I decided to “join” to read what is happening and to provide some support. I quite understand peoples concerns but I presume this is to attempt to reduce spam and the infiltration of the site by all the people who wish to use web sites for their own purposes. I don’t see anyone trying to be exclusive or keeping secrets from the general viewer. The running of a website can at times be quite onerous and distract from the actual work people are carrying out. Not every group has a person that is able to spend time on a web page. One Aviation Society I am in stiil had last years christmas dinner as News until May but I knew that the work was still ongoing on their current project. Onother web site I follow also has no recent updates but I have seen in an online newspaper an update which is not reflected on their web page.
If anyone knows of a better way to present the information and can offer to keep updating why not offer to help. I dont have the skills.
All the best to the Whirlwind Project, the proof that progress is being made will be when all the background research and planning produces some bits of metal. If I see this first in the news of an aviation publication rather that the Whirlwind web page so what. “Members” can hopefully provide support, reasoned discussion and work for the group.
Robert, you pretty much hit it on the head I think. I ‘m not really comfortable speaking for the group. I got involved because I thought my CGI/CAD skills might be useful but I’m now more involved than I imagined I would be.
There’s only a few active guys on the research side of things and what little time there is for the project is spent on the tasks at hand. Which at the moment involves a lot of dead ends, phoning up individuals and organisations and often getting nowhere. It’s not very glamourous or exciting or newsworthy and it seems only a few have the patience and time for it… more volunteers are welcome!
I believe hands are tied with regard to anything found at Westlands, not due to official secrets or anything, but simply at the request of Westland not to disseminate the material.
At the moment the same is true for access to what is on the website and the reason why membership is required, it is a direct request from AgustaWestland, like it or not.
If anyone has any complaints about how things are being run and thinks they can do better then more people on the team would be great!
From my point of view a lot more knocking on doors and phone calls need to be made before anyone will see progress – there’s a good chance a nice set of dusty manufacturers drawings are sitting in some cabinet somewhere. Even if it’s just the drawings for the undercarriage or radiators…. The question is, who will find them?
Lastly, the project has only been going since Feb/March 2011 from my understanding.
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