Abbotts Aerodrome closes on September 1, 2011.
Update (Aug 11, 2011): Although Abbotts Aerodrome is closing and I’m moving on, a buyer has stepped up who will repurpose the Abbotts build (the tower, runway, etc.) as a new facility. See the relevant comment here.
Standing at the edge of the runway in Abbotts, I can hear the waves shushing against the supports underneath. A short ways away in the trees, a bird whistles a song that is suddenly overwhelmed by the roar of a 737 taking off. In the distance, a steady beat of helicopter blades rides the cool morning air. These are the sounds of Abbotts Aerodrome. I made this.
About seven and a half years ago, Apotheus Silverman and I closed our short-lived Zoe Airfield and bought up the majority of parcels in a new southern region called Abbotts.
We built a floating airport with an art deco theme, called it Abbotts Aerodrome, and welcomed pilots and aircraft makers.
In subsequent years, we expanded, I tore it down, rebuilt, tore it down again, and finally realized the structure that you see today — literally from a dream.
We held small aircraft building contests, huge exhibitions, and design competitions. We fought off attacks from sandbox griefers and two-bit newbies with cage guns. We’ve had Aerodrome members join our ranks, and others who faded away and left.
All of it was great fun. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. It’s the end for Abbotts Aerodrome, Second Life’s second oldest airport.
On September 1, 2011, we are closing the doors and grounding the aircraft for the last time. The lights will turn out and the aerodrome will go silent.
On that day, I’ll retreat to a corner of Abbotts to build a little cabin, where I’ll take up fishing and learn to make primfish sushi.
Thank you for the wonderful mix of aeronautical activity that has occurred in and around the Abbotts region over the past many years. It has been a treat to be in the Cowell Village or somewhere in the Forest of Kahruvel and see aircraft regularly depart the region for far away places. On behalf of the Phyneas Jack Memorial Trust, I thank you and your support staff for your efforts.
Thanks, Sal. And it’s been a pleasure to live and work next to the Forest for so many years. I couldn’t have asked for better neighbours. I’m going to maintain a cabin or something in the area, so expect me to come wandering through in search of fishing spots.
This is so much a part of Second Life history and culture. It will be a sad day. I wish the Lindens would preserve it.
I never really spent any time at the Aerodrome, personally; however, i have been aware of its existence since its beginning, or at least close to it. I’m not sure why you guys are closing up shop, but i have to agree with Tim… it will be a very sad day, indeed. (I’d also love to see it preserved by LL!)
My condolences and best wishes to you guys. Thanks for all the fun and amazing things you’ve added to SL over the years, even if i never was a part of it directly.
Until after now…
Thanks, Tim and Cybin. I would like to see it preserved by LL, but I doubt they do that kind of thing anymore.
[2011/08/09 13:36] SHAMUS Carter: you hear about abbotts aerodome cubby terra is planing on closing it. :( such an iconic peace of sl history should be preserved perhaps the LDPW should make an offer to acquire it to insure a important peace of sl history is not lost forever
[2011/08/09 14:05] Michael Linden: I heard about that.
[2011/08/09 14:05] Michael Linden: The idea has been passed up into the Higher Councils of the Lab.
[2011/08/09 14:06] SHAMUS Carter: Thanks thauhgt you should know as it is such an important peace of second life history
Sad news, it is one of those places that I allways come back to, there may be three months between visits but it is a solid part of my SL diet and allways a pleasure, the Ornithopter will allways have a special shiny spot in my inventory, thanks for the memories and the great contribution you have made to SL Cubey.
(LL take note !)
From all the pilots and dreamers that have so enjoyed your work, I say, ‘thanks!’
:D
Enjoy your retirement.
The aerodrome was one of the first places I stumbled upon in my newbie days… and it was always comforting to come back and find it still there. I will miss it greatly. But I am happy that you are not leaving SL completely!
A damn shame. got my Parachute from there, loved to skydive… I hope Linden will keep it, as its one of THE Landmarks of SL…
I wish good Luck.
I’ll really miss the Aerodrome when it closes, but I can understand how you’re feeling ready to move on after so many years. An old friend brought me there when I was a noob, and I’ve been back many times to skydive and buy new vehicles in which to fly around clumsily before crashing. :)
Thanks so much for all the good times and everything you’ve done for the Grid, Cubey… good luck with whatever you do next! (And I agree, LL definitely should preserve the place!)
https://support.secondlife.com/case-details/01190578/
Just an idea… Don’t shoot me for it pls ^^.
Fear not, I’ve made arrangements to purchase and preserve the airport for Novatech. The airport name and vendors will change, per Cubey’s request, but the airport will remain open to the public, and give new airplane makers a chance to spread their wings.
