MakerPlane Plans 'Open Source' LSA | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.13.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.14.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.15.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-05.16.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.17.24

Wed, Jul 31, 2013

MakerPlane Plans 'Open Source' LSA

Crowdfunded Aircraft Will Be An Experimental LSA For Homebuilders

When you hear the words "Crowdfunding" and "Open Source", you probably think more about software or advanced technology than LSAs. But MakerPlane is bringing those concepts to the aviation industry with their Experimental LSA (E-LSA).

The crowdfunding is being done through Indiegogo, which allows organizations to raise funds for specific projects through donations, much like the better-known "Kickstarter." MakerPlane has set a 60-day, $75,000 goal to complete the design, perform test flights, and release free, downloadable open source plans that will allow anyone to build the airplane. The money raised will be used for tooling, materials, and time being donated by MakerPlane team members to complete the project.

The aircraft has been designed and optimized to be built on home-based, or "marketspace" CNC equipment, and has features such as slots and tabs to east construction and speed up the assembly process.

"A contribution to MakerPlane goes beyond getting these free plans out to the world. It's a contribution to a movement that is looking to make building aircraft using modern digital home-based manufacturing equipment easy, affordable, and accessible," said John Nicol, the founder of MakerPlane. "We are innovating in many areas, including using 3-D desktop printers for non-structural components like joystick handles and control knobs."

MakerPlane began designing their E-LSA in 2011, and construction of the first prototype airplane is underway.

MakerPlane recently collaborated with the Purdue University Hangar of the Future, where Augmented Reality (AR) applications were developed to support builders. The technology allows novice builders to aim the cameras in their smartphones or tablets at airplane parts and overlay assembly information about the part on the screen. "We have very exciting innovations coming to the homebuilt aircraft market," Nicol said. The airplane is expected to cost about $75,000.

(Image provided by MakerPlane)

FMI: www.makerplane.org, http://igg.me/at/makerplane

Advertisement

More News

Bolen Gives Congress a Rare Thumbs-Up

Aviation Governance Secured...At Least For a While The National Business Aviation Association similarly applauded the passage of the FAA's recent reauthorization, contentedly recou>[...]

The SportPlane Resource Guide RETURNS!!!!

Emphasis On Growing The Future of Aviation Through Concentration on 'AFFORDABLE FLYERS' It's been a number of years since the Latest Edition of Jim Campbell's HUGE SportPlane Resou>[...]

Buying Sprees Continue: Textron eAviation Takes On Amazilia Aerospace

Amazilia Aerospace GmbH, Develops Digital Flight Control, Flight Guidance And Vehicle Management Systems Textron eAviation has acquired substantially all the assets of Amazilia Aer>[...]

Hawker 4000 Bizjets Gain Nav System, Data Link STC

Honeywell's Primus Brings New Tools and Niceties for Hawker Operators Hawker 4000 business jet operators have a new installation on the table, now that the FAA has granted an STC f>[...]

Echodyne Gets BVLOS Waiver for AiRanger Aircraft

Company Celebrates Niche-but-Important Advancement in Industry Standards Echodyne has announced full integration of its proprietary 'EchoFlight' radar into the e American Aerospace>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC