Admin

I will send you a PM...sounds good

Thanks mate but when you add NVMe (needed for disk driven Database sites for performance), add gst, not sign up for a 1 or 2 year paid upfront contract it costs $290 a month and you still get a lower specd processor and only half the connection capacity

Thanks mate, my dedicated server in the US is spec'd: CPU: Intel’s Fastest Xeon E, 2288G 8 Core 3.8Ghz >20,000 Passmark Memory: 64GB DDR4 ECC Ram Disk Set: 1.2TB NVMe IP's: /29 5x usable ip's 100Tb over 1gbps connection Price: $150USD The server is setup using CentOS7 and nginx Domains are handled by Cloudflare 1. www.recreationalflying.com (the main site) 2. www.clearprop.com.au (a small shopping cart site) 3. www.recfly.com.au (an empty site that I use for testing development) 4. www.jackaroo.com.au (an empty site but has email mx to gmail) Current server load is about 0.3 Current traffic is around 250gb Disk space currently used is around 7gb for Recreational Flying files and 1gb for MySQL databases And the whole server has been optimised for high performance using centminmod by one of the Moderators there You will see the cost for such a high spec'd server is very cheap (no GST) in the scheme of things but the exchange rate is what is hurting, last month was $280AUD but a server like this in Australia would be around $600 a month

To ensure transparency with donations, any suggestions on how to do this...like, do I list each donation and the amount but then maybe some will not want to have it displayed, I could just put "Anon" with initials for those that wish not to be listed...I also need to show the outgoings that use donated money (for example the date and amount hosting is paid etc) and keep a running balance. Any thoughts

The only reservations I have with a type of subscription is that the current users that don't care about the site will just go thus reducing the number of contributors. Perhaps the site gets divided in half, just general forums for non subscribers and other forums for subscribers...have to be careful with this whole idea however I think it is possible

The Donation box has been reactivated. I believe through the help of everyone here that we can do it through these times and come out the other end. I am also looking at ways that the First Class Member is done to the amount of donation and many other ideas that you good folk have suggested in this thread. This is an important comment for the site in the long term and that is to try and get as many recreational aviators to come on to the site, post questions and comments, help each other out, get the word out there as this is the only thing that is going to kill any thought of going to Facebook which even I don't want...thanks

I remember that however I recall they went broke and closed...could be wrong Edited: they are still going Lentil As Anything

Firstly, thank you to those that have supported this site by posting comments in this thread. I have read every one of your posts and taken onboard your suggestions and I think there is potential for the site to weather the storm over the coming times and come out on top even if I can't get a job so I am working on a plan that includes both short and long term strategies...for example: Site donations (could there be different levels like Gold Class, Silver Class etc but how would that work...Benefits?????) Google ads in side column (highly unlikely to be much benefit as most users just go to the Whats New page and flick between new posts) ClearProp current stock item specials Site management board First Class Member benefits (not sure what more could be done here) ClearProp to list prices as simply "Cost + $x" as cost prices can change daily due to the exchange rate Site user supplied services (example a user is an insurance agent so what deals can be offered to other users by them...win/win) Any other wild and weird ideas?

You can't really host a web server needed for say this site at home

Hosting for the next month has been paid. There was almost $200AUD in the First Class Member kitty (a good month with 4 First Class Members) and the total needed was $280 with the exchange rate so all good for another month while we try and come up with a longer term solution...just hope the exchange rate doesn't drop more

I am surprised at the amount of support that is being shown and I am extremely grateful but please understand that I am so very reluctant to take donations if that level of support, forever reason, can not be maintained...I would feel a fraud and especially to those that are struggling themselves now or will be in the near future as we go through these turbulent times. I think the best solution is if I can find a contract job in the Project, Program, Portfolio and PMO Management area for some corporate anywhere in Australia, or even overseas and if I can, then I can be responsible for ensuring the site continues without any risk to its valued users. So please, if you are working in a corporate (or Fed, State or Local Gov) anywhere and there may be an opportunity then please let me know and I can send you my CV. I have project managed small and large business and ICT programs, established many PMOs (Project Management Office), bring with me a proven PM framework, governance and methodology that I developed, and Ernst & Young endorsed, and have uplifted PM maturity in Gov and corporate entities using the world renowned P3M3 standards. Naturally I can also project manage simple small projects and have controlled projects/programs from $200k to $253m, I can work as a hands on 1 man band to many direct reports, largest was a program where I had 55 people reporting directly to me. So please, ask around and if you know of any opportunity that could benefit from my skills then ask me for a copy of my CV. I would feel far more comfortable doing this than to ask for any kind of handout to ensure this great resource continues for all recreational aviators...thanks

