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New to Forums

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:00 pm
by FSXTB#5"Dirty"
Hey guys. Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Chris Martone, the new Lead Solo for the latest regroup of the the FSX Thunderbirds. I just wanted to say hello, and that your forums have been a WEALTH of knowledge and information on learning how to do what we all love doing...regardless of what sim we're on. I have to admitt, being an ex-FSXBA guy, the hardest thing I'm having to learn is the comms. But I'm sure I'll nail it in time. I'm sure not everyone feels the same, but the TB's demo is far more complicated to accurately portray.

One of my biggest, personal responsibilities with my team is to make sure that the FSXTB's stay in good standing with ALL demonstration teams, regardless of the sim platform used. This is a passion that we all share, and enjoy doing, and I feel the more people and teams that we have to aid us and getting where we need to be will be an exceptional assest to have...as well as our team aiding in the development of others. It is my intenion to assist all teams the best that we can, and that our relationship with the VTB's evolves to the point that it sets the standard for all teams. Understand, I'm no arse kisser. Your team sets the current level for the TB's on any sim platform, and I respect you guys for it. Our team, as well as myself are at that point where we are tapping endless resources to help get our team to a point where we represent the "Ambassadors in Blue" to the highest caliber possible without it becoming "work".

Thanks for your time guys/gals...and I look forward to talking with ya and making sure that a good working "vibe" remains between the teams.

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:07 pm
by Lawndart
Good to see a breath of fresh air in an attempt to perform the TBs demo in FSX with a group that is presenting itself well thus far. We've never tried to be exclusive or intended to come across as the only group online that can do what we do, but there has always seemed to be a vast difference in maturity and communications skills associated with some of the predecessors using FSX which made it hard to take many of these teams seriously. As long as everyone can respect the other groups' intellectual property (e.g. not blatantly steal artwork, or copy actual parts of websites, images etc. - all of which has happened in the past) and we are able to get along we've always encouraged more people to get invloved, here or elsewhere! We're all supporters of the real team, and share a mutual interest in their mission as well as flightsims.

[quote="FSXTB#5"Dirty""]I'm sure not everyone feels the same, but the TB's demo is far more complicated to accurately portray.[/quote]
:mrgreen:

[quote="FSXTB#5"Dirty""]Your team sets the current level for the TB's on any sim platform, and I respect you guys for it. Our team, as well as myself are at that point where we are tapping endless resources to help get our team to a point where we represent the "Ambassadors in Blue" to the highest caliber possible without it becoming "work".[/quote]
First off, thank you. While our top priority isn't to be the best among our peers or other groups, we definitely try to emulate the real team to a degree most outsiders will find unimaginable. Secondly, it will become a lot of work and even more work to retain a high level. Some years it has been like having a second job for some of us. We frequently say: "It requires 100% more effort for a 1% improvement." The flying is only the tip of the iceberg, so be prepared to invest a lot of yourselves and your free time, and remember: "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing it right."

We've been around since 2004 and there's a sort of a routine to everything we do nowadays aside from the flying. New versions of the sim, new peripherals, cockpit updates, testing products and expanding business relationships to name a few things. We do in fact run part of the team as a business with our corporate sponsor Thrustmaster being the most noticeable part of this. Antoher example of revolving work is making sure we do our research, crosschecking everything every season ("double check your double check") and expanding our knowledge of TB history, making miniscule changes in SOP and delegating tasks among team members to keep the team moving forward. Sometimes much of this invloves zero flight hours or refining of ones motorskills, but are vital parts that'll later help us in recreating the real team's demo more effortlessly in the virtual skies when we put our hands to use. You could say that this kind of attention to detail is very abundant in everything done around here!

If there is anything we can help answer don't hesitate to ask. We have an entire forum deticated to "How To" for anyone interested. One of your teammates already asked a question there recently, and I'm sure got a pretty sufficient answer in return.

Lastly, one final word of advise: "If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." Remember that saying during the times when it seems like endless work, no flying, and you start questioning whether what you're doing is borderline insanity! 8)


P.S. Before, as you said: "connecting your team with the real TBs", it would be in your best interest to talk to us first. (There's no way of saying that without it sounding like you owe us something. That's not the case at all. We have years of information that could be helpful knowing before you go down the path of contacting them. We'd also like to make them aware as best as possible that there are multiple groups doing this online and sort of give them something that lets them more easily distinguish you from us and vice versa despite having so many similarities. Easier said than done, but no one likes to be confused with the "competition" when, in their eyes, we're often seen as one and the same group for all intents and purposes).

Find us on TeamSpeak.

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:34 pm
by FSXTB#5"Dirty"
Property theft never will be a prob, and I expect that if it ever appears that way, someone get with myself or our PAO and it will be straightened out right away. For the most part, I think our group will not commit to any shows this year. Our main focus is getting the membership of the team filled out and the logistics of the team up and running, which so far is going along nicely. We're waiting for the next version of Prepar3d to come out, and as long as they fix the multiplayer issue, I think the team will transition over to that platform.

I understand your words about all the background work. Having served on the FSX Silver Falcons, Blue Angels, Steel Eagles, and now this, it def keeps me busy on the side. Luckily, it's all about balance between work, family and this. We know that we will never get to the point that we want to, and that's fine by us. You never stop learning, but like you said, put your effort into achieveing the goal, and accept and learn from your mistakes along the way. To quote Thomas Edison......"I 'didn't fail a thousand times before I figured out how to make the light bulb work, I sucessfully failed a thousand times before I figured out how to make the light bulb work."