cg_341 wrote:Well I'm sure whomever gets the job will be more than happy to engage with the enthusiast community to understand their needs...right up until they read this forum and start to wonder if there's any point.
Christ, folks, what a way to present enthusiasts to the people that matter.
As Brevet mentioned if they are going to go off on a hissy fit because they have read something posted by a nerd/geek/troll/enthusiast/nutter insert whatever word you like, its probably not the job for them.
I don't ever recall any negative posting about Tom himself or the sterling work he has done in attracting some very memorable aircraft over the many years he has been in the job at RIAT. In fact all I can think of is "praise" posts, some to the point of grovelling and wishing they had a bedroom poster to dote over.
Yes, there have been many posts of "meh" to run of the mill stuff from all sorts on here, probably even me but it is RIAT, it has high expectations, high premiums (especially those of us in FRIAT) and to us old miserable gits who have seen the item at many RIATs and IATs before we're not going to spontaneously combust with excitement and say wow, great job you've managed to get a Mathematical Air Force C-130 for the 69th year running, like some others always seem to do to everything that's added. Conversely I can understand Tom's frustration when and comments appear when he does pull a rabbit out of the hat and secures a genuine gem such as the Estonian An2 or Brazilian R-99 and its met with boring propeller job or just a bizjet.
But that is surely just the product of a bunch of misfits on a forum from random strains of society? Every year we see the helicopter haters, the display team haters, the civvy haters, the ones who only like vapour spewing, fire spitting afterburner types, those who "don't go for the static" - admittedly I wouldn't even let those in , good grief there are even some who only go to take the numbers , a right mixed bag. Each one has their own manifest for attending.
I'm sure he has also got a warm glow with the praise when the message boards light up with real enthusiasm when hard work and persistence pay off and the likes of the Spanish Harriers or Romanian MiG21s are announced.
So no need for taking anything to heart posted on a forum by a bunch of faceless clowns.
Anyway, best of luck to Tom in whatever he chooses to do with his time, its been a privilege taking numbers, I mean pictures of all the aircraft he has attracted to the hallowed tarmac and concrete over the years, I'm sure he'll still be keeping an eye on how it develops over the next few years.