Understand where you are coming from @Cooko but unfortunately RAAus has had issues with this site which go way back for 18 years. This site gives what were previously members of an Association of happy like minded people and now just clients in a RAAus corporate monopoly, a voice which RAAus has never liked and even at times have gone out of their way to try and close the site down...unfortunately. At one stage a then RAAus President tried to kick me out of RAAus, I have had numerous legal threat letters from RAAus executives and another time this site created a rally of members that forced a special meeting of members when the then RAAus Board of Representatives were destroying our beloved Association. This site represents the collective of recreational aviators who have many differing views but still, and most importantly, an opportunity for them to have those views, be independent and be free to voice them in hopefully a professional and decent manner. So to put it simply, RAAus would say "When hell freezes over"...which I have always considered to be a real pity that desire for "control" overrides the great potential of people who have a common interest working and helping each other for an even greater outcome...together!

In an attempt to help everyone in our recreational aviation industry in Australia and NZ during the current COVID 19 times, commercial posts promoting your products and/or services are completely allowed and welcomed until further notice. If you are a supplier to the Australian and/or New Zealand recreational aviation industry feel free to start a thread promoting your business. I hope all site users will not only support you if they can but also that they will let any suppliers know.

We all know that when you can't find something that you always do know where it is...you know, it is in the place that you haven't looked yet...we just haven't looked in the right place yet for the solution...no matter how silly that place may first sound

I have turned off the donations button on the site till we can collectively figure out a way forward, a lasting way forward through these upcoming times (or until I can get a job again that is, perfect solution...anyone know a company that needs a contract PM or PMO Manager). Does anyone know of anyone that is a high level web server admin person that can configure a server to get the best out of it and is willing to donate some time? Does anyone know of anyone that has a high performance server that is under utilised and is willing to donate some server space and data traffic etc? Does anyone have any ideas on what we could do with ClearProp...in other words how can we turn the current situation into an opportunity...think outside the box?

Thanks @Yenn whilst the thought is so greatly appreciated, I think we need some overall long term solutions. I am sure money will form some part of that but should we try and create some form of an overall plan covering everything which will define to what extent money plays a part. I mean it could be said: When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom "Reduce costs whilst minimising the reduction of service"

Thanks [uSER=12274]@Machtuk[/uSER] but one thing to note is that my labour costs nothing in real terms so consider that as being available for the site, without question, in any ideas that anyone has to get the site through the next 1.5 years financially

