Just to keep you informed, the badge idea is progressing and there will be an announcement soon.
Due to massively increased running costs (PPRuNe is a victim of its own success) and an even bigger hike soon, I will be putting together a package so that anyone who wants to be a real part of PPRuNe can do so. There will be no closed 'member' forums as many people still like to 'lurk' for a while before posting and it is the open nature of the best forums that keeps them popular.
My ideas are for an 'Honourary Member' pack. For a small fee you will be able to purchase the pack which will contain a 'limited' edition of the PPRuNe badge together with a couple of stickers for your flight bag and your PPRuNe Username with or without your real ID will be entered on a special page showing you to be an official memeber of PPRuNe. Prices are yet to be fixed but anyone wanting extra badges will be able to purchase up to 5 extra ones (not the limited edition ones though) and have them delivered in the same package.
Nothing is finalised yet and I am in the process of setting up the infrastructure to handle payment and distribution. You will be kept informed.
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Capt PPRuNe
The Professional Pilots RUmour NEtwork