5 Year Anniversary For AirPigz! (State Of The Avgeek-Nation Address)
Monday, December 9, 2013 at 08:07AM 
The entire AirPigz staff is feeling a bit stuck in the mud these days
The experiment pointed toward 'avgeek world domination' known as AirPigz began exactly five years ago today. Happy Birthday? Well, it's been a long and difficult journey for everyone here at avgeek central, which of course means just me since there isn't any staff here. I wish there was, and in fact that was always the plan, but it's just never come together for that to happen. So, for right now I'm just gonna say it like this: Birthday!
Being a one-man-operation is a huge pain... especially when the operation doesn't make enough money in a year to pay for the trip to OSH and a trip to Reno. And I sleep in the car and eat cheap on those trips! That means I have to work a day-job to support posting my regularly scheduled avgeekery. No surprise there as there aren't very many people who make a real living running a blog, but it's become a lot more difficult in the last two years for me. My day-job is as a ceramic tile installer and I work alone there too. Work was almost nonexistent when I started AirPigz in late 2008 but these days I'm constantly busy doing a very physically demanding job. I'm tired, worn down, and wearing out.
Like Freddy Flameout, I'm not giving up yet! (photo: ilbasso via hobbytalk.com)
AirPigz traffic remains strong with over 50,000 page views each month and well over 30,000 unique visitors each month, but I seem stuck in the mud. Lack of time and resources make it almost impossible to create more and/or better content, and growth well past these numbers just doesn't seem to be happening otherwise. More important is that I don't get a lot of feedback which makes me wonder a lot these days if all this effort matters at all. Add to that the fact that I have just emerged from the crushing financial crisis that ruled my life these past 5 years and I find myself wanting to sleep a lot. That part of my life was been a long and bloody war, and I feel shellshocked.
To keep the pig alive I wind up working on posts before work (like right now), sometimes during lunch, often in the evening, and very often late at night. For a while that's a lot of fun (for people like me anyway), but after several years of it, with no real income and not much feedback, it becomes a heavy load. It's one I'm still willing to carry, but I can see there will have to be changes for this to continue well into the future. Any normal, sane person would have given up on this a long time ago!
As a young kid I had a plastic model of Freddy Flameout in my room that my dad built. I always thought it was cool just because it was so crazy, but now I see there's a lesson to be learned: don't give up. So I'm not giving up, just trying a little public complaining (aka honesty) instead to see if it makes me feel better : )
I hope you have a great avgeek day!
Reader Comments (24)
Martt, I didn't realize our histories were so similiar. We launched LASTV the morning after Reno in 2008. We LOVE your blog and try to help spread the good word whenever we can. It IS a lonely road at times, but if you weren't around, we wouldn't learn about so many wonderful things in the aviation world.
You do great work, and have a true heart for this amazing world we live in. Keep up the good work. Let us know how we can help. Proud to call you a friend!
Jeff
Long time reader, first time poster!
I really enjoy the work you do here. I did the vintage OSH stuff, as I grew up there, having attended most every year since I was 8 months old in 1973. I am also a Reno junkie, and model airplane builder. I follow the blog regularly, and wanted to let you know it is appreciated. We camped about 5 streets East of Camp Bacon the past two years. Next year I will swing by and say thanks in person. Take care of yourself, and know that what you post is certainly appreciated.
Jeff - Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. I know your journey has been tough as well and I certainly am thankful to call you and the LiveAirShowTV crew friends. It's been great to see you guys have some big success this last year, and hopefully this all gets a little easier for us one day so we can spend some time visiting : )
Jim Buxton - I really appreciate your input... it definitely gives me a tailwind to know you get something out of my effort. Thank you.
I look forward to meeting you at OSH14... I'm sure we'll have plenty to chat about!
I am very glad you are carrying writing your blog on reading your blog and winning that bacon sandwich made me want to visit OSH and now I made so many more new friends and of course just being at OSH is highlight of my year I do hope to be there again next year . Do keep up the good I meet you again next year
Martt: I hope you will continue to find the AirPigz effort worthwhile. I enjoy the aeronautical tidbits very much. (I also had a Freddy Flameout model when I was a kid.)
