In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot...

-- Mark Twain

Opinion, Analysis and Observation by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell

I'll keep this short -- for now. There is much happening at ANN these days and the imprint of change is being stamped on everything we're attempting to do... because, like the rest of aviation, its time to do something different... and better... and far more innovative.

But... we've just (barely) survived two years of a hellish struggle -- though our eyes are firmly fixed on the future and what we dream we might do for the aviation world...

Over the next year (and then some), ANN has plans to publish eight books to support various aviation and aerospace program and initiatives (and more important; find new ways to get more pilots into their own planes... and find more pilots to fly them), TOTALLY/RADICALLY redesign the Aero-News site AND update its mission, start a 'new' e-zine based on the most cherished aspects of what we once did with US Aviator, start the 'Grassroots Initiative' in order to rebuild the sport and general aviation community, prepare for the production of an aviation-based reality TV program that just got the green light, put together the first in a series of Aero-Innovation conferences to seek and enlist new ideas and the people who can carry them through, AND continue to challenge the aviation community to change its current course toward decline and rebuild it anew into a business and social model that can provide for a solid future for all those who love aviation.

And then there's something else.... huge and exciting... and about which you'll hear much more... but not yet.

I've spent a good part of the last year studying the work we've done with ANN a great deal and have come to the conclusion that there is SO MUCH MORE we can do... and that there is a much more aggressive and innovative way to do it. I hope, with your help, to make sure that the path we've chosen is not only successful, but provides some of the desperately needed transitional change needed to catapult this embattled industry into a position to seek and attain a better future.

Like it was when we started ANN over 15 years ago, this will not be an easy path... nor should it be. But in that 15+ years, ANN pioneered the online web news service business (spawning many imitators), published over 180,000 news features/stories, well over 6000 podcasts, nearly 2000 video programs, over 15,000 tweets… and so so much more -- And all of this (we believe) with more guts, more courage, more passion than any other aviation media entity, extant.

But... it almost all came to an end.

How?

Via greed, dishonesty, fraud, and one company's bizarre, possibly Un-American attempt to silence our Constitutionally protected rights and responsibilities -- and with it, any hint of criticism or the truth.

The details of what occurred, and some of the who's, why's, how's and the like will be the subject of tomorrow's extensive Barnstorming editorial and I plan for it to be last we write about this for a while (pending a book and documentary next year). It's being written not to bitch or belly-ache (and in fact, I'd love nothing better than to never deal with these issues again), but to describe what happened so that we can make a clean break with the past (and to correct some rumors that are floating around among those who wish us ill) and so that you may all understand what we'll need to do to make for an innovative and valuable future from here on out...

And why we'll need all of YOUR aid and support that we can get...

See you tomorrow.

FMI: jim@aero-news.net