A new member suggested that we have a Maule type-forum on BCP. How do people feel about this?

My feelings are that BCP has been more or less a place for people to meet up regardless of their interest in a particular type, although the discussion often do go that direction. We're pilots and owners and we want to talk about airplanes...just look at how popular the last few "What aircraft should I buy or build" threads have been. I'm guessing it wouldn't stop with Maule. BUT, there are good type-sites for the other brands. From the sounds of it, the Maulers are a little dry right now, mainly unhappy from the announcement that maulemods.com will be going to a paid membership format.

I do have reservations about stepping on the toes of other type/manufacturer sites, as I like to exist peacefully in parallel amongst our forum brethren, although few can argue that we have the most aesthetically pleasing of all the forums I do support the idea of free forums though, which this will continue to be. This is not a question of whether Maule topics should be discussed here, but rather just if we should make an official area for it.

I belong to CPA (cessna pilots ass) for that stuff, I vote no. Can I vote more that once?


Tim

Maybe linking to Christine's forum might be a solution, I see she has a link to Backcountry Pilot on her site so synchronicity may be the order of the day. http://www.maulepilots.org/

As much as I love Maules, I'd like to see this site stay non-type-specific to keep the tent large and the subject matter diverse. Sometimes type-specific sites can get a little too prideful, stodgy, and over-opinionated, and I'd also hate to see this site segregated in some fashion. Maule, Cessna, Piper, etc., etc., threads can be easily followed from the 'View Latest Topics' link or by RSS feed, and posting about anything that comes to mind and type specific questions can be answered by a diverse pool of like minded pilots who share the one common interest of flying to out-of-the-way places.

One of the reasons I like posting here the most is the way you've set this forum up. I'd like to see similar formats on the other existing Maule forums on the web. There are a few Maule forums out there already and I've posted on a couple of em occasionally but traffic is often low, and the topics of conversation tend to lean toward the technical (which does need a place). As Jeremy said, "Too many websites, too little time."

Christine, I've gotta say your forum is one I'll probably find myself in more often and doing more than just lurking when you get around to upgrading it to one of the new message board formats, and I think this might be the best angle to pursue along with cross linking some of these sites to make the tent even bigger.

I must admit I like the freewheeling anything goes nature of your site, Zane, as well as the polish and very user friendly way you've set it up so we can get around in it easily (sure beats the hell out of Microsofts abomination of a website, they've got a whole design team that seems to thrive on mediocrity). You've done an excellent job designing this site and it showcases your professional web design skills very well my friend...stopping here before your head swells dangerously.
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Other Maule Forums on the web:

http://www.flymaule.org/index.php

http://www.mauleairplanes.com/Maule_Forum.html

Tailwheel Pilots Assoc. - Maule Forum

I don't know if we need a "special" place, nor do I think we would get cliquish if there was one. I have been hesitant to post questions or ask opinions about Maule specific things here as I could see that most of the members could give a darn about how to fix a Maule tailwheel etc here.
It's actually a hard question to answer. One of the best things about this site is that it's NOT aircraft specific. Some of the aircraft specific sites are VERY cliquish. To the point that when they figure out that you don't fly that kind of aircraft, you obviously aren't welcome even though you have nothing but praise for their aircraft, you would love to have one etc. They run an aircraft specific site, it's theirs and they have every right. However, I wouldn't want this place to even remotely give off that kind of attitude.
Now here's the rub, Would any one mind if there were Maule specific topics such as flt. procedures maintenance practices etc posted on the general Forum? Probably, Maybe?
I am VERY impressed that the question was asked and the general Forum is allowed to post their views. I think it's that attitude that will allow this Forum to grow whatever is decided.

I think there's nothing wrong with starting a thread specific to a Maule question if you're trying to have one answered, as you said a64. There are a lot of airplane specific forums out there, but I like that this one is so nonbiased.

If you start a forum just for Maules, you'd probably have to start one for all the other guys with cubs and cessnas, so that no one gets left out, and then you end up with nobody in the general forum anymore, and that would be a shame.

So, let's keep it the way it is, but if you have a question about how to fix your Maule tailwheel, by all means, start a new thread, and ask away. You might even find non-Maule owners trying to help (I have a Maule tailwheel on my Luscombe - not really sure if that's from Maule Aircraft or not.)

