Testimonials

"Why donate to VAF?

From Marshall...

  • You seem to follow the "if I can't say something nice, I won't say anything at all" philosophy. I love that.
  • You've been with us since before you even finished Flash -- I cannot even remember when I signed on, but I may have been forty something then!! (58 next month)
  • You have always been very honest about why and how you do the donation thing
  • You have dealt with a few sensitive issues on the lists and forums over the years-far better than elsewhere, everybody comes out feeling good
  • I like the way you handle advertising, and I used a lot of those links during my build
  • You earned it in my book
  • You provide a lot of help and hints on posting, photos, etc
  • The best pictures I have of "Miss Sue" are the ones you took. Anybody else ever gonna do RV of the week?
  • You obviously spend a lot of time keeping the site current, you should get some payback for that
  • Small price to pay for one of the best parts of my daily routine!
  • For those who don't want to donate - fine, but I'd bet most are more part timers
  • Never met you yet, but I'd trust you with a lot. I will, just give me time, I do have relatives out there.

    Cheers and keep up the great stuff.
    Marshall
Let’s preface a bit, and say I’ve read VAF for several years or so. I think I found it right after reading Dan Checkoway's site. When I first started reading VAF I noticed the donation link at the bottom. I hadn’t visited much and I wasn’t even a builder at the time, just a dreamer. I read some of Doug’s rules of who should donate and who shouldn’t. Teachers and Police officers are two of them. I’m a Border Patrol agent, so I guess that falls into a police officer? My sometimes-helper-then-girlfriend-now-fiancé is a school teacher. So I skipped over the donate part. Enough with the excuses, here is why I donate, in no special order:
  1. I read VAF almost daily. I get more from VAF than either my AOPA or EAA magazines.
  2. VAF has saved me money. I used VAF to advertise my Grumman when I was selling it to start building my 8. I didn’t sell it here, but with Doug’s blessing, it was on VAF for all to see. I’ve bought tools from other VAF members. I’ve given away pre-view plans from a 7 when I changed my mine to an 8 as VAF Karma. I hope that guy is building now…… and a VAF member!
  3. I used VAF to find Mel when I needed a good, honest A&P to do a pre-buy on my Grumman before I bought it.
  4. I met my EAA tech counselor on VAF. He taught me how to rivet, deburr, etc, all I needed to know to start my 8.
  5. I met Doug, who introduced me to Danny King and was offered a ride in The Doll. I’m now building an 8 instead of the 7 and haven’t looked back. Thanks Doug, thanks Danny!

In fact, as I write this, I’m a little ashamed to say I didn’t donate sooner. The biggest reason I donate is the friendships I’ve found from this site. Where else can you go an find folks from Europe, South Africa, Australia, and probably every State all talking about airplane?

$25 a year? Priceless."
__________________
Phil Campbell
RV-8 Builder, ex-Grumman AA1B owner
N418PC Reserved
Uvalde, TX

I’ve been a member for about one year. I’m happy to support the VAF site because I derive so much pleasure from it. I also like the idea that it’s voluntary, but I’ve always been the kind of guy who thinks its only fair to pay his share.

It’s a very educational site: you don’t have to own or be building a Vans RV to enjoy participation here, and there’s a wealth of information for builders, RV pilots and other pilots alike. Many members are most generous in helping others from their own experience.

There’s also a general civility in this group which is sadly lacking from other aviation forums in which I’ve participated. References are occasionally made to the "VAF Family," and I believe that is accurate; families don’t always agree, but in the good ones they always get along, and that’s the case at VAF. This is important to me.

I visit often, and it feels as if I really "know" these folks, even though I’ve never met a one of them, and I don’t know that’s going to happen anytime soon (if ever). I don’t post much; mostly I’m a "lurker." But it’s my "daily fix" - the site I always go to first, and if I’m out of town and miss some days, I’m always anxious to get back and catch up.

I don’t know whether I will eventually build or buy finished a Van’s product or something else; maybe none of the above. But the tenor of discussion in this group is such that it’s always valuable, even if not directly applicable, and more importantly, I continue to learn a lot about flying.

Doug does a fabulous job in pulling it together in a most readable way. The other aviation forums I’ve seen, especially the manufacturer-specific ones, pale in comparison to this one.

Bottom line, it’s a source of great fun and information for me - that’s why I believe that $25 a year is a bargain!

John Artz
VAF #683

"Van'sAirForce is a must have for any RV enthusiast. Being in Montana, I have limited resources close, so VAF is my network! My day starts with a check of the classified section, then I do a quick scan of the RV-7 posts. The amount of info and savings I've gotten have saved me THOUSANDS of $$$. I am new to RV's and even flying for that matter, but from what I seen RV'rs are the most friendly and helpful bunch of people I've ever met.  VAF brings them together in one virtual room. I have friends that I've never shook hands with, but will someday, due to VAF.

