New Moderator
 

After almost seven years, the time has come for me to hang up my Mod's hat. I originally intended to do it for about three years. :)

At my request, PPRuNe Admin recently appointed a new Moderator and, as some members have probably noticed, we've been running the forum together for a transitional period. Senior Pilot is an experienced helicopter pilot with military and commercial experience who, during his long flying career, has flown in many different parts of the world and has settled into the Mod role quickly, as I expected he would.
I'm now handing over to Senior Pilot and am confident the forum will continue to move onwards and upwards under his guidance. PedalStop will continue to help with a second opinion when required, and to intervene when necessary.


I’d like to thank you all for making Rotorheads such an outstanding success.
Members who’ve joined in recent years might find it hard to believe but, in 2000 it was good going if posts on a thread reached double figures, the number of views of a thread didn't reach three figures very often and the number on the forum at any one time never exceeded very low double figures. These two threads illustrate the point:
Drying Paint
Dead Forum

Rotorheads is now one of the busiest forums on PPRuNe, one of the two biggest rotary forums on the internet, and the biggest international helicopter forum.

• The number on the forum at any one time is usually well over a 100 which, bearing in mind we have members in all time zones between the UK and the Antipodes is quite something.
• As the fantastic collection of pictures in our Rotorheads Around the World gallery shows, we have members working in a wide variety of ops around the world.
• I never ceased to be amazed by the wealth of knowledge and experience in this forum. We have experts who are highly respected 'household names' in the helicopter industry worldwide and numerous others who, although they aren’t well-known internationally, are truly experts in their own areas of work.
• Rotorheads now has a well-established ethos: It's a friendly 'crew-room' where we willingly help each other, enjoy a laugh and discuss everything from helicopter ops to highly technical topics. It doesn't often need 'negative' intervention any more because members generally know what is and isn’t acceptable - which has made my role much more enjoyable than it would otherwise have been.

It's no surprise that Rotorheads is widely regarded as the best helicopter forum on the net. :ok:


Thanks again for making Rotorheads such a success - a forum is only as good as its members.
Fly safe – and keep posting.

Heliport http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...portSmiley.gif


(Edit)

I resisted the temptation to mention any names because there are so many people who have helped in different ways to make Rotorheads what it has become. On reflection, I decided nobody would mind if I thanked one member by name: Nick Lappos.
To have someone who's such a highly respected expert in the helicopter world answering questions and joining in discussions would be an enormous asset to any helicopter forum; fortunately for us, Nick liked Rotorheads and settled here. He has made an enormous contribution to the forum over several years, and continues to do so even since taking on a new challenge on the dark side after decades in helicopters.

A few years ago, Nick's contribution led to what IMHO is still one of the funniest threads seen in Rotorheads: Nick Lappos - No More Questions


H.

Thank you, Heliport. I've seen the difference good moderation makes in a forum like this and have no doubt that you are a big part of the success.

Heliport,
I have been reading and enjoying this forum for quite a whilte - it must be a few years now - since you've been at the helm. Thanks for your balanced moderation of this sometimes contentious forum. I am but a sideliner at this point (US-based pilot who flies "for fun", yet who hasn't flown in a few months for various reasons) but this has always been The Place To Be for discussion and sharing of views. Godspeed and smooth sailing.
Dave B.
San Jose, CA

Well done, in a time poor society thank you for makeing the effort.

Max:D

OMG. The end of an era.

Heliport, thanks ever so much for your hard work (and guidance) over the years. :D:D:D

Well done, Heliport; thanks for your patience and hard work. :)

Well Done
 

Heliport,

Many thanks for your hard work and efforts in moderating with a light hand, but with the occasional guidance where you've felt we've needed it.

Enjoy all the extra free time you'll now have :)

:D:D:D

Bet you'll miss us! :)

Good luck!

Phil

Heliport
Many thanks for ruling over this forum with a light hand for all this time. You will be missed by us and I'm sure you'll miss us too!

http://i.1asphost.com/whoateallthepies/pie.jpg

I'm sure Heliport will pop in occassionally to see us, like the retired headmaster, maybe staring at us over the top of his horn-rimmed spectacles! :}

And welcome to Senior Pilot, who, I am sure, will continue the good work!

Cheers

Whirls

All the best Heliport. Thanks for everything :ok:

Cheers

S

Thank you Heliport ,
Like others, I've been reading this forum from ab-initio to this day, and I really appreciate your work!

Thanks to all the rotorheads!

Regards.
Aser

Thanks, Heliport, for all the work, the humor and the leash-tightening that made Rotorheads what it is - the Best neighborhood for helo drivers and hover lovers to hang out in.

Rotorheads is Heliport's creation, I think, and for that, I thank you.

Heliport

Regardless of us not always being in agreement and the occasional cross of swords :), I thank you for making Rotorheads into what it has become.

I've been here since about the beginning and there is no doubt that this is the best Helicopter Forum on the web.

I am sure you will not just disappear from here, but good luck with whatever you decide to fill your spare time with from now on.

