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The VAF News - 12.20.2024. #6239. 20 year anniversary of forums. Anyone still here from day one?

DeltaRomeo

DeltaRomeo

doug reeves: unfluencer
Staff member
Twenty. Nice round number. Saturday the 21st will be the 20th anniversary of the first forum username created here on VAF that wasn’t me. ‘Scorch’….my friend Ross (washed up has been ….his words). I called him saying I was trying out something called ‘forum software’ and I wanted to see if he could ‘sign up’. I was still three years away from taking the terrifying leap and doing it full-time (still terrified). Before that for me it was some Yahoo mailing lists, and before that a simple message board that I assume is still online somewhere offering Viagra to the masses via spambot.

Anyone here from day one reading this? Some I can think of off the top of my head....
  • Jaybird
  • Mel
  • Danny King
  • Sam Buchanan
  • Don Hull
  • Paul Dye
  • Lot of friends....

And here we are two decades in, discussing RV stuff still, shooting for 20 more years Good Lord willing. A great community for sure! Thank you for helping make it what it is, and thanks to Bill K. for helping keep the infrastructure modern.
Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.
v/r,dr


Build Update …RossK
Right tank done.

RV-7A #73840

Well, I've officially started building an RV-7A I'm the third owner of this Kit and if you haven't read Vans warnings about buying older kits, particulary the bit about unboxed, original packaging you should. When I unboxed the kit for the first time in its 14 year life, this is the result of...
vansairforce.net
Screenshot 2024-12-19 at 9.46.31 AM.png

brian tucker

What happens when your pants explode?

On the takeoff roll from VNY last week I felt a substantial “thud” from the right main just before Vr. It felt like I had hit a pothole, but the remaining few feet of my departure continued without issue so I pulled back and lifted off. Landing at SMO, I touched down the mains on what felt like...
vansairforce.net
Screenshot 2024-12-19 at 9.47.31 AM.png

Q/A Canopy Latch Detent
Q: Is there supposed to be a detent for the canopy latch handle? My latch handle closes fine but will move off the micro switch in flight. I am thinking about remaking the nylon sandwich piece with a slight dent for the handle to sit in at the stop. I’m wondering if there is a better way besides creating friction on the handle shaft.
A: There is a pin on the back of the handle that slips into a notch at the back of the latch block.
https://vansairforce.net/threads/canopy-latch-“detent”.231782/post-1811757
Screenshot 2024-12-19 at 9.48.47 AM.png


briantucker

Flat spot on tire

We had a little incident on landing (will post in another thread) that resulted in our right main skidding for maybe 50ft. As a result we have a flat spot and I’m not sure whether it is safe to fly on. What do you all think and how do you determine whether a tire with a flat spot is safe to fly on?
vansairforce.net
Screenshot 2024-12-19 at 9.49.31 AM.png

LettersFromFlyoverCountry

Another Rotax SB: Expansion tank

ROTAX is trying to set a record for most number of service bulletins in a week, I guess. Here's another one: https://legacy.rotaxowner.com/si_tb_info/serviceb/SB-912-080UL_914-060UL_912i-015iS_915i-015iS_916i-005iS.pdf That one provides the S/N of experimental engines (fortunately, I escape...
vansairforce.net
Screenshot 2024-12-19 at 9.50.18 AM.png


OFF TOPIC:
Screenshot 2024-12-19 at 10.10.33 AM.png

Get your VansAirForce.net Charity Cap!

VAF Charity Cap: Help your charity and promote this site.

