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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 25, 2015 23:11:58 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 25, 2015 23:47:44 GMT 12
10 years ago, pretty much at this same hour (early in the morning) I had an idea. I had been following a few foreign aviation forums for a while, and I knew there were other kiwis on those boards. I also had my Wings Over Cambridge website which by this time was getting a number of hits and generating a lot of queries via email to me. I had realised that a lot of the questions coming in were the same, but from different people, so I needed to establish somewhere that people could ask the questions and everyone else could either answer them or see the answers. So there it was, I knew how forums worked, and I decided I needed one. I searched Google for "free forums" and discovered Proboards, who have been absolutely brilliant in hosting the forum for a whole decade, with excellent support and back-up. So, in the early hours of the 26th of February 2005, I created the Wings Over Cambridge forum. It had two boards, General, and WWII RNZAF. After a few weeks the number of boards began to expand... with Postwar and Modern RNZAF being added. And so it went on. On that first night ten years ago I contacted a load of kiwis who I thought might be interested in it and by morning the forum had members. They included Bruce Cooke, Chris Cattermole, Damon Edwards, Kerry Carlyle, Marcus Bridle, and possibly a few others. I cannot recall. I think it's testament that all of them are still members here, Chris and Marcus not posting so frequently these days but they are still here. Membership began to build through word of mouth over the next few months, and Alan Smart (Beagle) joined us, as did Simon Gault, and Craig Brankin (Corsair67). Colin hunter came along after I invited him on seeing some of his brilliant photos on Airliners.net. Peter Lewis (flyernzl) also joined us, and we had a great little group going. From there word began to spread wider and so did the topics. Due to the expansion the name of the WOC Forum was changed to a more generalised name, the Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum. We also collectively came up with the logo, the red kiwi on the black map of NZ on the white background. We are now about to roll over to the 4000th member mark. This is simply incredible. Among the mebmers and regular readers of this forum now are so many amazing, wonderful, brilliant and awesome people it overwhelms me to think about it. A lot of them are legends and aviation heroes to me - veterans, warbird pilots, restorers, historians, writers, photographers, modellers, topdressing legends, home builders, instructors, mechanics, and all of them enthusiasts. That is what makes this place so special, it is a hub of enthusiasm. It's also a place of learning, and sharing, and co-operation and goodwill. The amount of info and photographs that have been shared here alone is staggering. The number of aviation myths that have been quashed (or proven) on the forum has always been exciting. With such a range of people coming together we get all different angles on things, and whatever the topic it seems we always have at least someone who was there, who was involved, has memories and has photos to prove it. And though the focus of the forum is New Zealand oriented, it is truly a global entity. This was first brought home to me at Classic Fighters, Omaka, in 2007, when Dave Macdonald introduced me to two chaps who both recognised my name when Dave said it, from their daily reading of the forum. One of them was from Germany and the other was from the Classic Flight in France! We now have readers and contributors across New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain and Ireland, the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, France, Germany, Switzerland, Scandanavia, South Africa, South America, the Philippines, and I don't doubt there are probably at least some kiwis reading in the Middle East. (Check in and let us know where you are all reading from outside NZ! That'll be interesting!) For me looking back the best thing about the forum is the many hundreds, perhaps thousands of friends I have made. Through regular meet ups at airshows and out more formal Forum meets we have no just been faceless computer names, but made personal contact, met and gotten to know each other. This personal networking of all sorts of people from all the wide spectrum of the aviation world has been a really terrific side effect of that little free site I set up ten years ago. Many, many of you out there I consider good, great personal friends. The forum is an online and an offline community. I have personally also had the chance to see a lot of aeroplanes and projects and collections and loads of other things that I'd never have had the opportunity to had it not been for this forum, and I am so grateful for that too. I have learned so much these past ten years, and I am still learning every day as I get my daily fix of aviation goodness here. I know so many of you out there also crave the fix of getting on the forum each day, catching up with news and history and talking with friends. Some of the people who have told me they never miss a day without reading the forum are people who I consider absolute legends of aviation, so it makes me so proud to hear that. I think it has taken me ten years to come to this realisation, but that night ten years ago when I had a little acorn of an idea, and I sat here setting this place up, I now truly look back and think it was the best thing I have ever done in my life, because it has enhanced and enriched not only me but also so many other people out there. It makes me truly proud, and I want to thank everyone who has been a part of it and contributed to this wonderful community over the past decade. Happy birthday to us all !!!!!! |
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Feb 26, 2015 0:02:31 GMT 12
Congratulations on a tremendous milestone Dave, I'm presently sitting in my hotel room at the Hilton in Adelaide and this forum is a Mecca for hundreds of a Kiwi aviation nutters such as myself miles from home who love to keep up with not just the aviation scene but all things current in Enzed. The forum has great heart and as such has many prosperous years ahead of it - so I raise my glass of Barossa Valley red and say 'cheers' to you and all mods, fellow members and others that contribute to make this a very special forum indeed  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 26, 2015 8:04:11 GMT 12
Well done Dave.
