mutley 4,497 Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hi Gang, It's time for my inaugural "State of the Hangar" post! (Yes, trumpet blowing time!) It's never been said, but I wanted to make a post to say thanks to everyone who supports Mutley's Hangar right now, be it my co-admin John Allard, my best friend and most trusted flight sim buddy, our forum moderators, our staff reviewers, our regulars, or our casual contributing members, you all have made this the very best flight sim web community web site there is. The last year has seen us literally double our membership size, we have seen a massive influx of new members recently and everyone who has joined has hit the ground running fitting in here as though they were a founding member. I must admit to having run every new member through the usual trouble maker/spammer checks, it's nothing personal but I feel very protective towards our community! We have continued to improve and expand the forums with new forums, new features and new functionality whilst maintaining the very latest forum software to ensure user security and forum performance. There is a new "Hangarcast" feature thanks to Tim who takes a lot of personal time to edit out our inane mutterings for the broadcast version that is actually published! Our reviews section/website has seen on average 1 sometimes 2 totally independant product reviews every week. We are the most trusted independant flight sim reviews website out there, just read our endorsements on our reviews home page to see why. Much of the praise for this has to go to our staff reviewers who constantly turn out interesting and honest appraisals, they are not paid for this, it is often their own paid for software they review but the majority is donated by the developers/publishers. We have welcomed new staff review writers, Andrew Godden, Tim Arnot and Jessica Bannister-Pearce, whose writing styles totally compliment ours and we hope to see more from them in the coming year. Jess, like Rob, also write for the industries two leading publications PC Pilot and Computer Pilot so you can rest assured you are in good hands here. Arriving in the next couple of weeks will be MEBAR 2012, our GA flying challenge in association with Bluegrass airlines. We are fortunate this year to be sponsored by Flight1 who will be donating 10, current, flight sim prizes to be awarded in a raffle to pilots who complete our challenge, so make sure you enter, details will follow soon! We also thank Just Flight for their support of our screenshot competition for well over 3 years now, these guys are great supporters of the Hangar so I hope you will support them as well in these trying economic times. Our yearly running expenses run to around £350 with about £45 being received in donations which I thank everyone personally. I am very pleased to keep "Mutley's" membership free and ad free much to the delight of our members so long as I can keep my day job! We will be taking a stand at the FSC Weston show this year so make sure you pop by and say hello. Depending on the time and day you will be able to meet me, Rob, Brian, Jack and Dad (Prof Martin), Dai, Tim, Jess, Darren from Earth Simulations and many more. If you can, please support this event to secure its future and to support the charities it funds. You have all made this a fabulous place to be, I really don't know where I would be without it and thank every one from the bottom of my heart. I am hoping we can all pull together and keep on doing what we are doing, making this the best flight sim place to be. Edit: There are so many new features I forgot to mention, our File Library, thanks everyone for your contributions, especially John Allard who has amassed more than 1200 airport plates, quite an achievement. John, thanks. Thanks also goes to JanKees who has made Mutley's a home to preview his excellent repaints, some are in our library and I need to bring it up to date with Jan Kee's latest offerings so bear with me. Don't forget to look at the Mutley's Hangar Review, a daily round up of flight sim news available by clicking on the feature in the right hand side-bar. Also the Mutley's Hangar Toolbar it needs updating I know, but I am open to suggestions. Last, but not least, Andrew Godden, GAAR and GARGP supremo, main advisor for MEBAR who without, we would not have this challenge! Regards, Joe Link to post Share on other sites
needles 1,013 Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 sniff sniff! Well said Joe. A fitting tribute to every member of Mutley's Hangar, including yourself without whom the Hangar would not exist. Well Done Sir! Long may Mutley's Hangar reign supreme. See you at Weston. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,314 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I have to say that this site is one of the friendliest sites that I have ever run across. You guys are not only simming, your having tons of fun doing it. It's the last site I look at, at the end of the day. It has great aircraft pic's and there is always something here that is sure to give me a good chuckle or have me ponder a universal truth or even read about out and out total fabrications of cargo transport prowess. In all cases it's always something interesting. Thanks to you all and especially to the mechanics that keep the ship from falling out of the sky, Brett Link to post Share on other sites