Get the cap all the cool kids are wearing! I don’t get a penny. It’s around $15. $5 more if you want your N-number on the back (I put 'STAFF' on the back of mine because it makes me laugh. Put STAFF on yours too if it makes you smile). And down the road $10 to the charity of your choice...
vansairforce.net

Please consider donating yearly to help keep this American 1-person pirate ship afloat:

Older issues of the ‘VAF News’ can be found at:

Doug's Area ...The VAF News, About VAF, My Resume

Pushed out every now and then.
www.vansairforce.net

THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)

THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)

The VAF List ...a list of RV-related lists. RV-related things you might want to browse over (a closed post that is sticky and maintained by dr). Link to this in 'Links' in the menu. v/r,dr Small businesses that help bring you this list of RV-related lists: 360 Avionics www.360Avionics.com Ace...
vansairforce.net
 
Last edited:
I started dreaming about RVs 25 years ago when I was in grad school. I was a dirt poor student and dreaming was all I could really do. The Yahoo group was my escape from what felt like non-stop studying. I don't remember moving over to VAF, but apparently did in the early spring of '05 according to my profile. Thanks for allowing dreamers to join in the fun Doug! This site kept me going until the day finally came a few years ago when my saved pennies were enough to pull the trigger and start building!
 
I believe there was a Vansairforce before the forum as it was coined for a local group of RVators? Matronics was the go to online discussion board back then.
I started hearing about this “new” forum and how great it was,….. and it was, and is….. 2007 for me….
I have learned more here than one could with hangar flying for a lifetime.
 
JonJay said:
I believe there was a Vansairforce before the forum
Click to expand...
Yessir, I started the site back in the mid '90's as the 'North Texas Wing* of Van's Air Force and a list of phone numbers of folks in my area building. This was the start of the RV White Pages (located in the VAF List).

*then Texas Wing, when the guy running the 'Southern Texas' wing didn't want to do it anymore.
then Southern USA Wing.
then World Wide Wing as the RV White Pages got longer. (archive screen shot)
then just 'VAF' (I don't remember coming up with that....people around me started referring to as VAF online so I guess that's what it is) <g>
Scope creep. :ROFLMAO: Something online since 1996.
I grateful to do it and honored to have met so many wonderful people I now get to call friend.
 
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Pretty much from Day 1 but not quite... 31 days later on the 19th January 2005.

I remember being somewhat suspicious and watching the new forum for a few days just to be sure it wasn't a scam before joining. I'd already met some pretty interesting people on the Yahoos Groups forums (like Paul Dye - as early users of the new GRT systems we were learning lots together) and when familiar names started appearing on this new VAF forum it gave me the confidence to make the move.

Doug - a hearty Congratulations on 20 years. An outstanding achievement by any measure in this fast-moving world of computer technology. And thank you. Really - THANK YOU !!

Which reminds me - I need to make my donation for 2025.
 
Long ago in a galaxy far away during my RV4 build a friend told me of a Yahoo chat group for RV builders…
Little did I know that small gathering became now what you see as the VAF…..
Congrats to my friend DR for 20+ years of an outstanding venue, friendship and service…

I’m very thankful I was there to see it all begin…:)
Smokey

 
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Doug, I remember when (late '90's) we were discussing whether or not to attempt monetizing our online presences, I decided it sounded too much like work for me but fortunately you had the vision to pursue your dream. You have had a great ride on the crest of the RV wave, thank you for taking us along with you! Best wishes for another 40K subscribers. :)
 
Doug, Congratulations on 20 years. I was one of the early users…..set up my account and began posting on Jan 5, 2005. Funny thing, I just looked back at my message history and see that my very first post was a plea to Van’s to develop “a high-wing RV-10 for the expanded load hauling capability, and I would order a kit today. A little more wing, a little less weight, and tougher undercarriage. Powered by an IO-360. Now, if we can just talk Van's into this...”. Sounds a lot like the RV -15, and 20 years later I stand by my promise to order a kit the day it becomes available.

I went on to build a RV-10 and recently celebrated 1000 hours and a decade of amazing family flying adventures. I’ve watched my sons grow up in the context of the build and the subsequent cross country explorations. These forums have been a valuable source of information and helped make this wonderful journey possible. I appreciate not just the content of these forums, but also the tenor. You have built a tradition here of respectful, well informed discourse. Thank you.

