Yes, we’ve heard all of the disparaging remarks: Magnetos have been around since there was dirt; they’re the trailing edge of technology and general aviation would proceed into broad, sunlit uplands if mags were to be consigned to the scrap heap and replaced with electronic ignition.
Nevertheless, while we think that electronic ignition is great and the replacement of at least one mag pays for itself—we’ll be doing an article on electronic ignition in the next few months—magnetos are going to be around for the foreseeable future, so it’s wise to learn about how they work as we’ll as their care and feeding.