We love that you love (or at least like) what we do! Photo – David Parker Brown | AirlineReporter
Hot damn… how the heck are we at 2,000 posts now? You figure that, on average, we post stories at about 850 words each – that is 1,700,000 words that we have added to the internet collective. Not too shabby.
About the first 1,000 posts or so were just me, doing my thing, trying to keep AirlineReporter going. Now, we have over 15 writers who contribute (some big and some small) to keep the posts flowing.
I think one of the things that still surprises me is which stories are popular. There are times where we will travel halfway across the world, do a great story, and it just doesn’t take off (pun intended). Then another story I think will be a throw-away (aka “omg we have no story ready today, we need to post something”) and it turns out to be quite popular.
That is why we keep trying to do new things and tell new stories to see how they go (as in recently trying to get more into commercial space travel). Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. We are already grateful that you, the readers, are open with us in what you like and don’t like as far as content is concerned.
The AirlineReporter Dream Team: Mal, Blaine (who said Photoshop?), Bernie, and David. We have all met each other one way or another, but never have all four been together at the same time.
Looking back, I have done almost 1,600 of the stories myself, which is hard for me to realize. I do not see myself as a writer, I am not trained as a writer (which my earlier stories will attest to), I would have never guessed I would be a writer, but somehow I ended up here – good thing that I like it here.
But now, it is not just me writing – there are some who are catching up. Mal Muir has written 94 stories, Bernie Leighton has done 46, and Howard Slutsken has done 35. I have been so thankful for all the wonderful stories that they and others have contributed to AirlineReporter. Honestly, without the writers, I am quite positive, I would not have been able to keep up the rigor of my life, plus running the site.
One person who hasn’t written as many stories, but has made a HUGE impact has been our Associate Editor, Blaine Nickeson. He goes through and edits each story to make sure we are saying what we want to say in a well-writen, reader-friendly way. Again, Mr. Nickeson has helped to take the site to the next level of being respected (now with proper spelling!).
I am proud and excited about our team and what we have accomplished in these five and a half years.
So what is in the future? Some really cool stuff I think. As we continue to grow and get some amazing publicity, it starts to open up more doors. I think over the coming months we will be able to better understand where AirlineReporter might be heading. But I can tell you we will continue to try new things, make some mistakes, but hopefully end up having you come back for more of our good stuff.
Thanks for reading, and cheers to another 2,000 stories!
praise from Slovakia, cool page Aviation
Thanks Lukas!
David
2000! and you don’t look a day older than 1950…
Congratulations David and the team!
Thanks Ken for all your support and for letting us use your amazing collection of photos!
David
Hot Damn and Congratulations, David and crew. Stretched almost to the limits, perhaps over extended, you saw the light, called upon expert friends and the rest is wonderful history. Everything: the site, your work, the writing, the access, the reporting – truly everything has improved and oh so much. Thanks, David and congratulations to all of your ‘editorial’ and ‘production’ staff. Today, AR is again a site worth reading. Congratulations to all! -C.
Well Cook — thanks! I know at times we have had a love/hate relationship, but you have kept me on my toes and pushing to improve the quality, so thank you for that — I have learned to appreciate it.
I still would like to buy you a beer (or coffee) someday.
David
You folks saw the light and made some wonderful improvements. I think it fair to say that you’ve migrated into the professional class. Periodic visits ARE worth my time and I sincerely appreciate your effort. Coffee or? You’re on, perhaps late summer.
Nice to see the principals together, in one shot, and especially Mal looking robust. Best wishes to all!
Don’t take David’s comments lightly. He is constantly challenging us – would Cook read this? He considers Cook comments on a story to be a “right of passage”. Thanks for keeping us honest.
All I say its been a pleasure reading your articles and keep on doing great work I hope at least one of you guys is coming to Oshkosh . I know Mal isn’t but I hope to see him in Seattle in July. Looking forward to the next 2000 posts
I am hoping to get back out again for OSH this year. Hopefully my schedule will allow it.
David
Congratulations. 2,000 times you have given me my 10:00 internet break at work…
Glad to hear it 🙂
David
You are the best, DPB Good job