-Andy

Breakfast in Warren Idaho below.

IMG_2962.jpeg
 
Been around since the Yahoo groups. The forum was launched while I was on hiatus thinking my plans to build an RV would never happen after my wife told me she was pregnant with our first. Here I am over 25 years later and as a repeat offender!
 
Auburntsts said:
I joined Jan 2005 and was on the Yahoo list and Matronics before that plus hours and hours spent on Dan Checkoway’s website for his RV-7 build.
Click to expand...
Same! My first post was Jan 12, 2005... almost 20 years! I wasn't following the Matronics list but I do recall monitoring the Yahoo page. And yes, I read every page, every update on Dan's site as well. Hell, I still remember when he posted his first flight in 2004, I read about it on the PC in a hotel business center (remember those?) on a Seattle layover...
 
Well I was building a LongEZ from 80 to 84 and used the Matronics and Yahoo along with the Canard Pusher. Wasn't until by brother bought an RV 7 kit that I got hooked on RVs. Got tired of the 3500 ft asphalt for the LEZ and decided to finish a RV9 kit that had been started out of Peachtree City. From there to now it's been all VAF. " THANKS DOUG. for the great vison!!! "" I still know where the 3 1/8 Encoder you built is located.
 
I'm still here. I will hit the 20 year mark on Feb 5, after leaving the Matronics group.
First flight June 2006 & still flying after quite a few changes along the way.
 
Apparently I joined in October of '07, but I didn't become an RV owner until a couple of years ago. Boy, that's a lot of window shopping...
 
Jan 5 2005 for me.
Matron's and Yahoo boards before that.
An RV-8 "Message Exploder" run by a fellow from CO who's name I can't remember now before that which evolved into the Yahoo group.
 
Got curious and dug out an old logbook. First time flying an RV was late January, 2004...an RV-8A I had finished for a friend. Joined VAF in October of 2005 because I was doing TC stuff for an active EAA chapter, and really needed to learn more. It was immediately obvious I had found the right place.

To the old hands...thanks for taking me in. I certainly never realized how much it was going to expand my life.
 
DeltaRomeo said:
Twenty. Nice round number. Saturday the 21st will be the 20th anniversary of the first forum username created here on VAF that wasn’t me. ‘Scorch’….my friend Ross (washed up has been ….his words). I called him saying I was trying out something called ‘forum software’ and I wanted to see if he could ‘sign up’. I was still three years away from taking the terrifying leap and doing it full-time (still terrified). Before that for me it was some Yahoo mailing lists, and before that a simple message board that I assume is still online somewhere offering Viagra to the masses via spambot.

Anyone here from day one reading this? Some I can think of off the top of my head....
  • Jaybird
  • Mel
  • Danny King
  • Sam Buchanan
  • Don Hull
  • Paul Dye
  • Lot of friends....

And here we are two decades in, discussing RV stuff still, shooting for 20 more years Good Lord willing. A great community for sure! Thank you for helping make it what it is, and thanks to Bill K. for helping keep the infrastructure modern.
Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.
v/r,dr


Build Update …RossK
Right tank done.

RV-7A #73840

Well, I've officially started building an RV-7A I'm the third owner of this Kit and if you haven't read Vans warnings about buying older kits, particulary the bit about unboxed, original packaging you should. When I unboxed the kit for the first time in its 14 year life, this is the result of...
vansairforce.net
View attachment 76621

brian tucker

What happens when your pants explode?