I'll be a longtime donator.

Thanks again for the great site."
Brian Carroll VAF#908

More Testiomonials


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(updated 5/8/08)

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Hello RV fans,

This site is my full time job.  It's how I feed the family (I started doing it full time in 2007).  Come here every day?  Please pay (we use the honor system).

VansAirForce.net (and the VAF Forums) are family-owned and run.  Money generated from them is quite literally how we put  food on our table, pay the electric bill, house payment, health insurance and how we save for our two children's college funds and retirement.  In short, it's how our family makes its living.  No kidding around...we've bet my family's future on it.  You can read more about me and my philosophy for doing things the way I do HERE.

If you enjoy the site, and continue to visit on a regular basis, I ask that you simply send in $25 a year.  We use the honor system around here - if your name is displayed below I've received your donation for the year.  I couldn't think of a more simple, straightforward way of doing this.

H-O-N-O-R.  A word that stands on its own and a great mindset.

Kindest,

Doug and Susie Reeves
(and Audrey, Tate, Moon Dog and Flash)

Below are some menu buttons I promise you will never see on this site:


eaa.org $40


 aopa.org $40


bonanza.org $55


cirruspilots.org $50
cessna.org $55

  
 piperowner.org $48

 
 glastar.org $44


from avweb.com

What If I Choose Not To Send In Money?
You'll still have access to the ENTIRE site.   Honor system.

You have advertisers!  Why should I give you a penny?
 Good question.  I would compare this site to most aviation oriented magazines.  Advertisers pay to be in it and folks pay to read it.  You can't just grab a copy of 'Air and Space' or 'Kitplanes' off the shelf at Barnes & Noble without paying for them (not for long, anyway).  The web space and bandwidth aren't free and the donations act primarily as our college savings, retirement nest egg and medical outlay fund.

Who Shouldn't Donate?
 - my Mom and my Mother-in-law.
- any United States citizen who has EVER been in combat.  You know who you are.
- anyone currently serving in the United States Armed Forces
- police officers (past or present)
- Kindergarten thru grade 12 teachers.
- firefighters (salaried or volunteer - past or present)
- anyone employed by Van's Aircraft, Inc.
- anyone acting as a moderator in the forums (that's payment enough!!!)

Where Do I Send The Money?

 By Check: Make your check payable to Delta Romeo, LLC and mail to:

Delta Romeo, LLC.
P.O. Box 270321
Flower Mound, TX 75027-0321

OR

By Credit Card:

 
Paypal in your yearly donation.
Note: For me to get $25 using PayPal you need to send $26 (they charge right at a dollar)
  

 

$25 spread over a year comes to about six cents per day - check the site/forums twice a day and that's three pennies per visit.  Not a bad value.

Note: Once a month (or so) we pick a winner randomly from those that have donated during the current year.  They get a prize.
This year's winners:
- January: Erik Nielsen #1334
- February: Richard Jason #1107
- March: Dean Brister #679
- April: Larry Pardue #709

2008 Donations
As of 5/8/08, the following (500) people sent in a donation during 2008.  Thank you very, very much for helping support this site. Your VAF # is assigned to you when you donate for the first time.  The monthly winner is picked from people who have donated in the current year.

* and **
People with * next to their name kindly donated more than the suggested amount of $25 (up to $99).  People with ** next to their name donated $100 or more.  The average is around $30.

Become a 'Lifetime' donator!  (I have a pretty unique barter offer regarding that.)

