The first 'new and improved' Scramble, completely in English, should almost be on your doorstep by now (at least in the Netherlands). This mail is a bit longer than usual but explains the contents of the current issue as well as a few of our plans.
In this month's edition we have special features about:
-AIR FORCE OVERVIEW USAFE
Every month you can expect a short overview of all the active aircraft of a European air arm. First up is the United States Air Force in Europe.
-AIRFIELD GUIDE EVREUX
The Thunderbirds are coming to Europe and will also display at this French transport base. Do you want to know where you can stand and see them or take the best pictures? Have a look at the map and the directions how to get there.
-AIRFIELD GUIDE LYNEHAM
A ‘must’ after, or before, every visit to the RIAT at RAF Fairford is a look over the fence at RAF Lyneham. Do you really know all the spots? Where are the best spots for spotting and where for filling your digital memory cards?
-AVIATION NATION
The premier US air show at the end of the season is an annual event at Nellis AFB. Piet Luijken was there and reports on the viewing and photo possibilities as well as on the way this show operates.
-ESTONIAN AIR FORCE
The history and plans of this young air force are explained and illustrated with some great pictures. This article was written by subscriber Giorgio Ciarini. By the way, we encourage members to send in their own articles for publication in the magazine!
-F-35A LIGHTNING II FIRST FLIGHT.
If you like it or not this is the plane you will have to look at for probably the rest of your spotting career. Is it even the last manned fighter? An overview of its development history with several unique pictures of the first taxi tests, first flight and the chase aircraft on that first flight.
-PHOTOCALL
This new item will return a couple of times a year and gives tips and tricks on how to make the best pictures, how to work on your digital images and how to store them.
-TRIPTEASE KABUL
There is still lots going on and several of our subscribers have been here already. This report from early 2006 gives all the details.
Our monthly returning topics:
-Movements and trips Netherlands, Belgium + Rest of the World, civil and military;
-The latest news, civil and military;
-Updates on the world's aircraft fleets, civil and military;
-Aircraft mishaps in Dustpan and Brush;
-Wrecks & Relics;
-Warbirds;
-Scramble Intelligence Service;
-Showreports.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES NOW SCRAMBLE IS COMPLETELY IN ENGLISH?
We started with the cover. The last time this had changed was eleven years ago. It looks more professional and spectacular. But as with the entire magazine, except for the printing and distribution, it is made completely by the volunteers of the editorial team of the Dutch Aviation Society. Do you want your picture on the cover? Send it to milupload@scramble.nl Technical data is 300dpi by 2800pixels high and 2000pixels wide.
The military updates section has completely disappeared from the magazine. The most important registrations are mentioned in the increased news section. In stead we have chosen, as one of the outcomes of our online questionnaire of 2005, to present this section online. Members can easily download this section as a PDF-file. It is still illustrated by great pictures from our subscribers, but now in colour. The layout has changed a bit and with this edition we can offer almost 25 pages of military updates from around the world!
Besides the military updates we will also present the full Amsterdam Schiphol movements on our website. The highlights will also be mentioned in the magazine, although a technical hick-up has prevented us from publishing them in this month’s magazine.
What can I see at an airport? How do I get there? Where are the best spots? These questions were frequently asked in the questionnaire. More airfield guides will appear in the magazine and more will appear online. Currently over 500 airfield guides can be found online and every day more are added. A lot are open to all visitors of the website, but for many others you need a password.
A couple of times a year we will publish articles on digital photography. Tips and tricks on how to make good quality pictures, how to store your pictures and info on equipment.
Several other regular topics were reviewed and beefed up to give more and better info.
This combined with a huge website in which you can find dozens of civil and military databases, news on upcoming air shows around the world as well as show reports dating back to the Sixties, Order of Battles of the majority of the Air Forces, Airfield Guides, a Wiki, a popular forum and much more.
MORE HOT NEWS:
Our online shop now also offers PayPal to pay for your Scramble goodies. This is a secure way of paying and has no extra charges to the customer. Check out http://www.scramble.nl/shop.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or http://www.paypal.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more info.
Now the SMS (Scramble Military Serials) have been sold out we can offer something equally exciting, but a lot warmer. Besides the well known T-shirt we now also have a navy blue polo shirt for sale. Only available in size XL (we know ourselves and our market...) and prices are: Euro 17.00 in the Netherlands, Euro 19.00 in Europe and Euro 21.00 in the rest of the world for Scramble subscribers, this includes P&P. Non-subscribers pay Euro 2.00 extra.
Martin de Boers 5th Edition F-16 Fighting Falcon is the same quality as always, but contains the latest info on the latest deliveries of this popular fighter. In March 2006 the 4300th Viper was delivered to the Air Force of Oman. All serials, construction numbers, units, w/o info and more is listed in this handy booklet.
Only Euro 12.25 in the Netherlands, Euro 14.50 in Europe and Euro 16.75 in the rest of the world for Scramble subscribers, this includes P&P. Non-subscribers pay Euro 5.00 extra.
If you want to receive the contents of Scramble magazine in your mailbox for free every month send an e-mail to scramble-info-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (This is NOT a subscription to the magazine!). You will also receive the Scramble Intelligence Service bulletins with the latest news on exercises, harbour visits and other important visitors on the airport near you!
WHY NOT SUBSCRIBE?
And be the first to know what is going on in the military and civil aviation world and the airfield near you. Besides the monthly magazine, which averages about 150 pages (based on 2005 average), you will have a deeper access to our online databases (which are regarded the most informative in the world), airfield guides and lots more on our website. You also get a discount on all our shop items. The magazine is in English, check out http://www.scramble.nl/mag.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for all the details and this issue could be on your doorstep very soon.