On the takeoff roll from VNY last week I felt a substantial “thud” from the right main just before Vr. It felt like I had hit a pothole, but the remaining few feet of my departure continued without issue so I pulled back and lifted off. Landing at SMO, I touched down the mains on what felt like...
vansairforce.net
View attachment 76622

Q/A Canopy Latch Detent
Q: Is there supposed to be a detent for the canopy latch handle? My latch handle closes fine but will move off the micro switch in flight. I am thinking about remaking the nylon sandwich piece with a slight dent for the handle to sit in at the stop. I’m wondering if there is a better way besides creating friction on the handle shaft.
A: There is a pin on the back of the handle that slips into a notch at the back of the latch block.
https://vansairforce.net/threads/canopy-latch-“detent”.231782/post-1811757
View attachment 76623


briantucker

Flat spot on tire

We had a little incident on landing (will post in another thread) that resulted in our right main skidding for maybe 50ft. As a result we have a flat spot and I’m not sure whether it is safe to fly on. What do you all think and how do you determine whether a tire with a flat spot is safe to fly on?
vansairforce.net
View attachment 76624

LettersFromFlyoverCountry

Another Rotax SB: Expansion tank

ROTAX is trying to set a record for most number of service bulletins in a week, I guess. Here's another one: https://legacy.rotaxowner.com/si_tb_info/serviceb/SB-912-080UL_914-060UL_912i-015iS_915i-015iS_916i-005iS.pdf That one provides the S/N of experimental engines (fortunately, I escape...
vansairforce.net
View attachment 76625


OFF TOPIC:
View attachment 76626

Get your VansAirForce.net Charity Cap!

VAF Charity Cap: Help your charity and promote this site.

Get the cap all the cool kids are wearing! I don’t get a penny. It’s around $15. $5 more if you want your N-number on the back (I put 'STAFF' on the back of mine because it makes me laugh. Put STAFF on yours too if it makes you smile). And down the road $10 to the charity of your choice...
vansairforce.net

Please consider donating yearly to help keep this American 1-person pirate ship afloat:

Older issues of the ‘VAF News’ can be found at:

Doug's Area ...The VAF News, About VAF, My Resume

Pushed out every now and then.
www.vansairforce.net

THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)

THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)

The VAF List ...a list of RV-related lists. RV-related things you might want to browse over (a closed post that is sticky and maintained by dr). Link to this in 'Links' in the menu. v/r,dr Small businesses that help bring you this list of RV-related lists: 360 Avionics www.360Avionics.com Ace...
vansairforce.net
Click to expand...
Doug,
Your courageous move to full time editor of this has put and kept many flying.
I know from a mere 14 years of learning from others.
Daddyman
 
Caught it within the first year.... Joined Aug 1, 2005 (had my first official logged flight lesson 3 days earlier at 16 years old)!
 
Feb 2006 for me.

Couldn’t find the website quick enough.

A lot of help and knowledge coming off this site.
Also was a Checkoway fan in the day.

Great community to be involved with.


THANKS AGAIN DOUG

Boomer
 
June of 2005 was my first post. I was working on the wing of my-9a. I had been dreaming of building a composite airplane since the ‘80s which led me into an engineering career with composite materials.

I just finished my 34 year career with Boeing yesterday. Back when I started my -9a I was supporting the team that was developing the composite fuselage for the 787. One day I was in a team meeting with the VP leading the program and I mentioned I was building a plane. He asked what I was building. Thinking I just stepped in it I cryptically answered “an RV-9”. He immediately said “wait a minute, that’s a METAL airplane!” My reply was that the composite ones were too expensive!

That you Doug for keeping this going!

Brice
 
Congratulations! 20years is a great milestone.

VAF has been an excellent ambassador for many many people in their quest to build or own a RV.
I’m not sure when I first signed up for VAF, but sometime in 2006. Might have found the site in the Fall of 05.
I remember new members had numbers assigned, but I asked for #908 since my RV kit was #72908.

Doug and all the VAF contributors, I’m positive my plane got finished easier and better, than I would have done without this site. Thanks

IMG_1102.jpeg
 
Thanks Doug! Time flies! I signed up to the forums in Jan 2005 after having done the Yahoo and Matronics before that!
As others have said, my build would not have been as nearly successful as it was were it not for all the help from this early community!
 