simmerhead 0 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Great place to be! Thanks for making this site possible. Where do one donate? Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,497 Posted March 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Thanks simmerhead, that's kind, look at the forum index page, in the right hand side-bar above the tags gizmo thingy! Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Joe Lawford IS Mutley's Hangar. That's not an exaggeration – without his vision, his money and his unending effort, this site would not even exist, much less be what it is, what is has become to so many of us and what I think it is destined to become in the future. Despite a full time job, a long commute and some health challenges, he dedicates a phenominal amount of his time to Mutley's Hangar. I've watched Joe build, nurture and agonize over Mutley's Hangar over the years I've known him. Though I'd wager most new users hardly notice that MH is ad-free until they've been with us for a while, it's that way because Mutley wanted it to be that way, as a benefit to his users. By doing it that way he deliberately set aside a source of revenue to help offset his costs for web-hosting, software licenses, hardware and the other things that are necessary to maintain a web site of this kind. He's changed web hosts at least twice during that time and the forum software system (I don't even know the correct term) as well. Making those changes entails a huge amount of work, backing up databases, creating new pages and menus and what-not – I don't pretend to know a third of it, but I know this - - - he does it all himself. He literally has noone else to assist him with the technical side of things. If it's broken, he fixes it; if it's new, he built it; if it's improved, he saw the deficiencies in the old and made the changes himself. In addition, the look and feel, the graphical design, logos, page headers, page layouts and such are also his original work. Yes, the forum software now provides some pre-programmed skins; it wasn't always so and skins only go so far. The overall organization of the site, the forums and subforums, reviews, file libarary and all the rest are laid out according to his vision and hands-on creativity. I've done a handful of reviews, how-to articles and a couple of aviation-related works of fiction that are available at MH. In every case, what I submitted to Mutley was raw text and images, perhaps with captions already written. He spends hours working those into the HTML document that you see when you navigate to the page. I think it's much the same with the submittals from others. Writers write – editors and people like Joe Lawford make that writing look palatable, professional and attractive. It's as much work, but the writer gets all the credit. He has honored me by appointing me co-administrator for the site. I assure you that the title is about 99% honorary. Though I have the full access rights as an administrator, my direct involvement in anything much beyond making forum posts and uploading files to the new File Library is quite minimal. I can count on my fingers the number of times I've used my admin privileges to do ANYTHING, and I lack a full set of digits. Mutley humbles me frequently by demonstrating in ways most of you don't see that he is a caring and empathetic web host. He cares about the feelings and sensibilities of those who join us here and though he abhors censorship he is constantly monitoring things and nudging where he can. Without violating any confidences, the interplay amongst the moderators and between us and Mutley is voluminous and varied. It's almost always fun and sometimes it's even about forum business. I think it's a hallmark of this forum, and a credit to it, that MH requires so little hands-on moderation. That's Joe's doing, mainly. During the time I've known Joe we've become friends of the sort that only come along a few times in a lifetime. I value my association with him above most things in my life. My life is good, but it's significantly better for having Joe Lawford in it. He's been a guest in my home and I have hopes that he and Lisa will visit again, despite the distance. I know that it was the farthest thing from his mind for this thread to be a tribute to Joe Lawford, but I hope I've stolen it and turned it to that purpose, at least for this one post. He's one of a kind folks. Mutley's Hangar members and the entire flight sim community benefit significantly from his presence in our midst. Link to post Share on other sites
PanzerFodder 0 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Thanks for running the site Joe and Co There's not many as good as this one on the web Cheer's...Graham... Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 You never really know what goes on behind the scenes until it's either said or you do it yourself - bravo Joe & Co! I can clearly state that it is one of the first sites I look at in the morning and one of very, very few that I read all the posts, regardless of what it is! Thanks for making it so great! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,497 Posted March 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Thanks for your very generous words John, we have been through a lot, haven't we! Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Great place - great people - Thanks, Boss! Cheers - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
