For a variety of reasons, from the decline of quality "air to air combat" in the game in recent years to also needing to address a health issue with which I was recently diagnosed, I am leaving AH.
As some of you know, I changed my name in game as I took a break from training the past couple tours. I had hoped this would help me enjoy the game more and want to continue, but it has not. I don't want to turn this into a "parting shot", filled with opinions about what could be done to help the game grow, like so many do. That is not my role and is beyond my control. So, I won't do that rant. I was honored to be invited to join the AH Training Corps and I hope I fulfilled my role of helping some players enjoy the game more. I feel a declining need for that now, so it makes it easier to leave. I do thank all involved for the opportunity.
This post is just to thank those who in some way made participation in the AH community worthwhile over the years. Those who helped me as a beginner: TA57, Morfiend, Rodent57, TC, Trogdor, BigRat and to those who made the game more fun by flying with me or just making me smile and laugh, Trogdor (again, along with all you Loose Deuce guys!), Sik1 (and all of VF-17, what a group of guys!), NikonGuy and Tongs (and a bunch of you other crazy Aussies I so often saw as a late-night west coaster), lots of you 56th FG "jug heads", Scott66 "the friendliest guy in AH", Pembquit and your clever PM's
-- and so many other great folks to whom I apologize for forgetting to include you in this list. Feel free to add yourself!
And a final SALUTE to those whom I have fought with and against and exchanged taunts on 200 over the years -- thanks for making the game fun: Tyfoo "the biggest tank hack ever!", Lefty the "worst wingman ever"
, Hurless aka "Hurdles" aka "How did you kill me?!" even the remaining old vGUYS, and AKAK -- we've picked eachother mercilessly over the years and never held a grudge! Again, too many good folks here to mention.
I am donating my HOTAS and pedals to a local high school AFJROTC program that does some flight-simming as part of their Science of Flight curriculum, also to keep myself from being tempted back! So, this isn't one of those "ask me to stay" or "see you in 2 weeks" posts. I'll probably poke my head into the forum from time to time to see what's up, but won't be in the unfriendly skies any time soon.
I wish you all the best in all your future endeavors.
<S>
