question about MAIW

[DaleRFU]

Just woundering how this fantastic website and group came about?

Thanks

[reconmercs]

If my memory serves me right, most of us met over at the old flightsimmer forums (I think that was the name? now shut down) and after not being satisfied with how military AI was being ignored, decided to try to make our own. A core group of us (I honestly can't remember who showed up 3rd, 4th.... etc) voted on the name as a tip of the hat to "skunkworks"..and the rest is history I had no idea we'd still be going strong after so long but I'm definitely excited for what the future has in store for the community There's a longer version but that's the sum of it.

[BadPvtDan]

I think it was the FSGateway site, right? It has been a long time.
My recollection was that there was always talk of setting up our own site but no one would do it. I remember saying something like, "will you really do it if I set up a site?". So, I went out and over a few weeks I set this site up with the hopes that these guys would make me some military AI.

I think the original staff were (and please forgive me if I am wrong) me, Desmond, Mike, Barry, Calvin and Stewart? I also remember no one wanting to be a staff member. LOL. No one wanted to take charge either which led to me playing tyrant for about a year until they got tired of me.

[reconmercs]

I think it was the FSGateway site, right? It has been a long time.
My recollection was that there was always talk of setting up our own site but no one would do it. I remember saying something like, "will you really do it if I set up a site?". So, I went out and over a few weeks I set this site up with the hopes that these guys would make me some military AI.

I think the original staff were (and please forgive me if I am wrong) me, Desmond, Mike, Barry, Calvin and Stewart? I also remember no one wanting to be a staff member. LOL. No one wanted to take charge either which led to me playing tyrant for about a year until they got tired of me.

hmm, yeah I think it was FSGateway and yeah, I believe those were the original guys, and the "will you really do it?" is actually spot on I think as well. LOL, I wouldn't call you a tyrant, someone had to take the reigns initially

[MIKE JG]

Don't forget Dan Bourque was a big part of the original group and getting things setup. He also authored many of our "standards" docs that we still use to this day.

Then we had a big fight amongst ourselves over what we would use for the "atc_parking_codes=" entry. Would it be M001, would it be C130, would it be squadron assigned parking? I'm happy to say, my side won that argument.

[sprocky]

Nice story.

Can't even believe I am active here in this forum since about three years now when there were about 400 registered users. Today there are more than 3,000 of them (although many of them have not even written one post )

May I say once again: thanks for all your packages! Also for all the support and tips you provided. Last but not least: thanks for being a warm home where guys/girls like me can discuss about military happenings.

[MIKE JG]

Look at the "joined dates" in our profile lines. The "founders" if that's what you want to call us, all joined up those first 24 hours. So anyone with an August 11th or 12th, 2006 date in their profile line has been here since the beginning.

[Garysb]

Aug 11th 7.33 for me!


Gary

[mikewmac]

I also was here from the get go. It looks like 5:06 AM, Saturday, August 12th, 2006 was my official join date.

Mike

[VulcanDriver]

I joined the team on Fri Aug 11, 2006 at 8:58 pm. I too was disappointed at the lack of military AI and airbase scenery for FS9.

[Weescotty]

Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:15 pm for me.

Although.....
I wasn't an official member of the team until a wee while later. I had done some Osan F-16 repaints and offered them to MAIW.
Got myself 'hired'.
Modelling came shortly after, fancied a 'bash' at it LOL.

[MIKE JG]

Ha I was right behind you then! Fri Aug 11, 2006 @ 10:25 pm

[BadPvtDan]

Some guy who never posts is number 1.

[nickblack423]

I was approached by the guys who started MAIW about bringing my Typhoon model I was developing at the time, over to MAIW to release as part of a package. I didn't become a Staff member until about 2 years later I think.

Nick

[DaleRFU]

little did you know Nick that you would become a vital part of making MAIW what it has become with your great models

[Greg]

I have also been here since the good old FSGateway.com times, but real life prevented me from stepping forward when there was talk about making our own group. Some time later Barry needed assistance for his RAF Seakings package and that's when I decided to join the team instead of continue to work as a freelancer.

The really cool thing about this group is that nobody's here for the fame and glory and all the staff members are equals. Groups like PAI and EvolveAI have gone under due to constant rivalry inside the group. None of that here. Some guys have a very exposed function, like the modellers. Others like the AFD and FDE designers or beta testers work hard in the background only to have their name mentioned somewhere in the readme that nobody reads I have always admired "Magic" Mike for that. In my opinion he has the most under-appreciated job here, working hard on realistic FDE's for our models while the modeller gets all the thanks afterwards.

I think it shows that we all do this because we like what we do, but we're glad we can share it with you guys

[kungfuman]

Us fans are indeed very grateful of your passion for this niche of the FS world.

Thank you brightening up my FS skies with the glow of afterburn!

[f14driver]

I still remember packaging the first 25 packages for you guys
Good to see you have grown this far today. Great work guys !
From the guys and gals at World of AI

[Firebird]

Tom,
We also recognise and thank you for your groups assistance in those early days. Much appreciated.

[VulcanDriver]

Yes I agree. Tom showed us the way. Many thanks mate.