Glad to have been a part of it.
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Post by Bruce on Feb 26, 2015 9:26:12 GMT 12
As one of the "originals", Its been a great 10 years - long may it continue!
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Post by Mustang51 on Feb 26, 2015 10:16:25 GMT 12
Dave et al...... Here, here to Dave's comments. I have said it many times privately and publically that this is probably the best aviation forum in the world. Big call you say? I don't think so. No-one is permitted to crap on, there is a constant flow of information on a huge variety of topics with the Kiwi theme in the background. Everyone is a constructive contributor and the knowledge base across the Forum is immense. We get to hear about an amazing number of things from restorations (high amongst these the magnificent and in depth coverage of the Mossie - ok, and the Auster as well)....., general data, foreign and domestic aviation, airshows through photography and first hands like aeromedia, photography ( Gavin C AKA Kevin being one of the best in the world), modelling, historical pieces and the problem solving is incredible. I stick by what I tell people.... probably the best in the world and congratulations and thanks to Dave for putting it together and keeping it going. Just think about other Fora all backed by large publishing houses, aviation groups and the like. Dave and everyone you have done a great job and I really look forward to my daily 'fix'. See you at Omaka
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Post by baz62 on Feb 26, 2015 11:46:08 GMT 12
Hear hear! I second that comment about this being the best Aviation forum. I joined in 2008 (quite how I missed seeing this forum in the previous three years is curious. Al Marshalls Youtube showing the first engine start of the Bristol Freighter at Omaka had a link to a certain thread............and I was hooked! My Auster thread (which I am astounded to see has over 34000 views!) has been a good outlet to show people progress (or lack of!) on the rebuild, but it has also generated leads for parts and help on occasion. It even spawned the mad excursion (and another thread) namely Operation BRA to retrieve a bent Auster. It has also made me some great friends (you're on the list too Dave  and the forum meets in Christchurch have been a blast (note to self must organise another one) plus the big ones organised by Dave (and others)have led me to places I doubt I would have ever seen or gotten to. Yes the historical knowledge on here is impressive and I learn something new about so many different topics it's almost like an educational website! (Only way way cooler) Here's to the next 10 years!  |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Feb 26, 2015 14:17:59 GMT 12
I blame Al Marshall for the huge amount of very enjoyable time I have wasted at this forum (this should be my 4227th post).
Al decided to get a Bristol Freighter up and running again so he could taxi it at Classic Fighters 2009 and I read a news story about it published by The Marlborough Express back in June 2008 which was on the STUFF website. This forum was mentioned in the story, so I went looking for the group using Google, and the rest is history. I've met some amazing people through this group and the brilliant thing is that whenever one has a query about anything, somebody is sure to come up with the answer, or point one in the right direction.
I wonder what awesome things are going to happen in aviation over the next ten years, and get reported on and discussed about at this group. I guess I've resigned myself to wasting a lot more time over the next decade. Long may this forum continue. A special thanks to Dave for setting it up and keeping things going — I run the backroom technical administration for a couple of non-aviation messageboard forums, so I know how much work is involved. This IS the best aviation forum on the WWW.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 26, 2015 14:26:32 GMT 12
Yes congratulations everyone, but especially to Dave. Time for a Christchurch WONZ birthday celebration I think Baz!
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 26, 2015 14:42:13 GMT 12
From Hawera a very hearty Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful milestone for a wonderful site and a truly excellent community.
