Comparison

FLYING Magazine vs Observer Local

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FLYING Magazine

Access the latest aviation news, expert reviews, and in-depth articles on flight training, aircraft ownership, and industry innovations. Stay informed and inspired with content tailored for pilots and aviation enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Aviation news and expert reviews
  • Flight training and aircraft ownership content
  • Offline reading capabilities
  • Customizable reading modes
  • Interactive table of contents
  • Bookmarks for saved articles
Features
Read full description

FLYING is the definitive voice of aviation — trusted by pilots, enthusiasts, and industry leaders for over 90 years. From aviation news and expert reviews to flight training, aircraft ownership, and innovations, we bring you the stories that lift aviation to new heights. Whether you’re chasing your private pilot license or flying jets at 35,000 feet, FLYING keeps you informed, inspired, and connected to the aviation community. Site: https://flyingmag.com/ FEATURES: -Optimized for Your Device: Enjoy a smooth, browser-friendly experience. -Offline Reading: Download issues to your device browser to read anytime, even without wifi. -Bookmarks: Save articles to revisit later. -Text View: Switch to a responsive reading view for comfort. -Reading Modes: Customize background (light, dark, sepia, gray) and adjust font size. -Interactive Table of Contents: Easily jump between articles. NOTE: When purchasing a subscription or single copy of this title, you agree to the privacy and policy and terms of use which can be viewed at http://Firecrown.com/Privacy-Policy and http://Firecrown.com/Terms-of-Use. FLYING publishes 12 issues per year, but reserves the right to change the number of issues in an annual term, including discontinuing any format and substituting and/or modifying the manner in which the subscription is distributed. Apple iOS Subscriptions: Subscription(s) will automatically renew via your Apple Account prior to the end of your subscription term. You can turn off the Apple auto-renew feature up to 24-hours before the end of your subscription by going into Apple Account Settings. Subscriptions cannot be cancelled during the active subscription period.

About

Observer Local

Access digital replicas of your favorite Observer newspapers, including the Palm Coast Observer and Ormond Beach Observer. Read the full print layout on any device with this convenient e-Newspaper format. Stay informed about local news impacting your community.

Highlights
  • Digital newspaper replicas
  • Palm Coast Observer included
  • Ormond Beach Observer included
  • e-Newspaper format
  • Local news coverage
  • Accessible on multiple devices
Features
Read full description

Enjoy a digital replica identical to the printed version of your favorite Observer newspaper each week. Issues included are the Palm Coast Observer and the Ormond Beach Observer. For just $5 per month or $60 per year, read the Observer’s publications as laid out in print on any of your devices and take us with you wherever you may go in our convenient e-Newspaper format. As a hyperlocal, independent news organization, we cover all the local news that impacts the communities in our coverage areas.

Screenshots

FLYING Magazine4 screens
Observer Local4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Observer Local at 4.8 against FLYING Magazine's 4.3. Observer Local also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12). FLYING Magazine's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (366 vs 4). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. FLYING Magazine sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $50.00 per year. Observer Local asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Observer Local holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FLYING Magazine has 366 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FLYING Magazine ships an update every 3 months, Observer Local every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
FLYING Magazine versus Observer Local: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFLYING MagazineObserver Local
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (366 ratings)4.8 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews17.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings366 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size96 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlying Media Group, LLCObserver Media Group, Inc.

Customer experience

FLYING Magazine

All ratings366 ratings
Positive84.4%
Neutral0.8%
Negative14.8%
Written reviews192 reviews
Positive17.2%
Neutral3.6%
Negative79.2%

Observer Local

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

FLYING Magazine

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unable to download new issues
  • Lost access to previously purchased issues
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Offline reading mode
  • Ability to view full-page layouts
  • Better organization of past issues
  • Improved customer support

Observer Local

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

FLYING Magazine

Subscriptions2
  • Flying Magazine | 1 Year$50.001 Year
  • FLYING Magazine$50.001 Year
One-time10
  • October 2010$3.99
  • November 2010$3.99
  • October 2011$3.99
Show 7 more
  • December 2010$3.99
  • January 2011$3.99
  • February 2011$3.99
  • March 2011$3.99
  • April 2011$3.99
  • May 2011$3.99
  • June 2011$3.99
None

Observer Local

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FLYING Magazine free?
FLYING Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Observer Local free?
Observer Local is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FLYING Magazine or Observer Local?
Observer Local is rated higher. FLYING Magazine averages 4.3 out of 5 from 366 ratings, while Observer Local averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.
Do FLYING Magazine or Observer Local have ads?
Observer Local shows ads; FLYING Magazine does not.
Which is updated more often, FLYING Magazine or Observer Local?
FLYING Magazine ships an update every 3 months, and Observer Local every 8 months. Most recently, FLYING Magazine was updated on September 29, 2026 and Observer Local on August 13, 2026.

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