# Richard L. Collins

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Richard L. Collins Born (1933-11-28)November 28, 1933 Died April 29, 2018(2018-04-29) (aged 84) Occupation Author and journalist Nationality American Subject Aviation Years active 1947 ― 2018 Notable works Flying IFR Spouse Ann Slocomb Collins Children Three Relatives Leighton Collins

**Richard Lawrence Collins** (November 28, 1933[1] – 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](/source/General_aviation) airplanes. He was the son of [Leighton Collins](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leighton_Collins&action=edit&redlink=1) (20 April 1902 — 16 January 1995),[2] a well-known aviation writer, pioneering flight safety advocate and founder of *Air Facts* magazine.[3][4][5] Richard Collins died on April 29, 2018, aged 84.[6]

## Magazine editor and writer

The first article that Richard Collins wrote appeared in the November 1947 issue of *Air Facts*.[7] In 1968, Collins began writing for *[Flying](/source/Flying_(magazine))* magazine, and he was named Editor in Chief in 1977. He moved to *[AOPA Pilot](/source/Aircraft_Owners_and_Pilots_Association)* 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.[3][8]

## Re-launch of *Air Facts*

In 2011 Richard Collins and John Zimmerman joined with [Sporty's Pilot Shop](/source/Clermont_County_Airport) to launch an online version[4] of the print magazine *Air Facts*, which Richard's father had originated in 1938 and which had continued until 1976.[2] Listed as 'Emeritus Editor', Collins published a blog on the site and wrote articles for the journal.[5] His final contribution to the site was published on 22 March 2018,[6] 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.[7]

## Books

Collins authored 13 books about aviation weather and flying technique:[9]

- *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.[10]

## 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.[11]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Carlisle Family History: Particularly as it Pertains to the Descendants of Richard Carlisle; Allied Families"](https://books.google.com/books?id=nkk5AAAAMAAJ&q=Richard+L.+Collins+nov+28,+1933). Cecil Allten Carlisle. 30 April 1961 – via Google Books.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LCollins_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LCollins_2-1) Arkansas Aviation Historical Society (2018). ["Leighton Collins"](https://www.arkavhs.com/leighton-collins#:~:text=It%20was%20in%20the%20interest,Air%20Facts%22%20magazine%20in%201938.). Retrieved 24 July 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FlyingMag.com_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FlyingMag.com_3-1) Flying Magazine (November 2007). ["Meet Our Editors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071210175906/http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=11&article_id=317). Archived from [the original](http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=11&article_id=317) on 10 December 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aboutAirFacts_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aboutAirFacts_4-1) ["About Air Facts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180502185632/https://airfactsjournal.com/about/). *airfactsjournal.com*. Archived from [the original](https://airfactsjournal.com/about/) on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AirFactsMeetTheAuthors_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AirFactsMeetTheAuthors_5-1) ["Meet the Authors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180502190059/https://airfactsjournal.com/contributors/). *airfactsjournal.com*. Archived from [the original](http://airfactsjournal.com/contributors/) on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RLC_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RLC_6-1) Phelps, Mark (30 April 2018). ["Famed Aviation Journalist Richard Collins Dies at 84"](https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2018-04-30/famed-aviation-journalist-richard-collins-dies-85). AINonline.com. Retrieved 2 May 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_7-1) ["Richard Collins Celebrates 70 Years of Writing about Airplanes - Media Center – Sporty's Pilot Shop | Media Center – Sporty's Pilot Shop"](https://sportyspress.com/2017/11/richard-collins-celebrates-70-years-writing-airplanes/). *sportyspress.com*. Retrieved 25 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Collins, RichardL. (October 2008). ["A Long and Satisfying Journey"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090907024606/http://www.flyingmag.com/ontop/1134/a-long-and-satisfying-journey.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.flyingmag.com/ontop/1134/a-long-and-satisfying-journey.html) on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Amazon_9-0)** ["Amazon's Author Page"](https://www.amazon.com/Richard-L.-Collins/e/B001H6S61Q/). *Amazon*. Retrieved 22 January 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sporty_10-0)** Sportsman's Market (2009). ["The Next Hour"](http://sportys.com/PilotShop/product/13372). Retrieved 28 November 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Richard Collins (3 April 2013A). ["The perfect co-pilot of many years"](https://airfactsjournal.com/2013/04/the-perfect-copilot-of-many-years/). Retrieved 24 July 2022.

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States Other IdRef Yale LUX

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