Gary

Darn it heliport, if it wasnt for you i`d be up to 5000 posts now , best of luck in your time off lol:ok:

The King is dead...Long live the King! :D
Thanks Heliport! Welcome Senior Pilot! :D
bondu :)

What an absolutely brilliant forum, Heliport. I'm jus a dumb engineer, but have learned a great deal about both the design of helicopters and about the industry.

This forum keeps me sane!

Thank you Heliport.

I am always amazed, how civilized members behave in this forum. And this is certainly due to your hard work over the years.

I wish you all the best and welcome Senior Pilot.
:ok:

Thanks mate, enjoy the pprune afterlife! :ok:

CH :cool:

Heliport,

As always, many thanks for your steady hand and moderate judgements. You have created one of the best sites around, and all credit is truly yours :ok:

Good luck with your PPRUNE retirement! Thanks for helping produce the best and biggest knowledge vault for helicopters that can be accessed by mere mortals.
:D
Cheers
Lee

Thanks for your supervision Heliport. Here's hoping SP continues with the same standards.

Heliport many thanks for all your time and effort; we are by nature an opinionated lot and to prevent our divergent opinions from becoming a brawl takes some tact. We've seen you do it time and time again.

Senior Pilot good luck and thanks for taking this on.

1. *doffs hat* It's been a pleasure.

2. What are your plans for filling all the time that you used to spend watching over us?

3. Just for fun, feel free to poke your head in from time to time and rap SP's knuckles for not cracking down on us hard enough and keeping it aviation related.

4. Thanks. Not to swell your head, but I really enjoy hanging out here. While you do a terrific (and until now, a thankless) job...it comes down to the quality of the pilots that post here. Some real gems amonst the lot. And some ne'er do wells like me, as well. Impressive that the forum hasn't regressed to the level of some of the other heli sites. Well done.

I still owe you a Beer for saving my a55 here a couple times when I jumped in some morons face.........
Come to Vegas and collect....

I rarely post, preferring to read others far sharper than me, but this time, it's imperative.
I've always been impressed by your fairness and even-handed approach. You let pilots push the envelope and smacked them only when it was deserved. Outstanding job, especially for what you were being paid.
Wishing you tailwinds (save for TO and landings :ok: ).
rf

Heliport,

Its been a "Blast" I have enjoyed your comments and your guidence has been well appreciated by many of us Non Pro's,

If your ever in the Ribble Valley, drop into the Inn at Whitewell I stand you a pint or two.


Peter R-B
Vfrpilotpb and /2:D

His Honour Judge Flying Lawyer
 

Well done
Best wishes
:ok:

Heliport,

...... thanks!!

I wish I had your "cool & calm" and I'd be way less in trouble!
Hope you stay on as a regular list member and we read more about/from you in the future.

Invitation to your pref bev, whenever you get this way (Central America)!

Hello Senior! You keep going Heliports tracks, we all' be very happy, no doubt!
Invitation to a welcome pref bev to you, whenever ....see above!

3top
"...in trouble" :cool:

Well done Heliport! I also thank you for your excellent moderatorship (sp) . Now have an excellent retirement.
Welcome Senior Pilot.
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:

Heliport,

I extend my respect, admiration, and heartfelt thanks for your significant contribution to this forum and to helicopter aviation in general. Unlike so many other helicopter forums, Rotorheads has remained first and foremost a technical and educational oasis.

I sincerely hope to one day meet you in person - UK or US. The drinks are on me!:D

Best of wishes and good luck to the new Sheriff - 'El' Senior Pilot.

Rich Lee

Heliport, just to add my thanks for all your hard work over the years nurturing the forum and helping grow it to what it is.

And welcome SP!

Thank you all so much for your generous comments here and in emails.

I took it on as a challenge in the quiet days, and I'm glad I did. I've enjoyed the discussions and the laughs, and I've certainly learnt a lot.
Paco's right. I will. :)
It's been a big part of my spare time for so long.
I won't post again as Heliport, but I'll enjoy the discussions from the back rows and no doubt join in using another name.

Thanks again.

Heliport

PS: Here's another thread which gave me laugh.
Not a single word of truth in it of course. ;)

How many Rotorheads .....



.

Heliport,

Rotorheads has been a source of information and entertainment under your stewardship.

Thanks for your significant contribution toward the growth of Rotorheads' membership and diversity of topics.

And also, thanks for the occasional times when you stopped the diversity from growing toooo much. :)


Dave

Heliport, many tx for the serious and calm moderation! Smiled especially about your struggle against hidden advertise in the last years :p:D:=

Best wishes! And thanks again!

Is Tudor's new appointment the reason we also have a new Moderator???......

J

jelly j that i had thought also

steve

I can only add to the above Heliport. Thanks for your contribution to Rotorheads and for eventually keeping me on the straight and narrow. Well almost!

:E:ok:

WHAT? FLYING LAWYER IS/WAS HELIPORT??? NO WAY!!!!!!:uhoh:

Ah, Flying Lawyer/Heliport's well kept secret is no more. I wonder how many of us knew.