Dougie, I remember when it was the chats, then VAF was born.

You were giving out member numbers then.

Rosie I think was #5?

I was #13.

I sold RV Insurance after visiting you guys, and having lunch with You, Jaybird, and my daughter, and Tater in his stroller!

She's 40 now and a Mama.

Time flies, so do we....

God Bless for the next 20 years!
 
I joined on day 631 (38 days before first flight of my -6A) which was 6674 days ago (18 years, 3 months, and 8 day ago)
 
Doug - if all this doesn’t make you proud it’s because our pride in you suck’ed it all out.
We met at Osh long ago. Joe Blank and I were walking around and we bumped into you. I think you were roomies that year.
Man I miss that guy, but the memories remain. What a great group of people to share a hobby with, and this thread is a walk down memory lane…. Good stuff.
 
I was a lurker for a short time, then joined in Jan '05. So ALMOST 20 yrs. I don't believe I could have finished my plane without this site, just a wealth of knowledge, and so many people willing to share that knowledge. Well worth my annual donation every year. Thanks, Doug, for all you do to keep this site alive and well through thick and think.

Yes, I knew Joe Blank. What a genuinely friendly guy. Gone WAY too soon.
 
I do remember the Matronics days and the Rvators. I also remember going to the Chapter 105 meetings in the late 90's in the Portland Oregon area where we actually met in peoples garages and talked about that persons project. It was over an hour drive for me to go there but well worth the time. It was always packed with standing room only. I still have the T Shirts from the Scappoose flyins too. Everyone was building and there was so much great advice from first hand been there done that guys and gals.

I cant't say when my fist post was on this forum, but I would be surprised if it was not real near the beginning.
 
Still here, joined Feb. 4th 2005, so 45 days after the beginning. I too remember the yahoo group days.
This forum has been a wonderful source of information and entertainment. I met Doug a few years after I joined and still honored to call him a friend.
 
My first post was on 1-2-05 and was building my -9A wings around then. Has it really been just about 20 years?
 
Got my 8 in October, 2006 but I didn’t actually join the forum until first post in January, 2007. Don’t think I ever go a full day without a glance at it.. Thank a million Doug!
 
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September 6, 2005, almost exactly 4 years after the first flight of my plane. I've learned an immense amount about airplanes and specifically RV's from this forum. I hope I've given my share of wisdom back.
 
Just looked at my profile and see I joined in March 2005, I knew it was a while ago! I didn't realise it was only a few months after it all started however. I do remember the Yahoo days as well.
 
DeltaRomeo said:
Twenty. Nice round number. Saturday the 21st will be the 20th anniversary of the first forum username created here on VAF that wasn’t me. ‘Scorch’….my friend Ross (washed up has been ….his words). I called him saying I was trying out something called ‘forum software’ and I wanted to see if he could ‘sign up’. I was still three years away from taking the terrifying leap and doing it full-time (still terrified). Before that for me it was some Yahoo mailing lists, and before that a simple message board that I assume is still online somewhere offering Viagra to the masses via spambot.

Anyone here from day one reading this? Some I can think of off the top of my head....
  • Jaybird
  • Mel
  • Danny King
  • Sam Buchanan
  • Don Hull
  • Paul Dye
  • Lot of friends....

And here we are two decades in, discussing RV stuff still, shooting for 20 more years Good Lord willing. A great community for sure! Thank you for helping make it what it is, and thanks to Bill K. for helping keep the infrastructure modern.
Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and RV-filled weekend.
v/r,dr


Build Update …RossK
Right tank done.

RV-7A #73840

Well, I've officially started building an RV-7A I'm the third owner of this Kit and if you haven't read Vans warnings about buying older kits, particulary the bit about unboxed, original packaging you should. When I unboxed the kit for the first time in its 14 year life, this is the result of...
vansairforce.net
View attachment 76621

brian tucker

What happens when your pants explode?

