeeks, Aircraft For Sale, KITPLANES, The Aviation Consumer, FLYING Finance, FindAPilot.com, and FLYING Shop. Plane & Pilot is published under the Firecrown Aviation umbrella.
• Flying Media Group, LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationFlying Media Group, LLC is the developer of the Plane & Pilot iOS mobile app. The app is listed under the developer account and provides digital magazine delivery with features including offline reading, bookmarks, and multiple reading modes.
• Flying MagazinemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister publication under Firecrown Media Inc. Both publications are part of the Firecrown Aviation media group. Cross-promotional opportunities exist between the two flagship aviation publications.
• AVwebminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of Firecrown Aviation media brand portfolio. Aviation news and content website offering complementary coverage to Plane & Pilot Magazine.
• Aircraft For SaleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirecrown Aviation brand providing aircraft listing services. Cross-linked on Plane & Pilot website with aircraft listings visible throughout the site.
• KITPLANESminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirecrown Aviation brand focused on kit aircraft building. Sister publication to Plane & Pilot Magazine serving the experimental aircraft community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AVweb: Sister Firecrown brand providing aviation news and content online. Reaches a similar GA pilot audience through a digital-first format rather than magazine, competing for the same advertising dollars.
• Flying Magazine: Sister publication under Firecrown Media Inc. covering general aviation with overlapping pilot audience, subscription model, and advertising base. Most direct comparable given shared ownership and similar editorial scope.
• AOPA Pilot Magazine: Official publication of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the largest GA pilot organization in the US. Targets the same general aviation pilot and aircraft owner audience with subscription and advertising revenue.
• General Aviation News: Independent print and digital GA publication covering news, aircraft reviews, and pilot topics. Directly comparable in niche audience targeting and subscription/advertising business model.
• KITPLANES: Sister Firecrown brand focused on experimental and kit-built aircraft. Shares the same parent, ad sales infrastructure, and pilot audience with a narrower focus on homebuilt aviation.
• The Aviation Consumer: Sister Firecrown publication focused on aviation product reviews and buyer guidance. Targets aircraft owners and pilots making purchasing decisions, complementing Plane & Pilot's ownership content.

Broad incumbents

• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): Largest GA membership organization in the US with its own media properties, training resources, and insurance products. Represents a broader incumbent that bundles content with membership benefits.
• EAA Sport Aviation: Official publication of the Experimental Aircraft Association, reaching a large captive audience of recreational pilots and homebuilders. A larger established GA publication with member-driven distribution.

Regional players

• Pilot Magazine (UK): Long-running UK general aviation magazine serving European pilots. Comparable in editorial scope and subscription model, but operates in a different geography from Plane & Pilot's US-centric audience.

Emerging players

• Flying Magazine YouTube / Social Channels: YouTube and social media aviation creators (e.g., pilots, aviation influencers) who compete for pilot attention with free video content, potentially substituting for magazine subscriptions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/planeandpilot
• Facebookfacebook.com/planeandpilot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plane-&-pilot-magazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Plane & Pilot Magazine