AERO Australia
Background and information
AERO Australia was created from the long publishing relationship between Ray Berghouse and Stewart Wilson. In the early 1980s Ray and former partner Tom Floyd, now retired, published many titles written and or edited by Stewart. Most of these titles were on motor sport with the occasional air show book.
The pair collaborated on the 2001, 2003 and 2005 Australian International Airshow official programmes which were successful. Ray and new partner, John Kiddle, felt it was time for their company to take a permanent place in the aviation magazine market. Their business, Chevron Publishing Group has two highly successful motoring titles: Motor Racing Australia and Australian Muscle Car. In addition to these magazines Chevron publishes trade programmes, motor racing year books, produces videos and DVDs on many subjects and it has a wide range of merchandise (shirts, jackets, caps).
It was a natural fit to expand into the aviation market. Stewart and Wendy Wilson were asked if they would like to produce the new magazine (yes!) and be prepared for at least five years of hard work. It was jointly decided the magazine would be produced quarterly for a least the first year, it would be printed on high gloss quality paper stock, it would be features-based with large format illustrations, news would be in photographic style, it would cover all things aviation and set new standards for magazines in this market.
This was an exciting period of Stewart and Wendy as they came to grips with organising a network of people to work with them on the new magazine, coming up with a suitable name, deciding what should be in the magazine and much more. After months of making lists and disagreeing over suitable names and with a deadline approaching, it was decided to use Stewart's working title AERO Australia.
Stewart and Wendy wanted the magazine to reflect their interest in Australia and being the best - so the majestic Australian Wedgetail Eagle was chosen to form part of the magazine's logo. Mat Clancy of Associated Print Management, the art director for AERO, took the eagle and transformed it into the striking logo you see on the magazine at the top of this page.
AERO Australia issue one went on sale on 24 December 2003 and was met with resounding approval from its Australian and New Zealand readers. The magazine has 112 pages plus covers - larger than any other locally published aviation magazine.
AERO Australia is available from newsagents in Australia for $AU9.95 and in New Zealand for $NZ11.50. Subscriptions are available by contacting Chevron on 1300 361 146 or by filling in the subscription form on the inside the magazine.
Issue 10 (Apr-Jun 2006)