Name VAF# Name VAF# Name VAF# Name VAF# Name VAF# Name VAF#
Abbott, David* 262 Conser, Hans 765 Groell, Pascal 484 Lehmann,August 1461 O'Quinn, Ed 734 Smith Aviation, Inc. 639
Abbott, Doug* 1421 Consor, Hans 1369 Guhl, Wolfgang 1398 Lehrke, Philip 898 Orozco, Luis* 1361 Smith, Durward 1001
Adams, Jon 932 Cooley, Oren 1363 Haack, Larre* 502 Leonard, Nicolas 794 Pagenkopf,Uwe 1329 Smith, Mark* 1324
Albery, Mark 1503 Cordner, David 363 Hagen, Brian 1468 Levy, Stanley* 1541 Pajares, Frank* 1411 Smith, Stan* 572
Alexander, Marshall 1309 Costanza, Thomas* 1066 Hagen, Craig 391 Long, Kenneth 1006 Pannell, Neil 403 Smith, Stephen 1536
Ambrose, David 831 Cotner, Tamera 1345 Hammer, Donald 1397 Looloian, James 853 Pappas, Jim 13 Snapp, William 1501
Aniello, Thomas* 1148 Cottone, Joseph 1152 Hankamp, Thomas 1273 Lowy, David* 1325 Parchment, Dantony 1305 Snyder, Ronald 149
anon.*  1385 Cox, Jim 1513 Harrell, Jeffrey 379 Luciani, Luis 1457 Parks, Barry 1470 Sorensen, Harvey 1402
Anon.** 1438 Crause, Jacob 1472 Harris, Jeff (Australia)** 1517 Luddon, John* 1318 Pauley, Bruce 582 Sotomayor, Harald* 1223
Anstey, Barry 813 Craven, Mark 1381 Haskins, Scott 1382 Lussier, Denis 1332 Paulich, John 385 Speziali, Giovanni 1108
Apatti, Anthony 756 Crinklaw, Robert 1430 Hays, Wesley* 568 Macon, Mike 201 Paynter, James 1505 Sprayers, Aerial* 1354
Arnet, Josef 835 Cummings, Pat* 893 Hecker, Andrew 1440 Macrafic, Rich 1135 Pedersen, Richard* 1180 Stark, David A. (Dave)* 769
Aronow, Rick 670 Cycon, Michael 1428 Hegy, Roberta** 137 Madson, Jerome** 559 Peebles, Francisco 483 Stegemann, Bill 1387
Artz, John 683 Dagan, Amit 1493 Helm, Craig 585 Maib, David 646 Pensenstadler, Mark 506 Stern, Allan 560
Ashby, Steven 1424 Dagley, Larry 457 Henderson, Clayton* 1311 Malott, Paul 953 Perkins, Kevin* 1439 Stewart, Lawrance 229
Axom, Bob* 1368 Dalman, John 1015 Henderson, Thomas 417 Marcum, William 358 Peterson, Douglas 1465 Stinson, Brian* 1040
Bailey, Chris 1143 Danclovic, Paul 215 Herk, Darrell 1020 Markert, Bob 1412 Phillips, Andrew 1142 Stires, Steve 455
Baker, Gary 737 D'Arcy, Ed 840 Hickman, Edwin 1321 Marlow, Gregory 1111 Phillips, John 145 Stoffel, Rick 1483
Baker, Seth 1319 Darley, Vern 427 Hilliker, Howie** 435 Marshall, Xavier 866 Phillips, Kelly 1441 Stoffels, Adrian 961
Baldry, Anthony 723 Daves, Russell 205 Hines, Jonathan 1198 Marskell, Paul 852 Pierson, Don 1450 Stovall, Todd 1494
Barnhart, Claude 1379 Davis, Shari 1166 Hirschbein, Roger** 1403 Martin, James (TX)* 225 Pitts, Vernon 1427 Strong, Gary 1413
Barros, Arnold* 1401 Dean, Mike C.* 854 Hodge, Dennis 1209 Mason, Michael* 1351 Place, Don 1445 Stuart, Jeffrey (TX) 1515
Bauer, Michael 605 Deas, James 770 Hogan, David 784 Maury, Richard 1429 Plihal, Joe 842 Stuart, Mark 1436
Beattie, Mark 644 Defenbaugh, Matthew** 1161 Holcombe, Allen* 962 Mayo, Brent 372 Pofahl, Steven 1390 Sullivan, William 1019
Bedell, Warren 1147 Deford, Shannon 965 Hollingsworth, David 963 McAuliffe, William 1533 Pons Pons, Mario 1452 Sumner, Michael 781
Behrent,Angela** 1489 DeWeese, Alton 1420 Holloway, Milt 990 McClelland, Theresa** 1530 Porter, Gordon 1526 Sutherland, Brian* 619
Bell, Bruce 100 Domenick, James 522 Horan, Richard 1435 McCoy, John 1335 Pratt, Christopher 454 Swanson, James 1540
Bell, Mike 1542 Dooley, Col. Michael* 1067 Horton, Dan 924 McCoy, Peter* 1088 Preou, JD* 662 Sweeney, Michael* 1359
Belliveau, Ronald 1331 Dressen, Phillip 1525 Houghton, Stephen 974 McGinnis, James 1409 Prill, Dan 1007 Taylor, Norman** 1328
Bennett, Paul 1535 Dudenhoeffer, Kacey* 826 Howe, L.S.* 1349 McIntyre, Keith 1433 Prouty, William 1532 Thakkar, Ravi 908
Bennon, James* 1399 Durakovich, David 133 Hubbard, Ben 1487 McMullen, Don 686 Provost, Guy* 1388 Thiessen, Jake 894
Benson, Nathan 1200 Easterling, Nick 1512 Hubbell, Jon 345 Medemblik, Terrance* 915 Radclyffe, Ted 1314 Thocker, Jon* 453
Benton, Kent 621 Edgerton, Wayne* 103