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The Evolution of The Mobility Forum

  • Published
  • By Kim Brumley
  • Staff Writer
Summer 2014 --  Sixty years ago, the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) established a lasting legacy for The MATS Flyer magazine when the first edition was printed in June 1954. Since inception, much has changed with the publication, the publication process, and even the way it is delivered to readers. However, the mission to deliver a vital message within the 40-page publication has remained unchanged.

One of the first major changes came in 1966 when MATS became the Military Airlift Command (MAC) and the magazine was renamed The MAC Flyer. In 1992, when MAC and the Strategic Air Command were inactivated and combined to form Air Mobility Command (AMC), the magazine was renamed The Mobility Forum.

We are all familiar with the "Rosie the Riveter" image and are aware that World War II resulted in great advances in production processes and machinery in factories across the nation. During that time, and in the postwar years, printing presses also modernized and moved into offset printing, which made publishing more efficient. Although the process was simplified in the 1950s, using color in publications was not. Presses only had the capability of printing one color at time. To introduce another color, press operators had to reset plates, inject another ink into the press, and run the paper back through. This process is evident with the initial MATS Flyer editions where only two colors or spot color printing is used. Today, presses have the capability to print four colors in only one pass, but those four colors can create a full spectrum of color depth for images and photos.

The black and white photos that were sprinkled throughout the pages were taken with bulky cameras on 35 mm film that had to be developed in a darkroom--a lengthy, time-consuming process. Now, the high resolution, full color photos used for the magazine are simply taken with a digital camera, downloaded onto a computer, and placed on the pages of the magazine using desktop publishing software.

For the majority of the last 60 years, the magazine was solely available for readers via printed copies; it is still distributed that way today in limited quantity. While most of us would agree that the nostalgia of holding a publication and flipping through the pages is irreplaceable, we would also agree that The Mobility Forum encompasses a new generation of readers with technology that has far surpassed that of The MAT and MAC Flyer readers. To meet the changing needs and deliver the valuable message to the vast new audience, the magazine finally joined the digital revolution with an online presence. This monumental milestone, achieved within the last year, has enabled a far greater reach for deployment of information across the command, throughout the Air Force, and into the civilian sector as well.

History often repeats itself, and the topic themes from past articles are no exception to this concept. Take a look at a small sampling of titles from past editions. Look familiar to you?

"Pointing Out the Hazards" (The MAC Flyer, February 1977)

"Aircrew Fatigue = Skill Deterioration" (The MAC Flyer, September 1974)

"Mishap: It's All in the Approach" (The MAC Flyer, June 1973)

"Safety Education--Who Needs It?" (The MAC Flyer, August 1971)

"Take Your Time: Think" (The MAC Flyer, April 1970)

"Why Bother With Checklists?" (The MAC Flyer, October 1968)

"Let's Review Hydroplaning" (The MAC Flyer, August 1967)

"When the Bird Hits the Fan" (The MATS Flyer, September 1965)

"Carelessness on the Flight line" (The MATS Flyer, December 1962)

"Complacency and Fatigue" (The MATS Flyer, December 1960)

One noticeable difference in articles today is the absence of the notorious and memorable Airmen Maj C.R. Terror. This character, originated by Maj William Anderson, is the epitome of bad behavior. From wild escapades, to heavy drinking, to breaking all the rules, C.R. was in a league of his own and set the bar ... for what NOT to do in any given situation.

C.R. Terror was mentioned in The MAC Flyer June 1978 edition that marked the 30th anniversary for the command. In an attempt to predict 30 years into the future to the year 2008 for both the command and the magazine, writer Lt Col Orlen Brownfield made several forecasts:
  • C.R. Terror in a space suit?

  • Will future MAC pilots fly AMSTs, SSTs, or the Space Shuttle?

  • It's doubtful that tomorrow's aircraft will be run by a petroleum product. Nuclear, hydrogen, and more exotic power sources will be developed--by necessity. Perhaps the 21st century SST will run on water.

While C.R. Terror is not wearing a space suit and AMC's fleet is not made up of space shuttles fueled by water, AMC and The Mobility Forum have certainly evolved over the last 60 years. What is on the distant horizon for The Mobility Forum 30 years or even 60 years from now? Only time will tell.