From BoingBoing, news of a new organization that uses some of the same open source principles we use here, but for manned aircraft:
"MakerPlane is an open source aviation organization which will enable people to build and fly their own safe, high quality, reasonable cost plane using advanced personal manufacturing equipment such as CNC mills and 3D printers. The project will also include open source avionics software to enable state-of-the-art digital flight instruments and display capabilities. Basically we are designing an aircraft that can be built on a CNC mill at home, or at a makerspace which is easy to assemble and quick to build. The plans and instructions will be available for free to anyone that wants them!"
MakerPlane is an open source aviation project which will enable people to build and fly their own safe, high quality, reasonable cost plane using advanced personal manufacturing equipment such as CNC mills and 3D printers. The project will also include open source avionics software to enable state-of-the-art digital flight instruments and display capabilities.
Basically we are designing an aircraft that can be built on a computer controlled mill at home, or at a makerspace which is easy to assemble and quick to build. The plans and instructions will be available for free to anyone that wants them!
Comments
I'm pretty sure the open source stuff can be as good quality as the professional stuff but you really need someone (or a few peopel) at the top who are in control and ensure that safety/quality comes first.
Monroe, even if it was perfectly safe, I wouldn't be seen in that thing! ;)
That look like the cricri : http://www.cricri.zoomshare.com/
Interesting project tought.