Richard L. Collins

[[File:Richard L. Collins aviation author.jpg|thumb]] {{Infobox writer | embed = | honorific_prefix = | name = Richard L. Collins | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|11|28}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|04|29|1933|11|28}} | death_place = | resting_place = | occupation = Author and journalist | language = | residence = | nationality = American | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | home_town = | period = | genre =  | subject = Aviation | movement = | notable_works = ''Flying IFR'' | spouse = Ann Slocomb Collins | children = Three | relatives = Leighton Collins | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | years_active = 1947 ― 2018 | module = | website =  | portaldisp =  }}

'''Richard Lawrence Collins''' (November 28, 1933<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nkk5AAAAMAAJ&q=Richard+L.+Collins+nov+28,+1933|title=Carlisle Family History: Particularly as it Pertains to the Descendants of Richard Carlisle; Allied Families|date=30 April 1961|publisher=Cecil Allten Carlisle|via=Google Books}}</ref> – April 29, 2018) was an American aviation author and journalist.

Collins earned his private pilot certificate in 1952 and subsequently logged over 20,000 hours in [[general aviation]] airplanes. He was the son of [[Leighton Collins]] (20 April 1902 — 16 January 1995),<ref name=LCollins/> a well-known aviation writer, pioneering flight safety advocate and founder of ''Air Facts'' magazine.<ref name="FlyingMag.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=11&article_id=317|title=Meet Our Editors|access-date=12 January 2008|last=Flying Magazine|date=November 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210175906/http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=11&article_id=317|archivedate=10 December 2007}}</ref><ref name=aboutAirFacts/><ref name=AirFactsMeetTheAuthors/> Richard Collins died on April 29, 2018, aged 84.<ref name=RLC>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2018-04-30/famed-aviation-journalist-richard-collins-dies-85|title=Famed Aviation Journalist Richard Collins Dies at 84|first=Mark|last=Phelps|date=30 April 2018|accessdate=2 May 2018|publisher=AINonline.com}}</ref>

==Magazine editor and writer== The first article that Richard Collins wrote appeared in the November 1947 issue of ''Air Facts''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://sportyspress.com/2017/11/richard-collins-celebrates-70-years-writing-airplanes/|title=Richard Collins Celebrates 70 Years of Writing about Airplanes - Media Center – Sporty's Pilot Shop {{!}} Media Center – Sporty's Pilot Shop|website=sportyspress.com|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref> In 1968, Collins began writing for ''[[Flying (magazine)|Flying]]'' magazine, and he was named Editor in Chief in 1977. He moved to ''[[Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association|AOPA Pilot]]'' magazine as Publisher and Editor in 1988. In 1993, he returned to ''Flying'' as an editor at large, where he wrote a monthly column as well as feature articles. In October 2008 Collins retired as a regular contributor to ''Flying'' magazine. At the time of retirement, Collins had been on the masthead of an aviation magazine since July 1958.<ref name="FlyingMag.com"/><ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.flyingmag.com/ontop/1134/a-long-and-satisfying-journey.html|title=A Long and Satisfying Journey|access-date=13 September 2008|last=Collins|first=RichardL.|date=October 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907024606/http://www.flyingmag.com/ontop/1134/a-long-and-satisfying-journey.html|archivedate=7 September 2009}}</ref>

==Re-launch of ''Air Facts''== In 2011 Richard Collins and John Zimmerman joined with [[Clermont County Airport|Sporty's Pilot Shop]] to launch an online version<ref name=aboutAirFacts>{{cite web|url=https://airfactsjournal.com/about/|title=About Air Facts|work=airfactsjournal.com|accessdate=2 May 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502185632/https://airfactsjournal.com/about/|archivedate=2 May 2018}}</ref> of the print magazine ''Air Facts'', which Richard's father had originated in 1938 and which had continued until 1976.<ref name=LCollins>{{cite web|url=https://www.arkavhs.com/leighton-collins#:~:text=It%20was%20in%20the%20interest,Air%20Facts%22%20magazine%20in%201938.|title=Leighton Collins|author=Arkansas Aviation Historical Society|date=2018|access-date=24 July 2022}}</ref> Listed as 'Emeritus Editor', Collins published a blog on the site and wrote articles for the journal.<ref name=AirFactsMeetTheAuthors>{{cite web|url=http://airfactsjournal.com/contributors/|title=Meet the Authors|work=airfactsjournal.com|accessdate=2 May 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502190059/https://airfactsjournal.com/contributors/|archivedate=2 May 2018}}</ref> His final contribution to the site was published on 22 March 2018,<ref name=RLC/> five weeks before his death.

During his nearly 61-year writing career, Collins wrote 1500+ magazine articles, 13 books, and created a library of aviation training videos.<ref name=":0"/>

==Books== Collins authored 13 books about aviation weather and flying technique:<ref name="Amazon">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Richard-L.-Collins/e/B001H6S61Q/|title=Amazon's Author Page|website= Amazon|access-date=22 January 2016}}</ref> * ''Flying IFR'' * ''Flying the Weather Map'' * ''Flight Level Flying'' * ''Instrument Flying Refresher'' * ''Air Crashes'' * ''Mastering the Systems: Air Traffic Control and Weather'' * ''The Perfect Flight'' * ''Tips to Fly by'' * ''Thunderstorms and Airplanes'' * ''Flying Safely'' * ''Pilot Upgrade: How to Stay Current in Safety'' * ''Logbooks: Life in Aviation'' * ''The Next Hour: The Most Important Hour in Your Logbook'' – released in 2009; the last of his books, dealing with the prevention of aircraft accidents.<ref name="Sporty"> {{cite web|url=http://sportys.com/PilotShop/product/13372|title=The Next Hour|access-date=28 November 2009|last=Sportsman's Market|year=2009}}</ref>

==Personal== Collins married Ann Slocomb in 1958. They had three children, Charlotte, Sarah, and Richard. His wife died on 26 March 2013. She was a staunch supporter and editorial assistant to Collins during their 55-year marriage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://airfactsjournal.com/2013/04/the-perfect-copilot-of-many-years/|author=Richard Collins|title=The perfect co-pilot of many years|date=3 April 2013A|access-date=24 July 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Richard L.}} [[Category:1933 births]] [[Category:2018 deaths]] [[Category:American aviators]] [[Category:American aviation writers]] [[Category:American flight instructors]]