It is certainly acceptable to ask questions, show off a mod, or just start a thread related to something that is type specific to your aircraft. My question was simply, do we pigeonhole it by making a special forum within the forum for it? The answer I'm seeing, at least from those who spoke up, is "no", which is great since it jibes with my original vision for the website. Strange that the actual poll votes are neck and neck.

The great thing about BCP (thanks to Zane) is it is so darn comfortable and I just don't get that same feeling at the other sites. (I also don't care for new shoes ) I would not want to change that feel. There is a gap right now and I'm not sure how it should be filled.

Maybe we just need to see how the gravity storm will play out ...

Mark

zane wrote: Strange that the actual poll votes are neck and neck.

I think some of us Maule folks are feeling a little orphaned at the moment, even though we shouldn't be. We could very easily participate in one of the other Maule forums and give them a boost in traffic and membership and I think that we should. No offense intended to some of the other Maule forums, but I'm leaning toward Christine's forum at http://www.maulepilots.org/, mostly because it's been around the longest and seems to have the most traffic. Though, I do think she needs to update her bulletin board software to allow topics to be broken down by subject matter.

The other thing I like about Christine's forum is her site emphasis on the Maule Gatherings. I think it's important that we use this tool to keep people informed about the Maule Fly-ins and specifically the one at Big Creek, ID on the weekend of July 15th to help Gene organize a successful fly-in given the fact that the temporary elimination of Johan's forum has taken a communication tool away from him at a very bad time, and that he has put the effort foward to organize it for us again this year.
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See ya Zane, it's been swell.

I now come to this site 3 to 4 times more often over the make specific sites. This is due to the large amount of information from all type perspective. Here we talk flying and fun, not so much nuts and bolts. I like the mixture as it is now.

I would ask to stay the course as it is.

Just my 0.02.

Dane

I don't have a problem at all with Maule-specific threads (or any other aircraft type), but am not in favor of a Maule-specific forum. There's already an "aircraft" forum category, with "type","engine/prop","mods","maintenance" forums listed. That should pretty well cover things.
I'm not prejudiced, I don't care to have any other type-specific forums here on BCP either.
I just took a quick look at maulepilots.org, by all means there should be a lnk to that website. Just like to any other good websites related to backcountry flying.

Eric

Hello everyone - I see your points (against a Maule forum within this great website)... I guess the suggestion was out of desparation because of all the stranded Maule pilots who like to have a FREE forum where they can ask Maule questions (free is good )
So, I will put onto my projects to do list (after my Europe trip next week) to implement the software and have a Maule technical and practical question forum on www.Maulepilots.org.
I really like this forum and agree that less fora/forums would be better, but for people like Jeremy as well as people who are looking for a compilation of Maule related questions and answers, it would be easier to have one central site to answer technical questions rather then weeding through a lot of topics and or fora.
Thanks for your inputs
- Christine

I'm on the Bearhawk E- mail list for type- specific stuff; i'm here for backcountry flying stuff. One site is for the plane, the other site is for flying it.

I just don't see the need. Go to the Maule section and type away!

This site is about Backcountry Pilots and Flying first, aircraft second. This format should be protected in it's present form. Presenting aircraft specific forums to piggyback this one will not be beneficial and will cloud it's intent.

When you ask a question on this site, the diversity of answers is more valuable. Take the Goodyear 26" Tundra Tire thread for example. There were answers provided by people who had used them on various aircraft with good results. Ask that on an aircraft specific site (think you know the one I mean) and some idiot from Alaska will bitch and moan trying to defend his decision to spend $3600.00 for Bushwheels instead of giving accurate information for the question.

If the Maule guys want to join the mix and post questions or experiences pertaining to the Maule, have at it. But the national language of this site should be Backcountry Flying first (sound familiar)?

A lot of us have experience in many aircraft, not just the ones we presently own. The general diversity is intersting and nice.

I respect Zanes vision, seems he sat back and watched what the other sites were lacking and provided it with this site, as a result I think you will find this forum grow and overtake any aircraft specific forums. Ya gotta like a bright guy