All things RV!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:09 am

Several times people I have spoken with have mentioned that they want "just one place to check" for all their RV information. For me, I like each forum for it's personal flavor and style. This place is probably the most "comfortable" and least offensive of the RV sites. I haven't read the Matronics site in years. I recall it to be a bloodbath. Too many axe grinders.

I like a place where I can repeatedly ask stupid questions without the fear of being abused when I just don't get something.

Doug seems to want his site to be the RV "Clearinghouse". By that I mean that it seems that he wants to be "the" RV site where everyone goes for everything. I think there is no one size fits all. The RV world is just bigger than that. It is kinda like going to different airports for lunch. A new place each weekend! Several forums to choose from is a good thing!

The YAHOO!!! groups didn't appeal to be because it lacks the personality of the forums. I think people become more connected in this format.

This place is a good place for the newbies like us. I know some of the readers here are flying or getting close to flying. What I like about these senior builders (Scott VA-dale, Dan A. et. al) is they like to share and discuss the finer points of building.

It seems that once people get their project flying they sometimes become RV snobs (almost as bad as warbird drivers!). Thank you to those that don't. The art of building metal planes is becoming lost in the sands of time since it's heyday of WWII. After the war, the skills were in the hands of A&P's who really didn't care about quality. Just look at most spam can repairs on any GA craft! We are the aficianados who drive the technology forward!

The RV resurgence is the best thing to happen to aluminum since 12 oz Bud can! People are now taking an interest in quality of construction!

If I ever become an RV snob... SMACK ME! I am an educator for a living and I plan to keep on helping out my friends here as I learn things on my project.

Thank you Spike for providing us this format so that we all can learn from one another! Thank you to all who agree!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:55 am

very well said CJ!

this is BY FAR my favorite RV site out there. thank you spike!

i have to agree with everything CJ said about the other forums and most flying RVers out there. i feel most comfortable here as well, and i refer to this forum as my online RV home to my wife (she still thinks i'm a bit silly for all this

).

some of the other online communities are well suited for the "big guys" out there, and there's not really a sense of knowing one another. that's where this forum shines IMHO.

rivetbangers rules!!

aerial · Post by **aerial** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 12:23 pm

When I first saw the Vans Air Force logo on a t-shirt I thought it was really cool. Not that the design was, but the thought of being part of a Vans Air Force pilots. I snapped up a t-shirt and a couple of patches. I thought it (VAF) was a collective group of RV's in each area that got together and flew/shot the breeze/rivets, kind of like an EAA chapter and was orchestrated thru the Vans factory.

Now I know it's not. You have to admit that it's cool (The name), and instills nostalgia and greatness, but alas the name has been coined (if not copy-righted?)

Just some thoughts. If Spike folded the board where else would you go? (VAF) If everyone moved over there, where else would you go? (VAF) If you need some answers beyond the user-group at Rivetbangers, where would you go? (VAF)

We live in a great country.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 12:44 pm

I would still be found all over the internet. I don't post any more or any less at one place or another. I suppose that if there was no RB, I would have to start my own. I just don't have the savvy and am glad that Spike does!

CJ

johnk · Post by **johnk** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:29 pm

I agree, very hospitable here.

JohnK

Lorin Dueck · Post by **Lorin Dueck** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:47 pm

Yeah, what they said!

Lorin D
9A Wings
(N194LD reserved)

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:16 am

Finer points of building? Me? Dude, you must not have seen my plane up close. It looks like someone shook a box full of parts and an RV-4 fell out.

But I agree, this is the most relaxed, laid-back forum on the net. And it's good to know I'll be chatting with Spike forever.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:35 am

LOL...

Dude! I didn't say you PRACTICED them! I said you DISCUSSED them!!!

You are a senior builder whether you know it or not and we appreciate your being here!

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:16 am

Thanx for the compliments guys. Its quite appreciated.

I guess my thoughts are that the the web is big enough for all of us and that having only one single place to get your RV information is a bit silly. To me that somewhat stiffles the community. I believe in having, and hope one day that RB becomes, a "one stop" shop for RV information. (We'll get there someday, were only just a year old, and have almost 500 members, with more than that browsing.) But Im not sure that having only one such resource is the best of ideas. It can lead to issues, etc. My opinion is that this place is yours just as it is mine. Patti and I just set it up, maintain it, and try to set the tone. This place will become what you guys and gals make of it.

We started this place basically because we wanted a forum based site of which there were none at the time and we wanted a laid back, fun, community type of environment. I guess its heresy but I dont really buy into the Vans Airforce thing. We aren't an air force, a military strength, heck, we aren't even all that organized. Too many in the RV community are way too serious for my taste. The RV series are great airplanes which to me have some of the best packaging, the best compromises, and are a great point of entry for new builders. They, however, are not the coolest or "best" airplane out there and those of us who are building them are not the cream of the crop simply because we do so. So, with that in mind we started this place to primarily have fun, help each other with projects, and maybe build more than just RV's.

Again, thanx for the compliments, and bang some more rivets!!

-- John

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:08 pm

mission accomplished!!!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:52 pm

My thoughts exactly!

The whole pseudo-military thing escapes me. I just don't get it.

But then again, Soike... don't you own a warbird? They call that a T-41!

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/modern_flight/mf34a.htm

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:07 pm

ha! i learned to fly in a T-65!!

i don't know who the guy is in the picture, but that's THE airplane that i soloed in and took my private checkride in. hooahh! hooahh!!

Dan A · Post by **Dan A** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:03 pm

aerial wrote:When I first saw the Vans Air Force logo on a t-shirt I thought it was really cool. Not that the design was, but the thought of being part of a Vans Air Force pilots. I snapped up a t-shirt and a couple of patches. I thought it (VAF) was a collective group of RV's in each area that got together and flew/shot the breeze/rivets, kind of like an EAA chapter and was orchestrated thru the Vans factory.We live in a great country.

Well, some of us do get together to fly and shoot the breeze, swap lies and etc. Saturday 6 guys and 3 RV's (mine being one of them) flew about 150 miles Southwest of Spokane to Prosser WA for breakfast. Flight time was about .9 hrs one way ( CJ, I had to slow down for the 6'es. )

It was fun and we did a little formation flying coming back. Speaking of which,-- I am planning on attanding a formation flying seminar weekend the last of June in Redmond Or. for RVer's Sounds like fun and is a little bit challangeing.

I think that's where the Vans Air force name came from. A group of ex- fighter pilots built RV's and fly out of Arlington WA. They call themselves the Blackjack Squadron. They fly regularly on weekends and fly the RV formation at Oshkosh. -- At least they started it.

Thanks for the kind words for those of us who are flying and still hang around to offer advice to you who are just getting your feet wet and --well-- maybe quite aways along. I hope we are doing some good.

I still plan on being around for a while and do try to check in every day or so. So keep pounding those rivits and I hope to see you at a fly-in in the future!
Dan RV8742DA 81.2 hrs. OF PURE FUN!!!

jerryb · Post by **jerryb** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:56 am

I agree with what everyone is saying. A friend of mine told me about this site and I must admit it is more friendly than the other builder sites. This is a comfortable place to visit.