Thankfulness within SL

It's Thanksgiving Day in America. I've been reflecting on my 9 years in Second Life and today it dawned on me: In addition to being thankful for the many wonderful things in my Real Life, I'm also very thankful for the friends, experiences and memories of my Second Life.

Lately I've been thinking about the many happy years I've had in Caledon and the fun I had with the Royal Caledon Air Force.

The photo above was given to me by my SL friend and RCAF supporter Samantha Poindexter.

RAF Tarington, RCAF HQ (WW2), an overview

Here is an overview of Cornelius Fanshaw's RAF Tarington Air Base located along the western edge of Jeogeot Gulf.

 These two snapshots were taken right after the move to Tarington from next door Rundledawn. Niki Wilder now owns the parcel at Rundledawn.

SLurl:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tarington/224/226/38

(Toscha Vayander, me, Barry Foehammer, and Niki Wilder)

(The Bomber sits in the middle of the new Tarington parcel)

Cornelius has been very busy (but of course he loves it!) putting RAF Tarington all together with bits and pieces I've seen since I've known him. Now he has enough space and prim for everything. And all in a great location (Jeogeot Gulf) where such things are appreciated. Traffic has skyrocketed!

(I love the line of trees, it divides the parcels without preventing cross traffic between Cornelius and Niki. Nice touch, Niki!)

This is now base of operations for our 401 Squadron RCAF (WW2) SL Group.

So this was the overview. In my next post about RAF Tarington, I'll show you some details, and (whispering)... reveal a few secrets.

Throwback Thursday # 5

When flying became more difficult for us in the Royal Caledon Air Force, we ventured out into the WW2 sims.

As I recall this photo was taken in the old WW2 RP Region "Fallout" from the first half of 2009.  There was more than one region but that's the name I remember.


Below, my good friend Aether Inglewood does her part to destroy a V2 Rocket before it launches for London.

This was our thing whenever we were in-region. My WW2 sim idea was based on our little commando raids.

SL Aviation Magazine Issue 34

Machinima from Luke Flywalker:

SL Aviation news presented in TV news magazine format. This issue features a look at Cheerport Airport, a flight around Jeogeot Gulf, Zip's Automated Cargo Systems and crazy Battle Balloons with the Dogs on the Run.

The steampunk battle balloon dogfight starts at 16:06

Steampunk RCAF HQ in Blake Bay

Here are snapshots of the latest (and last?) steampunk Royal Caledon Air Force HQ. One of Cornelius Fanshaw's creations, it's located in Blake Bay and cleverly camouflaged to fit into the pirate theme of the local area.

SLurl:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blake%20Bay/84/181/23

The Trials and Tribulations of an SL Event Planner

A Combat Event Planners work is never done...

Planning with Cornelius Fanshaw and Vickster Kuhn  

We were soon joined by DA "Don" Admiral

A combat event planner (like any event planner) takes great care and thought  into the process and procedures of even the fun events like our recent steampunk balloon dogfights. At times we make financial contributions in efforts to ensure success.

For people like Cornelius and me, it could be time and energy, with small investments of money for items like rezzable planes or battle balloons. For people like Don and Vicks it could mean even more time, effort, and greater financial commitments as region owners. We hope and pray that participants like you will show up, enjoy yourselves, and want more fun and excitement from us.

And yes - we take great pride when things go well.

But we also have our share of disappointments. It's been noticed that although the steampunk battle balloon event was a big hit with all who showed up, only the usual suspects from the old steampunk Royal Caledon Air Force showed. The people who protested the loudest back in early January - that I save RCAF from my proposed shutdown / deletion date, never came - to either event. Just as I thought would happen.

So... RCAF will continue to exist as a closed, inactive group as part of Caledon, Steamland, and SL Aviation history. Everyone will have the roletag of "RoyalCaledonAirForce" while group owners will have the tag "RCAF Curator."

The new RCAF group description:

Altitude with Attitude! - This is the historic Royal Caledon Air Force. Closed, inactive, but not forgotten. To all the Connolly's Crazies out there, it was great fun! Blue Skies, everyone!

-- Zoe Connolly
Group Owner, former Air Marshal, and present RCAF Curator.

We're reacting to consumer demand and will continue planning for our World War 2 and Modern Combat Groups.

Throwback Thursday # 4 - October 2007

October 2007 - The photo below was taken at Desmond Shang's estate in Caledon. It captures the moment I placed a "deposit" on my part of what would be known as Connolly Aerodrome in Caledon Penzance.

I didn't know it yet, but I was about to have my best year in SL ever.

What's my second best year? I'm guessing it's this one. I'm almost two months into this great year using Second Life with SLGo.

SL Group News: Steampunk RCAF

A few meetings with officers and friends of RCAF

A quick meeting with Cornelius Fanshaw and Sin Trentin

This is RCAF (Steampunk) HQ in Blake Sea

Caledon Zephyr's History of RCAF

There are a few inaccuracies and omissions, but this is an excellent history of the Royal Caledon Air Force. 