On the takeoff roll from VNY last week I felt a substantial “thud” from the right main just before Vr. It felt like I had hit a pothole, but the remaining few feet of my departure continued without issue so I pulled back and lifted off. Landing at SMO, I touched down the mains on what felt like...
vansairforce.net
View attachment 76622

Q/A Canopy Latch Detent
Q: Is there supposed to be a detent for the canopy latch handle? My latch handle closes fine but will move off the micro switch in flight. I am thinking about remaking the nylon sandwich piece with a slight dent for the handle to sit in at the stop. I’m wondering if there is a better way besides creating friction on the handle shaft.
A: There is a pin on the back of the handle that slips into a notch at the back of the latch block.
https://vansairforce.net/threads/canopy-latch-“detent”.231782/post-1811757
View attachment 76623


briantucker

Flat spot on tire

We had a little incident on landing (will post in another thread) that resulted in our right main skidding for maybe 50ft. As a result we have a flat spot and I’m not sure whether it is safe to fly on. What do you all think and how do you determine whether a tire with a flat spot is safe to fly on?
vansairforce.net
View attachment 76624

LettersFromFlyoverCountry

Another Rotax SB: Expansion tank

ROTAX is trying to set a record for most number of service bulletins in a week, I guess. Here's another one: https://legacy.rotaxowner.com/si_tb_info/serviceb/SB-912-080UL_914-060UL_912i-015iS_915i-015iS_916i-005iS.pdf That one provides the S/N of experimental engines (fortunately, I escape...
vansairforce.net
View attachment 76625


OFF TOPIC:
View attachment 76626

Get your VansAirForce.net Charity Cap!

VAF Charity Cap: Help your charity and promote this site.

Get the cap all the cool kids are wearing! I don’t get a penny. It’s around $15. $5 more if you want your N-number on the back (I put 'STAFF' on the back of mine because it makes me laugh. Put STAFF on yours too if it makes you smile). And down the road $10 to the charity of your choice...
vansairforce.net

Please consider donating yearly to help keep this American 1-person pirate ship afloat:

Older issues of the ‘VAF News’ can be found at:

Doug's Area ...The VAF News, About VAF, My Resume

Pushed out every now and then.
www.vansairforce.net

THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)

THE VAF LIST (a list of RV-related lists)

The VAF List ...a list of RV-related lists. RV-related things you might want to browse over (a closed post that is sticky and maintained by dr). Link to this in 'Links' in the menu. v/r,dr Small businesses that help bring you this list of RV-related lists: 360 Avionics www.360Avionics.com Ace...
vansairforce.net
Click to expand...
I may not have been there on Day 1, but my record shows April, 2005. I don't post much, but have followed the community for 20+ years. During that time I built one RV and helped with at least a couple of others. Congratulations on such a big milestone!
 
I started building my RV-6 back in 1993 and joined the local builders group where we exchanged information in-person and via stone tablets. Sometime after that, the Matronics list came out and that was how I corresponded online during the latter part of my build. Vansairforce.net came out a couple of years after my first flight in 1999. I really enjoy this new forum! :)
 
I went to several "builder's group" meetings before it was a part of Chp 105. Lots of camaraderie and tons on good building info. I miss the 'old guard'.
 
First post July 6, 2005, but can't remember if I was lurking on day one. Probably since I was working on my 6A rebuild project at the time.
 
I started building when we had the Matronics managed forum. I recall the transition to this VAF. I originally had the username RV8R but somehow lost it when I stopped being active on VAF for a few years in between builds. Here’s my original build RV-8. Building a 14A now. That first plane had GRT avionics and there wasn’t much support and GRT didn’t have any forum set up so I started the GRT user support group on Yahoo which after 15 or so years was removed.RC Sept 162.jpeg
 
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I lurked from day 1, but didn't join until I started looking for an RV to buy in October of 2009. I think I was still holding on to the old Matronics RV-List at the time and fighting against the switch to forums...
 
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