Hey Martt
Congratulations on achieving five years of AirPigz.
Just wanted you to know that AirPigz is at the top of my personal list of websites I check every day and that it is my go to site for everything avgeekery. It never ceases to amaze me how you find so many great articles to appeal to the avgeek in all of us.
I can fully appreciate the lack of feedback can be very discouraging, I have been publishing a monthly newsletter/webzine for the last three years so fully understand that you sometimes wonder if it is worth the effort, however please know that what you do is truly appreciated.
Hopefully one day soon I will be able to get to Oshkosh to meet and thank you in person (and maybe score a bacon butty) but until then take care and please keep up the great work.
Cheers
Gavin
Auckland
New Zealand
Congratulations on your five year anniversary, Martt! You produce some of the best and most interesting aviation content out there. I'm planning my first trip to Oshkosh in 2014, and really look forward to seeing you there.
Glen - I'm sure glad you've been able to make the OSH trip (and the OSH13 #CampBacon!) and it'll be great if you can make OSH14. I appreciate your support and encouragement!
airpigz lurker - Thank you for your positive feedback and encouragement... it's comes very highly qualified if you are part of the Feddy Flameout club : D
Gavin - It's great to have more than one kiwi give me positive feedback in this post! I'm thrilled to know that my brand of avgeekery reaches well beyond my borders. Your support and encouragement are greatly appreciated, and I sure do hope we get to meet one day before long. Thank you : )
Max Flight - It's great to know that one of the Grandfathers (by work, not age : ) of the aviation new media world appreciates my work, thank you. I sure hope that OSH14 trip works out for you since we've still never met face to face! Btw, if you can bring me a P&W hat I promise to wear it : D
Congrats on your 5th year anniversary! I stumbled across your site over a year ago and it's been one of my favorite aviation sites ever since. This year I joined the EAA, made my first pilgrimage to Oshkosh, and started flying lessons up in Lafayette this fall; thanks in part to being inspired by you and your posts. You've definitely helped fuel my (and I'm sure lots of other's) passion for aviation. Keep it up!!
Congratulations on five years, hope you keep it going for a long time. I always enjoy Airing. It was good meeting you this passed summer at Oshkosh.
Man! I don't know how I butchered that post....Congratulations on five years of Airpigz. I hope you keep it going for many more years. It was nice meeting you this past summer at Oshkosh.
Congratulations!
Now days it seems to be hard to get any feedback, everyone is so occupied. But I hope you have inspiration to continue with your blog, it is great reading!
Matt - Wow, it's great to see your avgeek and pilot journey is well under way! Thanx for letting me know that AirPigz has been part of the process that has pulled you in good and deep. I hope you make it to OSH14 and stop by for some bacon : D
Larry - Great to meet you at Oshkosh as well and I hope to see you there again this year. Thanx for the encouragement : )
Hylander - Thanx for the positive feedback, I really do appreciate hearing that my effort is connecting... that really helps to pull me forward.
Happy Birthday, Matt! Thanks for your efforts. I really enjoy your blog and appreciate the hard work behind it.
God bless!
Martt. I may not comment often, but I've been checking the blog daily since you were building project VP in the garage. I love the content and that you're not afraid to talk about being a Christian. Speaking of which, sounds like you need some encouragement from the word:
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
I'm praying for you and your family no matter what you decide to do with the blog, but I hope you'll continue. Take care!
I have your blog on my daily checklist and am impressed by your diligence and historical perspective. I also understand the pressures keeping the bacon coming and doing a daily blog. At the risk of a severe flaming would your following support an every other day submission to reduce your workload? just thinking!
with great respect, Jim Hochhalter
I always read this awesome blog about five times per week!
Congratulations and keep up the good work!
I love following Airpigz.com
Here is a video that I saw that you may want to check out. I enjoyed.
Have a blessed New Year!