Friends...... This will come as a surprise to you all. I have decided to close Montana Air. This is a decision that I have wrestled with for a while now, but I have come to the decision. Here are my reasons...... When I first started MA, it was small, personal, and alot of fun. It was not well known, but those who did know about it, were very good people. As Montana Air grew, so did it's popularity, as well as the number of people that wanted to be a part of it. As a result of that, my time is now spent answering email, doing webpage work (which I like to do), and other "mundane" things that take time to do, but are gratifying in their own way. The main thing that has come to surface here, is that my time is being spent incorrectly. This became apparent the other night when my daughter (5 years old) asked if I would play a game with her, and I told her "not right now, I am working on the computer". She then said "why are you always on your computer?". Now there are two thing in that exchange that bother me.......the first is that my daughter is thinking that I would rather be on the computer than with her. The other is that I said I was "working" on the computer. You see......Montana Air has become a "job", rather than a hobby for me, and I have to draw the line. With my new son being born, and the work season for Montana coming on, my time at home will have to be spent with the kids, instead of on the computer. Oh....don't think I am quitting the hobby.....I intend to keep my "Fred's Sim Site" operational, and still plink around with design (which is really my favorite thing anyway), but that is a site that is "update as you go" rather than the rigidity of Montana Air. This decision is not an easy one, as I have poured thousands (literally) of hours into this VA, it's concept, and it's up keep. A part of me will go down with Montana Air, but I don't intend to put this away and never revisit it.......I will still fly the MA aircraft, and do the types of flying (when I fly) that we do now, only it will be on private level. I will archive the website, and maybe someday down the road I will bring it back to life. I will keep the Montana Air Forum open, so that we may continue our relationships, and post personal flights and PIREPS there to discuss. The link to the Montana Air Forum will be posted on "Fred's Sim Site" if you lose the bookmark. As I have stated, it is with a heavy heart that I do this, but I want you all to know that I have enjoyed every minute of our conversations, emails, PIREPS, and other activities that have transpired from this. Once again.......thank you for your support, and your friendship, and I hope the legacy of Montana Air will continue with other VA's that may adopt this concept. Your Friend,

Sorry to see you go - it was and still is AHEAD of its time in many ways - blue side up and we'll still see you around I tried to upload a pic of a bk117 - 3view i am going to ATTEMPT ( key word ) in gmax -says remote uploading deniedRichard GreenVATUSA4Events and VA Director

Fred,I can totally understand your decision and the reasons for it. Although we will all sourly miss Montana Air, there is no defendable substitute for 'real life' ;-)Even our daughter (a 21 year old lady now) still demands our attention once in a while and I know I have said many times 'I am working' to her and my wife.... while actually doing something for the hobby (which takes up some 8 hours a day now :-( ).Once in a while it's good to step back, enjoy life, and look around again. I am sure all the great people in this hobby understand and will still be there in some form or the other when you 'return' ;-)Just keep a 'life-line' open in the form of the occasional forum post or email.... ;-) ;-)Kind regards and many thanks for your commitment :-outta Francois :-wave[table border=0 cellpadding=10 cellspacing=0][tr][td valign=bottom" align="center]"At home in the wild"[/td][td valign=bottom" align="center][link:avsim.com/alaska/alaska_051.htm|Don's Alaskan Bush Charters]"Beavers Lead the Way"[/td][td valign=bottom" align="center][link:www.avsim.com/vfr_center/mainpages/vfr_flights_main_page.htm]VFR Flight Center]"Looking Good Outside"[/td][/tr][tr][td valign=top" align="center]http://avsim.com/hangar/air/bfu/logo70.gif[/td][td valign="top" align="left" colspan=2]http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3caa06581c71ca69.gif[/td][tr][/table]________________________Francois A. "Navman" DumasAssociate Editor &Forums AdministratorAVSIM Online![/bemail: [email protected]________________________