MakerPlane

MakerPlane is an open source aviation organization, started by a group of Canadian plane building enthusiasts. Its members are designing the first open source airplane,[http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/Ontario/Metro+Morning/ID/2399514708/ Tech column- Jesse Hirsh - Maker plane - Metro Morning - CBC Player] which they estimate could cost about US$15,000 to build.{{cite web|title=Wired: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000|url=https://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/07/open-source-airplane-design/}}[http://www.design-engineering.com/general/canadian-open-source-two-seat-airplane-may-cost-only-15000-design-eng-112537 Canadian open source two-seat airplane may cost only $15,000 - Design Engineering] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423054729/http://www.design-engineering.com/general/canadian-open-source-two-seat-airplane-may-cost-only-15000-design-eng-112537 |date=2014-04-23 }}

Many do-it-yourself aircraft projects are abandoned before they are completed.[http://www.gizmag.com/makerplane-open-source-airplane/23903/ "Makerplane aims to create the first open source aircraft"]. by David Szondy, Gizmag August 29, 2012 Some of the causes are complex and vague plans and assembly instructions, lack of builder support, the thousands of hours needed to create a complete plane{{cite web|title=EAA Homebuilder FAQs|url=http://www.eaa.org/homebuilders/faq.asp}}{{cite web|title=Get Started Homebuilding|url=http://www.airbum.com/articles/GetStartedHomebuilding-3.html|website=AirBum}} and manufacturers of parts and plans going out of business.{{cite news|title=High profile kit manufacture DynAero, goes into Bankruptcy|url=http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/2012/News/dyn.html|newspaper=LAA}} The MakerPlane members participate in networking, share information and work together on a simple and economical plane design,{{cite book|author=Don Rauf|title=Getting the Most Out of Makerspaces to Build Unmanned Aerial Vehicles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zce2BQAAQBAJ&pg=PA48|date=15 July 2014|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-4777-7828-9|pages=48–}}[http://www.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=272438&dfpPParams=ind_186,aid_272438&dfpLayout=article "Tools for the Remote Workplace"], Design News, Cabe Atwell, 4/2/2014 and make some of their own parts,[http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2012/September/7/Print-your-aircraft-Technology-offers-new-tools "Print your aircraft? Technology offers new tools"]. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association website. September 7, 2012 By Jim Moore in order to overcome these obstacles.

Aircraft designs

In 2011 the MakerPlane community began designing their aircraft from the ground up to be built using modern and affordable personal manufacturing equipment, such as CNC mills[http://www.stuff.co.za/would-you-get-into-an-open-source-3d-printed-airplane/ "Would you get into an open-source, (partly) 3D printed airplane?"]. Stuff Nic Boerma July 30, 2013 and 3D Printers.[http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-news-live/eaa-airventure/2013-07-29/makerplane-seeks-community-funding-lsa-prototype MakerPlane Seeks Community Funding for LSA Prototype | Aviation International News][http://gearburn.com/2013/07/makerplane-the-open-source-airplane-project-looking-for-crowdfunding-love/ "MakerPlane: the open source airplane project looking for crowdfunding love"]. GearBurn by Lauren Granger on 31 July 2013 The first design is a 2-seat Light Sport Aircraft, currently under the working name of "MakerPlane v1.0 LSA".[http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=9e0133b1-27f1-4d64-8045-e848e4e89712 MakerPlane Plans 'Open Source' LSA | Aero-News Network] The designs are to be released under a Creative Commons license.[http://www.pcworld.com/article/2045873/makerplane-is-an-open-source-airplane-you-could-build-at-home.html "MakerPlane is an open source airplane you could build at home"]. PC World Magazine, Kevin Lee Aug 3, 2013 The first prototype was expected to be flown in 2015 and shown at the AirVenture OshKosh shows in 2014 and 2015{{cite web|title=TechHive: MakerPlane is an open source airplane you could build at home|url=http://www.techhive.com/article/2045873/makerplane-is-an-open-source-airplane-you-could-build-at-home.html}}

Events

In 2013, MakerPlane initiated a Kickstarter campaign[https://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/makerplane-open-source-aircraft-campaign/ MakerPlane's open source aircraft funding campaign gets off to a slow start (video)]. Engadget[http://www.golem.de/news/crowdfunding-makerplane-fliegt-quelloffen-1307-100683.html Crowdfunding: Makerplane fliegt quelloffen - Golem.de] and an Indiegogo campaign to fund development of its plane.[http://www.pro-linux.de/news/1/20073/open-source-flugzeug-makerplane-sucht-finanzierung.html Open-Source-Flugzeug MakerPlane sucht Finanzierung - Pro-Linux][https://archive.today/20140901233728/http://www.airventure.org/news/2013/130728_makerplane-launches-indiegogo-campaign.html Open-Source Aircraft: MakerPlane Launches Indiegogo Campaign]. Air Venture During the first few months, these campaigns did not succeed in raising a significant amount of money.[http://www.ibtimes.com/worlds-first-open-source-airplane-designs-15000-aircraft-will-be-released-free-1369037 "World's First Open Source Airplane: Designs For $15,000 Aircraft Will Be Released For Free"]. International Business Times. By Ryan W. Nea

In January, 2014, MakerPlane successfully flew its first scale model.{{cite web|title=Scale Model Of MakerPlane Makes First Flight | last=Aero-News Network |url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=0ef370a4-ebdb-4cf9-bd78-fb6b4c1da9fe|website=www.aero-news.net|accessdate=29 September 2014}}

In June 2019, after 5 years with no news, the project exhibited at AirVenture.[https://makerplane.org/?cat=7 News on Makerplane.org from June 2019]

See also

References

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