When it started writing this blog I had no idea where it would go or for how long but I don’t think at the time that I had considered that this idea might span five years or take me in the directions that it did. It is hard to see the future! But it is much easier to look back at the past and so let’s do that in celebration of five years!
Looking back
On April 5th, I wrote my first blog entry on Stormbirds outlining what I was intending to do and cover. In that, I aimed to cover the industry of flight simulation, to talk a little about the history of different aircraft, and to cover as much of the IL-2 series as possible. Although my scale and scope has definitely increased over the years, some things never change as IL-2 is still one of the flight sims that captures my attention like few others. But I do definitely cover other sims and I’ve written about DCS World as much as or perhaps even more than the IL-2 series. These two together have formed quite a bit of my content.
You’ll note of course that it’s not April 5th and we’re actually at the end of the month. I was so busy pushing content out at the start of the month that post just slipped my mind.
Highlights along the way
Just a month after my initial launch, I wrote a full review featuring IL-2: Battle of Moscow and I followed that up with reviews of Battle of Kuban and Bodenplatte in the subsequent years. I backed that up with a lot of DCS World coverage including my first impressions of the DCS: F/A-18C back in 2018 and or my impressions of the DCS: F-14B.
It’s been a little while since I did any hardware reviews (I’d like to get back into doing that) but I’m still very proud of my efforts to review the VKB Gladiator, the Thrustmaster T.16000M and FCS flight pack review, and the VIRPIL WarBRD and MongoosT-50 throttle reviews.
In the last couple of years I’ve put some more attention into civil aviation sims as well starting with X-Plane and then when Microsoft Flight Simulator was announced – news and reviews on that sim as well. I’m particularly proud of my review of the fantastic little Robin DR401 as well as Aerobask’s new Phenom 300 for X-Plane 11. There’s also my review of Microsoft Flight Simulator, and the first couple of aircraft reviews including the Carenado PA-44 Seminole and Flying Iron Simulations Spitfire IX.
In 2020 I also put more a little more effort into the companion Stormbirds YouTube channel and started the Stormbirds podcast. New episodes are currently in the process of being setup. I’m also working to get that podcast finally put up on Spotify and iTunes.
In 2020 I also quietly launched the Stormbirds Patreon. Many of you asked if there was a way to contribute to the blog and Patreon is one of those ways.
Thank you!
As much as this post is a celebration of what’s been done here on Stormbirds.blog, I also want to turn it around and thank you.
I sincerely and continually appreciate all of the thoughtful comments that have been posted on the various articles over the years. We don’t have to agree on anything but I appreciate the coming together of different ideas over a shared and common interest. I also appreciate all of the times that I’ve been corrected because I missed an important detail, because you found something out before I did, or because I spelled something wrong. It happens! So, I very much appreciate all of those comments too.
No matter how you show your support, I appreciate all of the support shown by all visitors and hope that my writing has helped you out either with the latest news, detailed information on something you needed to know about, or encouragement to get started with something new.
Stormbirds 
Congratulations! This blog has been really helpful and interesting over the years. Can’t imagine starting my day without it. 🙂
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Thanks BlueHeron and really glad to hear that!
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You post a ton of content, just out of curiosity are you retired? Otherwise you must spend all your spare time working on these!
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Not retired! Working from home because of the pandemic so right now so I have a lot of time to write. I’m sure once this is all over I’ll have a little less time but I’m making the most of a bad situation and keeping myself busy! 🙂
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Well done!
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Thanks busdriver!
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5 years of great stuff. Rock on and thank you for wonderful contribution to the flight sim world
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Thanks Blue 5! Appreciate all of your comments too!
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Nice, Congrats! Keep it up!
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Many thanks!!
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Congrats! This has become very professional looking site, I just don’t understand how you can make this all happen, you have like 25hrs on your day or what?!?
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Day doubler 😀
Right now I have extra time that I didn’t normally have so I’ve been writing a lot.
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Congratulations on five years of a great blog Shamrock! And thanks for Stumovikfest and all you do to support the flight sim community. Cheers!
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Thanks Jim! And likewise! Great to have your support and organizational efforts with the festival!
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Congratulations ! Always love to read all your great work !
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Congratulations on those five yearsy you’re doing a great job in summarizing all the different newssources 🙂
To celebrate that, it’s time to expand the newsflow to the starcitizen universe 😛
But to straighten all the information, which is somewhere available, out, would probably be a fulltimejob 🙂
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Thanks!
I have written the odd Star Citizen post but covering it on the regular is a bridge too far for me. Maybe in the next life 😅
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I know exactly what you mean. There was a time where i digged very deep into the SC newsflow but that was years ago, i was on vacation and still it took me several hours per day.
Sometimes ppl complain about devs beeing too silent about their progress. Regarding SC it’s the other end of the stick 😀
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Happy Birthday! 🙂
This is definitely my #1 site for flightsim news. Really happy to see it going well. And I enjoy catching you on the occasional spelling mistake, makes me feel useful and part of the team.
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Many thanks CanadaOne for your thoughts, comments and occasional spelling mistake correction! 🙂 Appreciate it all!
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Congratulations on this anniversary.
Keep this fantastic work
Best wishes.
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Many thanks Martin!
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Congratulations on making five years. I appreciate your efforts a lot, and have Stormbirds as one of my opening tabs so I see first thing every morning if there is anything new going on. Thanks for all your hard work.
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Fantastic! Thanks for your support and readership!
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Congratulations! Not an avid commenter, but certainly an avid reader when it comes to IL2 or MSFS! Mostly, thank you for doing this 🙂
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Thanks Nicolas! Appreciate the readership all the same even if you aren’t a frequent commenter. Thanks for the kind words!
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Congratulations Shamrock!
You have done some splendid work with this block and I just love your always thoughtfully written articles, It’s always refreshing to come to this place and to realize there are other people with a passion for flight sims, too.
Well done, Sir! Carry on.
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Really appreciate that! I took take heart in realizing just how many people have a passion for the hobby. That’s why I write what I do!
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Congratulations! Like many others, I echo that I’m blown away by the quality of your content knowing that it’s not your full time job. While our hobby is quite a niche one, we’re lucky that we have many passionate people contributing. Great job, looking forward to 5 more years!
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Many thanks for the kind words Ian! I’m pleased to hear from so many passionate people on the subject as well!
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Congratulations, always enjoy reading Stormbirds and it has become my go to site to check for news in my favourite sims.
Keep up the good work, it is appreciated.
Kind regards.
Colin
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Thanks very much Colin! Appreciate the kind words!
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Happy Birthday Shamrock and a big thank you!!!!
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Thanks Robert and thanks for all of the comments!
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Congratulations on five years.
For as long as I’ve been here, I’ve always found it to be a fun site to visit. Good luck in the future!
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Thanks Harry! Appreciate it!
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Hey there, congrats and wishes for many more anniversaries to come in good health!
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Thank you and to you as well!
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Congratulations!
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Thanks very much!
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Thanks for being an independent voice speaking of flight simulators on the open skies of the web, Shamrock!
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Congratulations and thank you for everything! 🙂
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Oh ! I’m late but happy birthday to this wonderful blog !
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Thanks very much!! I was late posting this too 😀
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Congratulations, and great job, Stormbirds has become my go to for flight sim news
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Thanks Ian! Much appreciated!
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Congratulations, I only found your blog in the last year, but it’s font and cente if I want to know what’s going on. Thank you for the hard work
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