Post by Dave Homewood on May 22, 2020 22:35:11 GMT 12
With the great success of the recent experimental Virtual WONZ Forum Meet that we had online, the thing I have heard most since is "When is the next one?"
Well I am keen! And so is Phil Treweek who helped to host the event.
But I have been giving it some thought and discussing ideas over with my good friend Bevan Dewes. I really enjoy the 'real' Forum Meets where we meet up at an airfield hangar or a museum or a similar place, and we can interact face to face. That personal contact is what the Forum Meets are all about. Those of us who've attended these have all made friends through these meets, and met people who previously were just names on the forum. The Forum Meets have in my opinion been part of making this forum the great friendly family that it is.
Bevan and I both think that we'd not like to let the Virtual Forum Meets become a replacement for the real thing, and find that when the real events are held people do not show up any more.
So I think the Virtual Forum Meets could have a real point of difference. They can become an addition, rather than a substitute.
So what I propose is the online events can be themed, each one around a particular aircraft type. To begin with I'd like to cover some of the WWII types. So for example the guest speakers would be along these lines:
- An RNZAF veteran who flew the type, talking about their own personal experiences
- A couple of historians who can each give short talks on different historical aspects of the type
- If there's one of the type still around, a modern warbird pilot talking about flying and displaying the type
- Perhaps some film clips of the aircraft type then or now or other veteran stories
- Lastly a general discussion between all of the guests, and taking questions from the audience.
I envisage we can probably do these every few months and each could cover the P-40, the Corsair, the Spitfire, the Mosquito, the Lancaster, the Vampire, the Skyhawk.... the list could go on and on.
I'd want to start with the WWII types because we need to get the veterans while we still can. And honestly nowadays with the youngest ones being around 95 it's getting to the point where we are not likely to get many WWII vets to the 'live' Forum Meets now as such a big day out is beyond most of them. But if they are doing it from the comfort of their own home, they will probably be in a much better position to take part.
I also have the idea that if there's an example of the aeroplane still around in a museum or as a flying Warbird, perhaps someone involved with it could do a walk around the aircraft with running commentary to their camera for all to see, and perhaps talk about it's history and its maintenance. Maybe even go through a start up sequence and fire it up.... So many possibilities.
As you can see these would be quite different from the usual forum meets, a point of difference and another added bonus to the WONZ World.
So, who's keen? Would you guys and girls take part in this?
Well I am keen! And so is Phil Treweek who helped to host the event.
But I have been giving it some thought and discussing ideas over with my good friend Bevan Dewes. I really enjoy the 'real' Forum Meets where we meet up at an airfield hangar or a museum or a similar place, and we can interact face to face. That personal contact is what the Forum Meets are all about. Those of us who've attended these have all made friends through these meets, and met people who previously were just names on the forum. The Forum Meets have in my opinion been part of making this forum the great friendly family that it is.
Bevan and I both think that we'd not like to let the Virtual Forum Meets become a replacement for the real thing, and find that when the real events are held people do not show up any more.
So I think the Virtual Forum Meets could have a real point of difference. They can become an addition, rather than a substitute.
So what I propose is the online events can be themed, each one around a particular aircraft type. To begin with I'd like to cover some of the WWII types. So for example the guest speakers would be along these lines:
- An RNZAF veteran who flew the type, talking about their own personal experiences
- A couple of historians who can each give short talks on different historical aspects of the type
- If there's one of the type still around, a modern warbird pilot talking about flying and displaying the type
- Perhaps some film clips of the aircraft type then or now or other veteran stories
- Lastly a general discussion between all of the guests, and taking questions from the audience.
I envisage we can probably do these every few months and each could cover the P-40, the Corsair, the Spitfire, the Mosquito, the Lancaster, the Vampire, the Skyhawk.... the list could go on and on.
I'd want to start with the WWII types because we need to get the veterans while we still can. And honestly nowadays with the youngest ones being around 95 it's getting to the point where we are not likely to get many WWII vets to the 'live' Forum Meets now as such a big day out is beyond most of them. But if they are doing it from the comfort of their own home, they will probably be in a much better position to take part.
I also have the idea that if there's an example of the aeroplane still around in a museum or as a flying Warbird, perhaps someone involved with it could do a walk around the aircraft with running commentary to their camera for all to see, and perhaps talk about it's history and its maintenance. Maybe even go through a start up sequence and fire it up.... So many possibilities.
As you can see these would be quite different from the usual forum meets, a point of difference and another added bonus to the WONZ World.
So, who's keen? Would you guys and girls take part in this?
