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,[1] which they estimate could cost about US$15,000 to build.[2][3]

Many do-it-yourself aircraft projects are abandoned before they are completed.[4] 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[5][6] and manufacturers of parts and plans going out of business.[7] The MakerPlane members participate in networking, share information and work together on a simple and economical plane design,[8][9] and make some of their own parts,[10] in order to overcome these obstacles.

Aircraft designs

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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[11] and 3D Printers.[12][13] The first design is a 2-seat Light Sport Aircraft, currently under the working name of "MakerPlane v1.0 LSA".[14] The designs are to be released under a Creative Commons license.[15] The first prototype was expected to be flown in 2015 and shown at the AirVenture OshKosh shows in 2014 and 2015[2][16]

Events

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In 2013, MakerPlane initiated a Kickstarter campaign[17][18] and an Indiegogo campaign to fund development of its plane.[19][20] During the first few months, these campaigns did not succeed in raising a significant amount of money.[21]

In January, 2014, MakerPlane successfully flew its first scale model.[22]

In June 2019, after 5 years with no news, the project exhibited at AirVenture.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tech column- Jesse Hirsh - Maker plane - Metro Morning - CBC Player
  2. ^ a b "Wired: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000".
  3. ^ Canadian open source two-seat airplane may cost only $15,000 - Design Engineering Archived 2014-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Makerplane aims to create the first open source aircraft". by David Szondy, Gizmag August 29, 2012
  5. ^ "EAA Homebuilder FAQs".
  6. ^ "Get Started Homebuilding". AirBum.
  7. ^ "High profile kit manufacture DynAero, goes into Bankruptcy". LAA.
  8. ^ Don Rauf (15 July 2014). Getting the Most Out of Makerspaces to Build Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 48–. ISBN 978-1-4777-7828-9.
  9. ^ "Tools for the Remote Workplace", Design News, Cabe Atwell, 4/2/2014
  10. ^ "Print your aircraft? Technology offers new tools". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association website. September 7, 2012 By Jim Moore
  11. ^ "Would you get into an open-source, (partly) 3D printed airplane?". Stuff Nic Boerma July 30, 2013
  12. ^ MakerPlane Seeks Community Funding for LSA Prototype | Aviation International News
  13. ^ "MakerPlane: the open source airplane project looking for crowdfunding love". GearBurn by Lauren Granger on 31 July, 2013
  14. ^ MakerPlane Plans 'Open Source' LSA | Aero-News Network
  15. ^ "MakerPlane is an open source airplane you could build at home". PC World Magazine, Kevin Lee Aug 3, 2013
  16. ^ "TechHive: MakerPlane is an open source airplane you could build at home".
  17. ^ MakerPlane's open source aircraft funding campaign gets off to a slow start (video). Engadget
  18. ^ Crowdfunding: Makerplane fliegt quelloffen - Golem.de
  19. ^ Open-Source-Flugzeug MakerPlane sucht Finanzierung - Pro-Linux
  20. ^ Open-Source Aircraft: MakerPlane Launches Indiegogo Campaign. Air Venture
  21. ^ "World's First Open Source Airplane: Designs For $15,000 Aircraft Will Be Released For Free". International Business Times. By Ryan W. Nea
  22. ^ Aero-News Network. "Scale Model Of MakerPlane Makes First Flight". www.aero-news.net. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  23. ^ News on Makerplane.org from June 2019
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