1. FreeBird is too cheap to be any good. Surely you get what you pay for?
As outlined in the home page, FreeBird is not operated for profit and does not incur management charges. Like all other databases, FreeBird is maintained by a group of volunteer enthusiasts, so the quality is dependent upon the people doing the job. The FreeBird team do an excellent job.
2. Why is it called FreeBird? Shouldn’t it be free?
FreeBird was christened during a heavy night in a Black Country pub and was named after the most famous song of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. At that time it was being given away, with the costs being borne by individuals. As the uptake increased, it was decided to request contributions from users.
3. Will all aircraft types eventually feature in FreeBird?
Probably not, but as FreeBird grows, more and more popular types are added.
4. Can I buy a lifetime subscription?
We do not believe in lifetime subscriptions. After all, if we die first, then we would be letting you down!
5. I’ve just bought a PC and have 40 years worth of logs to input. I need to buy a database, what should I do?
Firstly consider what you want. If you only spot certain genres of aircraft, then you won’t need a full blown database. If you spot all aircraft then you may need to dig deep. Most database owners will provide you with a demo CD and advice. The most important thing to remember, before you hand any money over, is to have a clear understanding of what happens to your sightings file.
6. I don’t think that FreeBird is for me, where do I find alternatives?
From our links page you can access Howard Curtis’s Airnet site. This is the most comprehensive aviation links site that we know of. If you go to ‘spotting’ and then ‘software’ , you will find all of the alternatives listed. Good luck!