A Retrofitting for the RCAF: Looking Back and Gazing into the Future, 2015.2.8

SL Groups: RCAF Steampunk and RCAF WW2

The Royal Caledon Air Force is now officially split into two distinct groups.

RCAF - Royal Caledon Air Force is our Steampunk Military RP group and sometimes dabbles in WW1 era dogfights. This is the one I started in Caledon back in 2007. Our original motto was "Altitude with Attitude" and we're going back to that adventurous fun. Eventually, it grew beyond Caledon to protect the larger Steampunk Community.

Times Changed - Following a series of budget cuts and the loss of its headquarters, RCAF "went rogue" - concerned with its own interests first, the interests of Steamland governments a secondary concern. The rebooted and re-imagined RCAF is Caledon in name only, a mere hat tip to its origins.

Part heroic, part anti-heroic, the rebooted RCAF is steampunk swagger on land, sea, and of course - in the air. We are an independent force, without ties to Caledon or any Nation. In public Steamland leaders curse us, while in private offices, we're praised - often called upon by governments to do their dirty work - It's all very hush hush, you know.

A display of pre-WW1 airplanes. 

The style we often use in the steampunk version of RCAF

Meanwhile, 401 Squadron RCAF is our WW2 Military RP group. We changed the word Caledon to Canadian in THIS version of RCAF. Our mission: Destroy the Nazi War Machine.

In 401 Sqdrn RCAF, we'll stage or participate in dogfights and other battles within the Dogs On The Run and New Bastogne Occupied France regions. We will fight with the Allies on land and in the air. We'll also have a military presence in Jeogeot Gulf and do non-combat flyovers across Blake Sea.

Come join us in one or both groups and fly for fun and adventure!

 RAF Rundlelawn, RCAF in Jeogeot Gulf

Cornelius and I stand near the Squadron sign.

SLurl to RAF/RCAF Rundlelawn
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rundlelawn/242/44/38

SL Regions: Nazi Occupied France (part 2)

This is a group of regions (sims) for WW2 Combat roleplay using the VICE combat system. You can play Axis, Allies, or even French citizens (as either collaborators or part of the Resistance).

Below, night falls and battle lines are drawn. The Allies maneuver and hide...waiting for their best opportunity to attack the Nazi occupiers.

The main region is called New Bastogne which serves as 1944 Caen, France

If you'd like to learn more and start playing, everything you'll need is located at the SLurl:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/New%20Bastogne/117/158/37

In SL Group News related to this region, RCAF has two groups now, RCAF - Royal Caledon Air Force (Steampunk Military RP), and 401 Squadron RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force, WW2).

This is one of the places RCAF's new WW2 Group, 401 Squadron RCAF, chose for combat roleplay. We'll be there fighting with the Allies on land and in the air as Canadians under the UK Flag.

SL Group: A Message to RCAF and Future Plans

Group Notice From: (RCAF) Royal Caledon Air Force, Zoe Connolly

I want to thank everyone who attended last Saturdays great event. We had loads of positive feedback and the folks at Dogs On The Run were delighted. Trinka Adored and DA Admiral from DOR were very happy with the turnout and so was I! -- a total of 16 people showed up from across the SL aviation community!

Cornelius Fanshaw and I are already busy with plans for the near future. Combat and commercial SL Aviation is thriving. In addition to Blake Sea, there are new sims available for flying and sailing - and great builders are releasing aircraft at a regular rate.

For those of us who want more out of Second Life than just fashion and sex, the adventures await!

(Pictured Below) Cornelius and I chat about our new RCAF WW2 Group called 401 Squadron RCAF. We fly WW2 adventures as Royal Canadian Air Force, instead of the steampunk Victorian version Royal Caledon Air Force. We were joined by authentic Canadian Barry Foehammer.

New SL Aviation Group: 401 Squadron RCAF

Description: Originally No.1 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, the squadron arrived in Britain in 1940 where it took part in the Battle of Britain, flying Hawker Hurricanes.

In 1941 was renamed No. 401 Squadron and reequipped with Spitfires which it continued to use throughout the rest of the war.

It was one of the first squadrons to operate from French soil after D-Day and also the first Commonwealth squadron to shoot down an Me262. It was credited with shooting down 186 1/2 enemy aircraft during WWII.

As you can see from the pics below, we'll also have an air vs sea element too.

RCAF-DOR Steampunk Battle Balloon Dogfight

Group Notice From: (RCAF) Royal Caledon Air Force, Zoe Connolly

I want to thank everyone who attended last Saturdays great event. We had loads of positive feedback and the folks at Dogs On The Run were delighted. Trinka Adored and DA Admiral from DOR were very happy with the turnout and so was I! -- a total of 16 people showed up from across the SL aviation community!

 The phrase of the day was "This is fun!"