Anybody Know What's Up With FlightClub?

"Jcarr" (jcarr)
05/14/2015 at 21:42 • Filed to: Planelopnik

It’s been almost a month since Chris, aka ShiftsandGiggles, made a post. Since then it’s just been shares or posts from some of the other Jalopnik authors.

Long-EZ for eye candy.

DISCUSSION (16)

jkm7680 > Jcarr
05/14/2015 at 21:49

Might just be taking a hiatus?

Funktheduck > Jcarr
05/14/2015 at 21:49

Remember, they wanted to go in a new direction. That direction was not existing

ttyymmnn > Jcarr
05/14/2015 at 21:49

I don’t, and I’ve been meaning to email Chris and ask him what’s going on. I fear that Gawker has made another change and Chris is out. But clearly, they don’t have anybody to take his place. I think they want to have an aviation-centered blog, but it’s difficult, since there is a certain amount of overlap with Foxtrot Alpha. Paul Thompson did a good job with it, but I think he was a little too airliner-centered, and didn’t quite have the right tone for Gakwer. I hope they iron it out. I would hate to see it go away.

Jcarr > Funktheduck
05/14/2015 at 21:50

Yeah, I don’t see why they couldn’t have kept Paul around and just supplemented his stuff with Chris’s. They’re both great and cover different areas of aviation.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn
05/14/2015 at 21:52

Me too. I like Paul’s stuff, he’s got a good bead on airlines. Chris’s stuff is great too, more private/sport aviation and crazy stuff.

Wish Gawker would quit screwing around with it.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr
05/14/2015 at 21:55

Agreed. Tyler’s pretty much a one-man show on FA, but there’s no reason why you couldn’t have a team of two or three writers working the beat, specializing in different areas of expertise. I imagine it’s on Gawker’s mind, but they just haven’t done anything about it.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr
05/14/2015 at 21:57

I emailed Chris, and I’ll let you know what I find out.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Jcarr
05/14/2015 at 23:06

I actually liked Paul’s stuff a lot more than the current stuff. I love reading about Airlines and huge jets. Leave the fighter jets to FoxtrotAlpha.

Jcarr > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
05/14/2015 at 23:20

You might like Airways News. I think Paul occasionally writes for them now.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr
05/15/2015 at 11:23

I got an email from Chris. For whatever reason, Travis suggested that he and Chris “part ways”, though Chris isn’t exactly sure why. Needless to say, Chris is disappointed. It looks like Tyler will be taking over FC in the near future. I like mil stuff as much as the next guy, but I hope FC doesn’t turn into a mil av circle jerk. We’ve got FA for that.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn
05/15/2015 at 11:30

That sucks. I don’t get it.

Thanks for checking, though.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr
05/15/2015 at 11:39

Chris mentioned that he hadn’t had much time to write lately, but he was also just a stringer, and not a full time employee like Tyler. I’m not sure what they expected of him. I hope Chris comes back to Oppo/Planelopnik and hangs out with the cool av geeks again.

Chris Clarke > Jcarr
05/15/2015 at 12:26

Thanks for the concern. I’d been submitting some low quality/quantity stuff lately that wasn’t really on par with what readers expect from Jalopnik. It all comes back to having time to dedicate to a hobby I really enjoyed which I’d been neglecting. I trust Tyler to generate some great content.

Jcarr > Chris Clarke
05/15/2015 at 12:46

Sorry to hear that, but I totally understand. Hope you plan to stick around Oppo.

Planning on AirVenture? Looks like it’s going to be an especially good one.

Chris Clarke > Jcarr
05/15/2015 at 13:05

I’ll be lurking around and maybe writing some still. I still love Jalopnik and will keep reading.

Yes, I’ll be at Oshkosh. I usually go for about half the week but haven’t pinned down which half yet. I really want to fly-in this year, so I’m hoping I can swing the first half.

Jcarr > Chris Clarke
06/01/2015 at 09:59

If you end up flying in, you should put a GoPro in the cockpit and sync the video up with the ATC. Watching and listening to the experience of coming in through that pattern and landing on one of the dots would make an awesome post.