Major Site Change Coming

[Admin]

Hi All,

Recreational Flying (.com) will soon come to an end...BUT, Aircraft Pilots (.com) will be born. This site has outlived most other sites around the world having been going for over 22 years now providing a great, informative, helpful, vast resource to all recreational aviators but it is time to be more comprehensive in helping all types of aviators, no matter what you all fly. The features that are available to you cover the needs of all, it is not just a Forum site, but features like Groups, Blogs, different types of Media like Articles, Movies, Books etc, ALL types of Aircraft in the Aircraft Section and the Resources section provides tools for every kind of pilot.

 

Also Clear Prop (.com.au) will also be moving to Aircraft Pilots (.com) and currently a Single Sign On (SSO) is being developed to provide a single registration and login system to both the forums etc and shop.

 

When it all happens both Recreational Flying (.com) and Clear Prop (.com.au) will have redirects to Aircraft Pilots (.com) to make it easier for users to make the transition.

 

HOWEVER, if your Email Address in your account settings here at Recreational Flying (.com) is no longer active, incorrect or not working in any way you will be LOCKED OUT of the new site.

 

To check your email address, click your avatar at the top of the main menu and then click "Account Settings":

 

Thanks and stay tuned for some updates

[onetrack]

Thanks Ian, for all your good work. I'd just like to add, to all websites users - Please ensure you assist Ian with the website running costs - it's only $50 a year to become a full member, and even if you're cash-strapped, I'm sure he'd appreciate any level of donation to help offset website running costs, which run into many hundreds of dollars a year.

 

With this site, you get free classifieds, free valuable aviation information, aviation camaraderie, plenty of opinions, and many aviation contact opportunities, so I believe the small annual donation requested is pretty good value.

[Area-51]

👍👨‍✈️

[RossK]

Another way of supporting if you're not keen on donating, is to buy stuff from his Clear Prop online shop.

I bought a couple of things from Clear Prop and they've always been price competitive.

[Admin]

Thanks for your comments guys, yes the site has probably cost me around $100,000 over the last 22+ years as you only need to look at the hosting costs per year which is around $3,000 a year, slightly lower this year though, then there is all the software costs per year over all those years. For example the software that will do the integration of the forums and the shop is costing $800

 

Thanks to those that are advising of their incorrect email addresses so I can fix before the move.

 

Anyway, an update at the moment is 2 things happening...1. a decision of the shop software, what we currently use or another solution and 2. the creation of a local environment for a copy of the site and the upgrade of the forum software and all the addon software solutions to Invision version 5, testing and manual code changes.

 

I will keep you all informed

[Admin]

Update, forum software v5 is not playing nice with our current setup so lots of work to be done there. Evaluation of shop software completed and decision is to try and stick with our current software. Will keep you informed.

[SGM]

Ian, will all the old forum content be moved to Aircraft pilots? 

I have noted with the current site that some embedded images from very old posts have been lost to time.

[Admin]

7 minutes ago, SGM said:

Ian, will all the old forum content be moved to Aircraft pilots? 

I have noted with the current site that some embedded images from very old posts have been lost to time.

Yes, all content as it is now will be moved to Aircraft Pilots although if I do get time I may clean up some of the old posts from 20+ years ago

[planedriver]

You're the man for the job Ian, and all your hard work over the years is much appreciated.

Thank you.

Rgds Planey

[spacesailor]

And a ' big thank you ' from me .

spacesailor

 

[skippydiesel]

I second all of the accolades to Ian.

 

I have one criticism - Voluntary Subscription.

 

I don't make a financial subscription to this Forum.

I do subscribe to others.

WHY?

Simply because they ask for a particular nominal ($) amount.

Should you change your policy from "voluntary" to requested, I will be happy to pay.😈

[FlyingVizsla]

22 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Simply because they ask for a particular nominal ($) amount.

Should you change your policy from "voluntary" to requested, I will be happy to pay.

As I understand it, for First Class Membership you make a donation of $50 per year.  I donate more than that per year as I get a lot out of this site.  Ian sends a reminder each year for the same amount you gave last year.  You can click on "Donate" or go to your account, under Settings - Donate.  I'm sure Ian would appreciate donations of any size.  This site costs money, and lots of time, to provide free.

[skippydiesel]

 

I have no wish to "donate" ask me for a specific membership fee  (that all pay) and I will gladly subscribe.😈

[Admin]

2 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

 

I have no wish to "donate" ask me for a specific membership fee  (that all pay) and I will gladly subscribe.😈

My view on this which has gone right back to day 1 is I refuse to charge anyone a fee to maybe find out something through the use of the site that may save their life. THAT is what this site was set up to do, help aviators to learn from each other's experiences. I personally think that if I charged people a set fee for that, then I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. It would discriminate against those that can't afford it by maybe, just maybe, using their life as a "your life for a fee". What kind of person would I be if I did that, no, any donation is so much appreciated.

[skippydiesel]

1 hour ago, Admin said:

My view on this which has gone right back to day 1 is I refuse to charge anyone a fee to maybe find out something through the use of the site that may save their life. THAT is what this site was set up to do, help aviators to learn from each other's experiences. I personally think that if I charged people a set fee for that, then I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. It would discriminate against those that can't afford it by maybe, just maybe, using their life as a "your life for a fee". What kind of person would I be if I did that, no, any donation is so much appreciated.

Ian - I really do appreciate all you have done. This Forum has taught me much, been a great information resource on all things aviation (++ at times).

 

While I admire your altruistic approach, I can not bring myself to make a donation ($??) - ask me for a membership fee, known $ amount/annum,  that will if all pay, cover your costs and then some and I will gladly subscribe.

 

As  a cash strapped retiree, I also appreciate your sentiment "It would discriminate against those that can't afford it" but in reality recreational aviation is an expensive hobby - a nominal fee, to your Forum, to access information that may save hundreds - thousands of dollars, as well as a life, is worth a small annual fee/investment.

 

 I suggest a compromise;

• Non members can access the Forum, in a read only capacity.
• Member can submit topics for & enter into discussion. 

This may address, to a significant degree, your altruistic intent, to make, potentially life saving, information available to all and ensure the long term continuation of the Forum, by assist with the running costs .

😈

 

 

[Siso]

How do you donate?

[FlyingVizsla]

52 minutes ago, Siso said:

How do you donate?

You can click on "Donate" on the Right side panel, or go to your account, under Settings - Donate. 

[red750]

Home (What's New) page.

 

[red750]

I, too, am a pensioner, and don't make cash contributiions, but contribute a lot of time and effort in researching and collating data and photos which have gone to create the 1900 aircraft profiles and the Oddball, Experimental and One-off topic which the view counts indicate are very popular with members, and for which I receive no payment. I also produce the Brain Teaser topic on Social Australia which gets a lot of reaction. Many aircraft profiles have been viewed more than 1000 times.