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Post by Tom Constantine on Nov 20, 2013 14:13:19 GMT -5
This coming Sunday, November 24, TOH will be 15 years old. That's several lifetimes in Internet years I think only flightsim.com, simFlight & CalClassics go back further. In mid 1998 I saw a review of Golden Wings, a payware addon for FS98. I was intrigued by the idea and purchased it. That sort of re-shaped my entire flight-sim outlook as I flew all around Long Island in the Velie Monocoupe at about 25 mph Low & Slow indeed. So simFlight started a free web-hosting service called flightsimmers.net and on November 24, The Old Hangar opened its doors for the first time. Our mission then was to support and supplement Golden Wings. I sought out other Golden Age aircraft (after all, Bill had to sleep once in a while) and eventually added scenery. Art Nichols did Southern New England and I did the North. Del Hopkins did a lot out West and others who I have in my senility forgotten added more. Bill kept the fires burning with many professional add-ons and joined in on the fun. We had a couple of glorious years. Since that time, TOH has changed to meet the changing sim at least half way. Flightsimmers.net closed and I retired the first time and Christopher Tarana took over the admin duties. He moved TOH to flightsim.com and it flourished as a support for GW2 in the FS2000-2002 days. Later, Christopher needed to step away and knowing that GW3 was in development, I took over again and moved TOH here, where we had a good run with GW3. Then I retired again 3-4 years ago. Here it remains with Roger Law in the admin chair. Attendance is at a low ebb, but that has happened before. I suspect though, that TOH will evolve to meet the needs of simmers (perhaps another Golden Age) whether it be with FSX, P3D or <gasp, choke, gag> X-Plane. Meanwhile we have a place to meet and engage is 'hangar talk." And "roundhouse talk" too. Onward...
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Post by AirCoaster on Nov 20, 2013 14:24:34 GMT -5
What great fun also, Tom. I do remember those earlier days, even some bumpy stuff, but after searching several forums for people with like tastes, I settled for TOH, and have loved the comradery with all the folks here. Onward indeed...
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Post by beana51 on Nov 20, 2013 15:17:57 GMT -5
Nicely Said Tom...
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Post by bhk on Nov 20, 2013 15:24:24 GMT -5
Fifteen years has shot past, not only in "internet years" but also those that we celebrate with cakes and candles.
In 1998 I would never have imagined that a computer game would provide such a lasting interest through its evolution.
Congrats on the 15th. anniversary, Tom.
Bruce
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Post by sgtmajor on Nov 20, 2013 17:13:33 GMT -5
OMG....it has been a long time, huh? (smile) I remember the early years and what a grand find this place has been. In fact....I can't remember ever straying too far, if any from here. Del's great scenery....Yours too Tom, as I seem to remember some great Maine Scenery. The scenery I remember the most was Bill's Moline Illinois Scenery and some for the Great Mail Routes of early aviation.
I think I still have all that stuff on 3.5 inch disks.....however, I'm not sure where I'd ever find a drive to pull that stuff off. (smile)
Congratulations on the 15th Anniversary Tom....but more than anything.....a very, VERY Hearty "Thank You" to yourself...Bill Lyons....Del Hopkins...and all the many, MANY other friends, adminstrators, contributors over the years who have made these years and site so very enjoyable.
The Hanger is usually the first place I come to in the morning....and the very last thing I do in the evening before retiring.
What good Friends and Great Company!!!!
Cheers my friends,
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Post by zswobbie1 on Nov 21, 2013 4:18:22 GMT -5
& I still fly my 'Golden Wings' (FS9) Thanks so much for all you have done for the hobby!! :-)
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Post by stewstewart on Nov 22, 2013 13:17:33 GMT -5
I will say it yet again: I got my first personal computer in 1981 or 1982. I remember the first (line drawings for scenery and clicks for engine noise) iterations of Flight Simulator. I discovered GW3 by accident some 10 or 15 years ago, but not The Old Hangar (I signed up be never got to the forums until some 5-7 years later) until a few years passed. Discovering GW3 and The Old Hangar are the most significant, positive events in my entire Flight Simming experience - and may I say the people I've bumped into on The Old Hangar are at least as significant as GW3 itself!!!
'Nough said.
Stew
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Post by sergio on Nov 23, 2013 4:11:09 GMT -5
Thats it!!! Wow! I just posted a topic asking about an old guy on the forum and it was you, Tom Constantine!! Thats so cool!! No problem if you don't remember me. I remember when we flew online together and you crashed the Fairchild near your house when circling to show me where you lived. :-) Nice to see you are still around, Tom!!
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Post by Keith on Nov 25, 2013 15:13:44 GMT -5
Time sure passes fast.
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Post by bhk on Nov 26, 2013 0:38:21 GMT -5
It sure does, Keith. You'd be what age....50 now? Bruce
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Post by Keith on Nov 28, 2013 16:50:28 GMT -5
It sure does, Keith. You'd be what age....50 now? Bruce In another 2 months Bruce. Seems like I was just turning 40. Sometime I forget I am pushing the 50 mark because most of the younger people (including kids) I know are all so out of shape. I guess it's all the sofa sitting, TV watching and video games they play. I think my generation (I would say the 40 and over group now) will be the last of the "real" people on earth. Everyone else seems to be either bound by or to some sort of electronic device that has them living in a virtual world. That's really sad for everyone.
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Post by bhk on Nov 29, 2013 0:37:18 GMT -5
Keith, That was intended as a clever quip....little did I realise that you are approaching 50! I thought you were in your early 40s.
I know what you mean by your second-last sentence. We had a meal at my daughter's place a couple of weeks ago and at one point the only ones sitting at the table without an electronic device in their hands were my wife and I. The kids were playing games on hand-held devices, my son-in-law was Googling something on a tablet and my daughter was making a phone call.
Un-bloody-believable!!!
Take their devices away from them and they go into withdrawal.
Bruce
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Post by Roger on Nov 29, 2013 12:37:02 GMT -5
I was 47 when I got Fs98 and I'm 61 now...I don't know where the time has gone...
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Post by beana51 on Nov 29, 2013 20:38:01 GMT -5
The Sim world Endures..Many came and many left..They Grew up I guess,..I was 50yrs old in 1982,when FS1.0 was introduced to me.Our Office "Tinkerer" then, now known as "GEEKS" showed us that stick and line thing..As a Pilot I immediately was attracted to it..now 2013,and on the verge of 2014 still going strong..an enduring hobby Created by some wonderful people Bless them. This for the Forever Young,Once you become an adult with this??? With Adult Logic ,Prejudices,Small mindedness? Give it up,for the Magic will gone..Never more to return....Where Has the time gone?...To quickly My Friends Too Quickly1 Never to return!....Cheers Boys and we Are...Vin
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Post by Keith on Dec 13, 2017 14:19:24 GMT -5
I was 47 when I got Fs98 and I'm 61 now...I don't know where the time has gone... You are not kidding. I started flight simming about that time as well, maybe one version earlier. I admit I haven't flown in FS in well over 5 years but still, it's been a long time and you are right, it sure passed fast.
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