We Need Your Input for Warbird Registry 2.0

[Ryan Keough]

Maybe start charging users like $2.00 a month. Help ease the work load on you admins. So you can put more time into the site.

Unfortunately, as seen by MustangsMustangs.com - charges take a significant toll on the traffic to the site... even if it seems like a paltry expense like $2 a month, it still is tough to corral people to contribute money. Once the site is running, there is some potential for advertising on relevant things (like Amazon affiliate links to books on the aircraft type and the like) that will help contribute to the ongoing bandwidth and upgrade expenses for both the registry and WIX.

However, we'll never turn down any donations to the "tip jar" - which can be found at: http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/donate.html

Thanks!

[k5083]

Well maybe certin fans of a aircraft type would "sponsor" if you could say a type of airplane and be responsible for its information. For the last 2 years off and on, I have been working on a Registry for the N3N for WIX. I am trying to account for all built. My inital WIX registry will be of the Museum, known projects and flying aircraft. But eventually my goal will be to account for all built. Been pretty fun sofar.

If that sponsor only had access to that airplane to change info. There would be one less thing for scott to worry about updating and it would be maintained for the love of the type.

The problem is see is it ultimately becomes the same problem just at a smaller level though when you have only 1 person over parts of the data. Sure I know people would want to specialize in areas of specific aircraft, but that data also needs to be editable and updatable by all people who have moderator access to the database. That way if someone goes AWOL or falls of the face of the planet that data still remains current.

I'd also shy away from emailing data for entry in favor of a webpage form to enter data and updates. That way the data is not filtered through a single person with a jammed up email box (like is apparently currently occuring).

I agree with this. There are some who specialize in one or a few types, but there are others like myself, who are an expert on no types but would still have a small, unique contribution to virtually every type in the database (yes even N3Ns!). Inevitably the "sponsor" of each type would get backlogged and we contributors would just feel we are dropping our info/photos into many mini black holes rather than the current one big black hole. Also, many types would never get adopted by anyone or would get adopted by someone who drops the ball, and would just languish. If someone wants to do extra work on a type that is great, but there should be some means for the community to keep the ball rolling, with validation just by the guys at the top, if the sponsor is out to lunch or nonexistent.

This is a great project, by the way, and I look forward to contributing, especially on the civil vintage side.

August

[Mark_Pilkington]

.
I think the best way forward is to allocate types to certain volunteers a bit like moderators, and let them manage the entries for that type, this method is used by the Australian site adf-serials.com.au where the short history of each individual RAAF & RAN aircraft over the last 88 years is recorded, thats over 140 types and some with @1000 entries, (P-40, Tigermoth, Avro Anson, Beaufort and Wirraway).

Each type is managed by one or two dedicated moderators who receive corrections/photos and construct or update the entries as required.

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/

ie for the RAAF P-40 page Quote:
* This page is managed and updated by Gordon Clarke so please email updates to him by using the form on one of the pages linked above.


I am sure there are many WIX members more than willing to help, the issue would be to ensure people with appropriate knowledge of each type are attracted or recruited, and that all types are covered and the less glamorous not left unfinished.



Regards

Mark Pilkington

Last edited by Mark_Pilkington on Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:09 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Pat Carry]

Glad to hear there are plans in the works to update the registry. Count me in to help in anyway I can although my computer skills have a lot to be desired.

[Ryan Keough]

Glad to hear there are plans in the works to update the registry. Count me in to help in anyway I can although my computer skills have a lot to be desired.

Thanks Pat - you've been one of our longest supporters in this regard and I am glad you're interested! One of the goals to this new version is to make the interface no more complex than filling out a form on the web with the necessary information... and uploading photos would also be done in this way as well. By breaking down the technology barriers with all the new tools and functions that this "web 2.0" technology that you see everywhere gives us, I think many more people who are far more "expert" in the knowledge and research area would help create a better registry.