So any name ideas? I’m thinking something involving Costello’s. :)
Armano, what were you trying to suggest? Links to cases don’t work, as only the person who opened it can see it.
@Cheshyr– I’m not familiar with Costello’s, but if you want to use that name, how about the Costello-Terra Aerodrome? :)
Also: thank you! It’s a relief to this oldbie to see a chunk of SL’s history being preserved. :)
Golly… Just golly. Most of my time in SL was spent building planes; or plane-like things, and they all got their start from Cubeys “Airplane with variable lift” script – I didn’t even have to look up the name :).
Over three or so years I built about 200 different airplanes, airships, improbably unlikely flying machines, a steampunk hovering lounge chair and an animated giant eagle, and even though I eventually developed my own scripts every one of them; heck even my ability to write scripts, began with the start I got from Cubey.
I learned how to script to make them fly. How to sculpt to make them look the way I envisioned them. How to edit simple sound files to make them sound right, how to do simple animations and basic texturing and who knows how many other little things that I never would have learned if not for Cubey.
And best of all I got to experience the not insignificant thrill of seeing something that I built from nothing take form and over time turn into something amazing and literally take flight.
I suppose it’s a bit of a cliche to refer to John Magee whenever anything in the aviation world comes to a close, and I suppose I’m going to be no different because I can’t help but think of the first verse of “High Flight”;
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air….
So a hundred inadequate and belated thanks Cubey for the hundreds of things I never dreamt of – until you helped me.
IM
Ilsa, that’s a wonderful description of the creative process in SL, and that’s exactly the way I learned myself. In my case, I started with Andrew Linden’s flight script, which was — sorry, Andrew — horrible. Over several months, I began to understand LSL and SL physics more, and began to tackle more complex features.
I’m thrilled that my plane script helped other discover how fun it is to make their creations fly and to share that with others. That was the intended goal behind the “Do It Yourself” plane kit: to provide a crude starting point from which someone can learn to build something much, much better.
I think my fishing shack will need a launch pad. I don’t think I’m done flying yet. :)
Thanks for sharing that, Ilsa, and for your kind words.
Well said, Ilsa. Cubey has helped me as well, though he may not remember it. Without this support, my TARDISis would still be buzzing around like flightless birds thrown from a slingshot, toppling madly at every turn.
Hi Cubey,
What a sad news… will this also mean you stop selling / supporting / developing Terra products, like the chute?
Regards,
Jeroen
The Terra parachutes, planes and other stuff has been one of the biggest fun things for me since I started in 2006 in Second Life.
I always admired the outstanding quality. The love that had been put into these products really showed.
It is therefore a great loss for SL to lose such a great place and i sincerely hope that your decision is not final.
Abbotts, at least for me and I’m sure for many, is an Icon in Second Life.
If I can do anything to help, please do let me know.
Namasté,
Saii.
Hate to see Abbotts go, Bought my first parachute and airplane there..and did a lot of accuracy there…Big Thanks Cubey and Family
Enjoy the fishing
Un de mes premiers lieux visités, un lieu historique de SL sur l’aviation.
Merci beaucoup de l’aide apportée et d’avoir fait vivre cet endroit.
Maxwell
Cubey,
Sorry to see another great landmark within SL go away. Best of luck with the fishing.
Will you still be selling the Terra products, either at another location or via the Marketplace?
Regards,
Rich
Oh so many years ago, I scrounged up enough L$ off friends, free money trees and survey machines to buy one of the old Terra sport chutes instead of the crappy hellspawn parachutes by.. uhh.. the name escapes me.
A day or so later (this only being my first week in SL still) I was chilling with a friend and thought it’d be kinda neat to have like skydiving style suits for our characters rather than jumping around in noob clothes
I finished them off, and they looked fair(ly crap in my mind, but I’m too perfectionist for my own good) and I came back to Abbotts to go try it out. Cubey Terra was standing there, and after a short exchange of words I had myself a free shelf in prime LL land next to a busy sandbox
Fast forward maybe 5 years and after many different iterations of the business, helping design the following Terra sports chute models and accessories (and making a nice amount of L$ -enough to help get by in college-) it comes to a close. And it was a fun ride! As a former content maker at Abbotts I can only say it’s been a great laugh and I’m happy with how things have come to a close.
(As an aside, this will in turn mean any of the ripcord industries/jump clothing stands will also go down, and since I have long since stopped playing an active role in Second Life they will not be going up again unless anything drastic changes. IM my character in game if you want to buy full perms to any of my work and I’ll get back to you sooner or later depending on the offer)
Toodles!
I had to leave SL for a while, only to finally get back not long ago to find my main inspirational sims changed. But I’m glad you’re still around Cubey, you made some real awesome aircraft that made me sit down and really think about the quality of what I tried to make.