2005 Was Awesome... But 2006 Is Going To Be Something Else Entirely!

It's going to be a l-o-n-g night... as I'm still cranking away on a number of 2005-2006 retrospectives, analyses, and associated stories.

However; I wanted to take a quick moment to say THANKS. 2005 was an amazing year for ANN... we brought out a bunch of new syndication tools, news programs, wrote over ten thousand stories/columns/features/Aero-Casts/et al and had the time of our lives.

I can't remember a year I've enjoyed more... or one that set me up for yet another that I've so looked forward to. 2005 was a blast... and 2006, rocket-flying and all, is going to be a hoot.

I believe I have you all to thank for that.

Really.

None of this happened by accident... ANN is the result of awfully hard work on the part of some of the most talented people on/over Mother Earth (though we suspect at least one has extra-terrestrial origins... don't tell anyone), and every single one of them is a first class nutball... which makes the working environment at ANN a 24 hour giggle. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to work WITH these people and how much pride I feel in being able to lead them in providing ANN to hundreds of thousands of people all over the world.

We look forward to doing much more for you in 2006... there is a "to-do" list here that would choke a horse, even Mayor Daley for that matter, and we take great pride in thinking up ways to serve you better each and every day.

By the way... I wanted to offer my personal thanks for the GREAT notes and comments we get as often as hundreds (occasionally thousands) of times a day. Your insight, aid, comments, good wishes, and assistance are the single most important aspect of ANN's health and well-being. We've come to SO look forward to hearing from you each and every day.

I was particularly touched by all those who wrote me last April when my little German Shepherd side-kick, Josan, went west. Your emails were amazing and touching... and proof-positive that we write for some of the most generous souls in the world. I was surprised by how much losing that little critter hurt... and how sweet all those letters and good wishes felt. Its been long enough now that I'm starting to feel its OK to start thinking about a new pup, so stay tuned for puppy pix in the not too distant future. And yes, I WILL train her to guard airplanes (and rocketplanes!) from FAA Inspectors!

I was also amazed and enthused at your response to my Aero-Fest announcement... as of this morning, we've received over 4000 (!) positive comments (and 23 "you suck" type responses... not a bad ratio). Best of all... I've gotten GREAT input, some excellent recommendations and made contact with more than a few folks who want to get very involved in the Aero-Fest revolution. This is going to be a lot of work... but FUN.

And of course... this is the year I get to start earning my spurs as a rocketman (after getting plenty of near-Earth practice in Zero-G in 2005!). When that happens, I'll take all of you along with me, in spirit, and keep you intimately informed every step of the way... It's going to be a hell of a ride -- and that's just the Mk I Rocket racer... wait til we fly the Mk II! And The Mk III! What a rush!

And, oh yeah... wait til you hear about ANN's new airplane... and how I may let Darryl Greenamyer and Jon Sharp kick my ass all over Reno (I gotta be realistic...). Yup, 2006 is going to be fun.   

So... from the cheerful little asylum that you know as the Aero-News Network to all of you out in Aero-News land... please accept my thanks, my heart-felt gratitude and my ever-growing commitment to keep building ANN into what YOU need to get more out of the world of aviation.

HAPPY NEW AERO-YEAR!

All the best...

Jim Campbell, ANN Editor-in-Chief... on behalf of the amazing people who comprise the Aero-News Network... Pete, Rob, Tom, Kevin, John, Aleta, Rose, John, Chris, Juan, Birgit, and a cast of thousands!