aeromax 10 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 One of the best flight- simmer- pilot´s & flight- enthusiasts site, i have ever seen. A variety of good and useful informations and quick help when needed; also in the background. Thus, a high praise. Thanks Joe, John and All for running this site !!. Great experience. Cheers, Max Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,497 Posted March 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Thanks to you as well Max, it must be difficult to understand some of our humour and explanations but you always come back with great replies, vielen dank mein freund! Link to post Share on other sites
aeromax 10 Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Thank You Joe ! Great to be here. Indeed, sometimes it is not so easy to understand all of them, but I try my best 'm glad if I can help a little. Thanks Joe. Link to post Share on other sites
SEATAC 400 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 There are other flight sim forums on the internet???? Surely you jest! Seriously, Mutley's is by the far the best. It's the only one that I visit on a daily basis. I know the work involved in running and maintaining a website and Joe, you do an excellent job. It's a wonder that you have any time left to enjoy flight simming. Mutley's Hangar is a great place for sharing the passion of flying. Thanks Joe! Link to post Share on other sites
stu7708 244 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 I can only agree with what's been said so far and extend a big Thank You to Joe for hosting and running the friendliest Flight sim forum I've found so far.... Link to post Share on other sites
Sabre 28 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hi Gang, It's time for my inaugural "State of the Hangar" post! (Yes, trumpet blowing time!) Trumpet blowing is good - particularly when you have a real good reason to blow it. Mutley's Hangar is "The Best" flight sim forum and therefore reason enough for a fanfare. Being a relative newcomer I can't thank Joe and the Mutley's Crew enough for the help, advice and above all friendliness shown to all. The best thing I did in 2011 was to make a very minor investment in something called FSX, the second best thing was to find Mutley's Hangar, the rest is history, since that time I've visited the forum on a daily basis (apart from holiday). It provides me with advice, tips, information, humour and above all the most friendly forum I've ever known. "A great place to be?" - too right - a truly great experience - thanks to all and long may it continue Link to post Share on other sites
ShrewsburyFC 215 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 By far the best website, and friendliest forum I have ever visited, and will continue to visit! Thanks Joe and Gang! Sam. Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I have to agree with all that has been said above. I found MH by looking at one of the ATWC posts via the JF forum, since landing here I've hardly ever been on another FS forum. I was honoured when Joe asked me to write reviews for the website, I previously wrote for another one which was never updated, it makes a big difference to know that people read what is written. So much so that I take more enjoyment writing for MH than for the magazines - which is paid work. Thanks to Joe MH has got a fantastic reputation, so much so that developers now come to us to ask for their products to be reviewed. In the past we've had to go to them and hope that we might get something. Every single member contributes something to the hangar whether it be John with his airport plates of UKJim with is Air Hauler updates. We all have flight simulation in our blood and that makes MH the best place to be for FS Without Joe's hardwork and dedication there wouldn't be a hangar. Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,497 Posted March 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I Like the "Thank You" pole dancer Rob! And thanks for your comments as well, it's interesting to see how people landed here, your key role as Reviews Editor is well earned mate thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Too long ago to remember how I made a firm touchdown! Quite possibly the ATWC, seem to remember reading them before joining! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,497 Posted March 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 You must have joined "illegally" Chuck Glad you did! Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 You've said that before - must have been allowed! (Or maybe you wanted a directionally challanged chicken......) Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Well - how did I find 'home'? There was this funny website with a nice, animated dog just outside the hangar - Yep, you know which Hangar... The Forum was under re-construction at the time - January 2007, I think - but when I looked again, a couple of weeks later, the Hangar was open, so I joined up. My Pam had just come back from India, and the Guess The Airport was, coincidentally, Mumbai, where she'd flown back from. Pipped at the post, probably by John (!), I managed to nail the next GTA, which was... My first impressions, that Mutley's was the place to be, haven't altered - our Forum stands out as the easiest going, yet technically advanced (I'm talking Reviews, advice, screenshots, you-name-it...) sim web site around. As I said - it's Home. Thanks, Joe - and the rest of you all - for having me! Cheers - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
Tim_A 997 Posted March 10, 2012 Report Share Posted March 10, 2012 I think I found the forum after being directed to the reviews page from another site... probably Orbx. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now