Back in 1984, IFR magazine debuted as a full-color, glossy magazine. It dove deep into the minutia of instrument flying with a practical stance and acerbic wit, while respecting it for the high art that it truly is. The color didn’t last long—too expensive to print—but the mission remained. In the ensuing 25 years, we’ve been exploring not just the chicken-scratch details of IFR, but the shade of the flecks in the chicken scratch.