Long may it continue.
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Post by TS on Feb 26, 2015 15:46:14 GMT 12
Yes Congratulations Dave on a great 10 years. Roll on the next 10. As KTJ said he blames Al For joining the Forum. I was a long time lurker in the back ground. But once Al started posting his efforts the rest is History.. Well done One and All for making this an amazing Forum.. |
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Post by camtech on Feb 26, 2015 19:41:12 GMT 12
Congratulations on the anniversary of the founding of this site.
As has been commented on, this site, is the premier site for NZ aviation history. I constantly refer others to this site, as i believe it encompasses all that is good in NZ aviation history, current events and related subjects.
Well done Dave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by trx850 on Feb 26, 2015 19:44:34 GMT 12
'Hear Hear' to all the above comments Dave. From memory it was Damon who put me onto this forum, and I have enjoyed almost every visit (almost every night, even when overseas if I had access to a computer) since I joined.
Long may it continue, and thanks for your geat work Dave.
Pete M.
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Post by suthg on Feb 26, 2015 20:30:41 GMT 12
I have to blame ErrolC for pointing me in the direction of Dave's Forum - I say Dave's when it belongs to all of us, but he reads every post and Moderates them evenhandedly, but this allows everyone to peacefully discuss elements of NZ Aviation and historical military and civil aviation topics without recourse to bitching and then going silent and losing a valuable contributor - hence the huge variety of topics and great support for every topic discussed. And as others have said, there is a huge volume of data here and good advice and details and people who contribute from all over the world, not just Kiwis - Ando and many others like oggie2620 etc - haha! Thanks guys for your participation - I am just a newby here but appreciate the wise words and the historical detail shared on here. I am on it every night and often during daytime work... shush... Many thanks Dave and Crew!! I love it!! I have also made some wonderful friendships too - everyone I have met has been easy to talk to and it reflects back on the forum - so thanks to Errol again!!
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Post by oj on Feb 26, 2015 22:00:56 GMT 12
Yes Dave, what they are saying is endorsed yet again; it is the best world-wide for the enthusiasm of everyone's participation and research and a great repository of knowledge. It is addictive, but so far perfectly legal and the addiction itself is such wonderful therapy.
There is absolutely no excuse for aviation-minded types to just sit on their verandahs (read patios or decks if you are younger) and fester when this forum is available to uplift them.
I can see it gained further ground quite rapidly and look forward to the time when you will bring on another sub-board.
I was think maybe one just for specialist technical discussions where we can help people learn of or restore components in detail such as magnetos, fuel-control systems, hydraulics etc. Not to replace the manufacturers manuals (if you can find them) but to add experience and tips that are not in the manuals and about local mods that fixed problems and such like.
Regardless, even just he way it is, is sufficient as a magnificent achievement. Well done!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 26, 2015 23:36:52 GMT 12
Thanks everyone for the feedback.
OJ, that is a terrific idea. I reckon that would be very useful and well read too.
Shall we call the new board 'The Maintenance Hangar'?
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Post by craig on Feb 27, 2015 6:47:48 GMT 12
Well done Dave. The site is a fantastic tool for networking with similar minded aviation nuts. Not to mention all the historical information that has been recorded, that in a few years would have otherwise been lost forever. Well done... |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 27, 2015 7:56:40 GMT 12
Well done Dave, and everyone who has contributed over the years. Long may it continue |
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Post by baz62 on Feb 27, 2015 11:36:37 GMT 12
Shall we call the new board 'The Maintenance Hangar'? That get's my vote, an excellent idea. I hear a lot of tips for the Gipsy Major and fabric work, etc that would be very helpful to others like myself "learning the trade". Having in a handy thread would be most helpful. |
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Post by baronbeeza on Feb 27, 2015 12:09:51 GMT 12
Yes congratulations everyone, but especially to Dave. Time for a Christchurch WONZ birthday celebration I think Baz! Well done Dave and the other 'originals' as well for sticking with it. Any excuse for a beer I say. When, where ?? Is tomorrow too soon, cricket on TV at the Harvard... ? |
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and the forum meets in Christchurch have been a blast (note to self must organise another one) plus the big ones organised by Dave (and others)have led me to places I doubt I would have ever seen or gotten to.