Important Notice - This site and COVID 19 It may sound silly but this great site, and the ClearProp Pilot Supplies shop, has what you could say been infected by the Coronavirus and thus many drastic steps must be taken. The easy thing is to just close the site, but I would like to take this opportunity to get your all-important feedback on the issues that this site is now and about to experience. COVID 19 is effecting the site's existence in a form of accumulated risk i.e. the Swiss Cheese risk model The important thing to remember is that we will most likely feel the effects of COVID 19 for the next 1.5 years What we know today and assume of tomorrow The Australian Government has closed its doors and many people will be working from home. Internet services have been strengthened by the major carriers which is a good thing for the site. The Australian dollar has been falling faster than an engine failure on take-off with it today now close to 56c. All reports are saying that the dollar will go below the 50c mark. Unemployment is increasing and that we need to be prepared for a worldwide recession which could last till the end of next year...that's for over 1.5 years from today. Aviation We all know through the media that commercial aviation is severely impacted by the virus but what is not being said in the media is that recreational aviation is hit just as bad. That's probably because it is, after all, a recreational activity and not newsworthy but what about the people in it, the industry. Stimulus packages are released for people to spend more but the retirees, the bulk of those that make up our industry and fuels the existence of our industry which also includes commercial concerns, what about them? Interest rates are also dropping faster than an EFTO so how can retirees afford to continue to fly? How can they afford to even buy Pilot Supplies when they don't have any surplus money and because of the dollar prices are going through the roof? Those commercial concerns such as Pilot Supplies stores will struggle, flying schools will struggle and pilots will be forced to sell their aircraft because of hangarage, maintenance and parts costs and these aircraft will be sold for a lot less than their real worth. The end results I know all of the above spells doom and gloom and even my daughter came to me yesterday and simply said "The sky is falling Dad" (Chicken Little) which in knowing my daughter I can say that even at 22 years of age, she is extremely concerned. BUT, we will all come through this...WE WILL, there is no question about it. Things will be different, but we will come out the other end. What we do today will determine how we will come out the other end. Recreational Flying (.com) is now infected by COVID 19 Recreational Flying (.com) and ClearProp (.com.au) can no longer continue as it is due to the effects of COVID 19 so one would say that the site is now infected and requires immediate intervention. As you continue to read I would like you to always consider that one option is to close down because even though I could do everything I could to save it, it may still result in its closure at an even greater cost trying to save it. For around 18 years I have put my heart and soul into this site, everything that I have, everything that I am and yes I have made some absolutely bad decisions over those years, decisions that I so deeply regret and cannot apologise enough for but also I have made some good decisions that has helped many recreational aviators to learn more in flying safer, better and more proper maintenance of their aircraft and greatly improved the flying skills of so many. I take solace in knowing that there are many mum and dad recreational aviators out there that are alive today because of something they have gained from interactions with other recreational aviators right here on Recreational Flying. In fact there are probably many that don't even know that this great resource has helped keep them safe over its 18 years because they have learnt something which has changed something, even a very small thing that they unknowingly changed, that could have resulted in a completely different outcome for them years later. However, I am 60 years old now and have been unemployed for almost a year now. In my line of work (Project, Program and PMO Management), the opportunities are now far and few even though I have 40 years of experience. In fact I have seen young people with far less experience cost organisations millions of dollars in mistakes that an experienced person, who probably made the same mistakes many years ago, would know not to do because of that experience, you can't buy experience but it can save you everything...but I digress. To put it simply, I no longer have the money to keep the site going through these turbulent COVID 19 times. In fact, I only have enough spare cash for 2 more house payments and with the unemployment rate expected to rise to at least 10% the chances of that changing are minimal. The site is hosted on a dedicated server in Los Angeles. The cost for just the server is $150USD. A payment is due today and at around only 56c exchange rate that has now leaped to $270AUD. This will most probably increase further and future costs will pass $300AUD a month and beyond. The server is extremely optimised for performance in its specs and configuration to not only Australian users but for the whole world. An option is to bring the hosting back to Australia. A server of the same specs would cost around $350AUD a month so the server would have to be of much lower specs at a cost of about $225 a month but with less performance. This will also need a one-off cost of around $200AUD for its configuration OR $400AUD to configure the server to get its best performance. The result is an initial one-off high cost, a lower performing server, targeting mostly to just Australian users but still a high cost through these times. Small development and enhancements to the site I do however any extra development can only be done by overseas resources. This means that the site cannot be developed further as for not only the initial cost, but the exchange rate would make it completely cost prohibitive. So, the site could only be maintained as it is now and nothing new or provide more to try and entice an increase in its userbase to help others. The site will continue to decline due to the virus and the site's capability to provide a great environment to help all recreational aviators. The impact of the virus will see less newcomers to the industry plus many existing recreational aviators leaving the industry. ClearProp will decline rapidly as the cost of aviation products will sharply increase. The increase of prices with less potential customers will also severely impact the small contribution Clear Prop makes to assist in the costs of providing Recreational Flying (.com). The management of prices due to the exchange rate variations will make it extremely hard to manage accurate price listings as ClearProp prides itself of providing products to recreational aviators with such small margins. A product with say a $5 margin would become a loss in just over night. So ClearProp is not viable in its current form. Donations from First Class Members have also helped towards site costs however not only will that number of donations decrease but the real value of the donation decreases as well especially to any overseas costs like hosting, software licensing fees, maintenance fees etc due to exchange rates. So... There is a lot more to consider than what I have listed here but I liken it to a person getting infected by COVID 19, the medical help that is needed to try and overcome the impacts of the virus on that person and the chance that the intervention that is undertaken may still result in a deadly outcome. The impacts on the site are very infectious as a negative impact on just one component of the site can rapidly spread throughout the site resulting in many negatively infected areas. Do we close the site and go to Facebook...it's free but extremely limited? Do we go on a drive for funds...financial donations will only provide a short term solution but will not be sustainable for the long term and most importantly, when I started the site all those years ago I said it will not cost anyone anything, what kind of person would you be if you charged a friend to help them, we are all friends in our common interest of recreational flying? Do we close the site and come back another day...maybe? Do we try and sell the site...wouldn't get much, if anything and kind of site would it end up and what could happen to the overall reason why I started the site, this great resource all those years ago? What could we do with ClearProp...make it email only on current price, list prices as "cost" + $5 as an example i.e. the cost (obtained by email) plus a stated margin value...just a thought? Do we think outside the box...are there any weird or completely out of this world ideas that just may be an answer worth trying? Please...come on...your thoughts and ideas, however strange they may be, on how this great resource can beat its COVID 19 infection...TODAY (please this is so important that we MUST stay on topic)

The site Resources section is now open for you to add any resources that you may have for other recreational aviators. If you have any manuals, tools, reference items, How To maintenance tips etc please share them with everyone else by adding them to the Resources section and help make this site a great resource for every recreational aviator