[BHawthorne]

Although people might specialize in sections of aircraft I still think it's a bad idea to segment things off with single people over specific areas. Sure, people would want to tend their preference aircraft types, but people will go AWOL or get backlogged without backup. IMHO, every aircraft type should have at least 2 people over it and communicating regularly as to not step on anyone elses toes. There needs to have built in redundancy within the database moderator pool or there'll just be a new system with the same old backlogs.

[Iclo]

Just a question/suggestion: What will be the input mode for "general public" or general members of the WIX forums to submit the information they have ?
By email or by a specific form ?

The use of specific form could ease the work of the "editor" (in charge of validate and sort the information) by allowing to encode the data directly close the good format. In the same way, a detailled form, increase the probability that the people will submit all the information they have. (If you ask people clear and detailled questions versus a general input field or a email)

Just my 0.2 cents

[BHawthorne]

Just a question/suggestion: What will be the input mode for "general public" or general members of the WIX forums to submit the information they have ?
By email or by a specific form ?

The use of specific form could ease the work of the "editor" (in charge of validate and sort the information) by allowing to encode the data directly close the good format. In the same way, a detailled form, increase the probability that the people will submit all the information they have. (If you ask people clear and detailled questions versus a general input field or a email)

Just my 0.2 cents

Personally, if it was a setup I used, it would make the most since to have a web form that inputs into a queue that all the moderators could see and comment/organize as needed.

[tomroyal]

I've been away from the online warbird scene for quite awhile, but back when I still had my warbird site I had already built the framework for a SQL database for aircraft information, photos, etc.

This was probably around the same time Scott got the registry up and running and rolling good, and I decided it would probably be best to not duplicate efforts and just refer to the excellent information he compiled.

The database itself would be fairly simple. Where you'll end up spending most of your time is in the development of the interactive areas, user submissions, approval process and all of the other cool things like making the pages have search engine friendly urls, securing everything properly, etc.

If you really want to go into Web 2.0 territory add the ability to add videos to the aircraft records, create ability to share on Facebook or other social networking sites, automated RSS feeds of aircraft updates and additions, all that good stuff.

Most of my website development time these days is spent in the fishing and boating industry, but I'd be happy to help out if time allows. I still have a special place in my heart for old planes.

[Scott Rose]

Thanks everybody for the comments and suggestions... keep em coming.

[Sabremech]

Scott and Ryan,
Count me in on helping out when the help is needed.

David

[mrhenniger]

Ryan & Scott,

I am working on EXACTLY the kind of database you have described. It is PHP/MySQL based and is integrated with the Locator. You may have seen small examples of it in the individual airframe dossiers I have posted. The new features (not released yet) are ready for testing. The ability to have contributors log in and create and edit new dossiers is part of the new package. Also, a registry like surfing feature is part of it as well. I am currently working on the ability to "auto-update" with data from civil registry files like the FAA, Transport Canada, etc.. Once the auto-update is done I plan to create a set of video "how to" instructions then the Airframes Database 1.0 will be ready for full release.

If you think this is the sort of thing your are looking for we should talk. Perhaps we could work out some kind of cooperative venture (all volunteer, little to no cost, etc) between our two sites. Since I am the developer there is the ability to customize further.

Let me know what you think.

Mike

[daveymac82c]

Hi guys,

I love the registry and use it at least once a week. It is a fantastic resource. I look forward to the vintage registry and the re-vitalizing of the original warbird registry.

That being said, I think it would be neat to add a little flag emblem right next to the airplanes in the list to get an idea of where the planes are located quickly and easily.

I think it might also be neat to have a little "general info" page for each airplane in the registry.

And, that being said, I'd like to offer my assistance on updating the registry.

Perhaps, if there are enough people that want to help with the updating each "registered registry updater" could receive batches of let's say 10 or 20 pieces to update as sorted by Scott or Ryan, and then when those updates are completed the individual would report back, and then receive the next batch. All work done would be on an as possible basis.

I gotta run.

Happy Remembrance Day everyone.

-David