The contents included news, military air operations, new aircraft briefings, air forces analysis and photo features and in-depth articles about particular aircraft types - usually presented in great detail, and with lavish illustration, including a gatefold centrefold with airbrushed artwork and cutaway drawings.
The editors' philosophy was to include an article on a "focus aircraft" that would effectively serve as a monographic book on that subject - often running over more than 50 of the magazine’s 160 pages.
David Donald was the managing editor, aviation for the whole period of World Air Power Journal, working under him (at different times, and on the two quarterlies) were Bob Munro, Jon Lake, Robert Hewson, Jim Winchester, Daniel March, John Heathcote and Tim Senior.
Robert F. Dorr served as the magazine's Washington correspondent, while regular contributors included Bob Archer, Brad Elward, Peter Foster, Rene Francillon, Bill Gunston, Tony Holmes, Paul A Jackson, Randy Jolly, Francis K Mason, Peter Mersky, Lindsay T Peacock, Alfred Price and Tim Ripley.
After World Air Power Journal folded Donald, March and Heathcote moved over to edit the new title for AIRtime.