'''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,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/Ontario/Metro+Morning/ID/2399514708/ Tech column- Jesse Hirsh - Maker plane - Metro Morning - CBC Player<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> which they estimate could cost about US$15,000 to build.<ref name="wired">{{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/}}</ref><ref>[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<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{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 }}</ref>
Many do-it-yourself aircraft projects are abandoned before they are completed.<ref>[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</ref> 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<ref>{{cite web|title=EAA Homebuilder FAQs|url=http://www.eaa.org/homebuilders/faq.asp|access-date=2012-08-16|archive-date=2014-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209092348/http://eaa.org/homebuilders/faq.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Get Started Homebuilding|url=http://www.airbum.com/articles/GetStartedHomebuilding-3.html|website=AirBum}}</ref> and manufacturers of parts and plans going out of business.<ref>{{cite news|title=High profile kit manufacture DynAero, goes into Bankruptcy|url=http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/2012/News/dyn.html|newspaper=LAA}}</ref> The MakerPlane members participate in networking, share information and work together on a simple and economical plane design,<ref name="Rauf2014">{{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–}}</ref><ref>[http://www.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=272438&dfpPParams=ind_186,aid_272438&dfpLayout=article "Tools for the Remote Workplace"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165050/http://www.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=272438&dfpPParams=ind_186,aid_272438&dfpLayout=article |date=2016-03-03 }}, ''Design News'', Cabe Atwell, 4/2/2014</ref> and make some of their own parts,<ref>[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 </ref> 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<ref>[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?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930181811/http://stuff.co.za/would-you-get-into-an-open-source-3d-printed-airplane/ |date=2018-09-30 }}. ''Stuff'' Nic Boerma July 30, 2013</ref> and 3D Printers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-news-live/eaa-airventure/2013-07-29/makerplane-seeks-community-funding-lsa-prototype |title=MakerPlane Seeks Community Funding for LSA Prototype {{!}} Aviation International News<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2014-04-02 |archive-date=2014-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905155323/http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-news-live/eaa-airventure/2013-07-29/makerplane-seeks-community-funding-lsa-prototype |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[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</ref> The first design is a 2-seat Light Sport Aircraft, currently under the working name of "MakerPlane v1.0 LSA".<ref>[http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=9e0133b1-27f1-4d64-8045-e848e4e89712 MakerPlane Plans 'Open Source' LSA | Aero-News Network<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The designs are to be released under a Creative Commons license.<ref>[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"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414045352/https://www.pcworld.com/article/2045873/makerplane-is-an-open-source-airplane-you-could-build-at-home.html |date=2021-04-14 }}. ''PC World Magazine'', Kevin Lee Aug 3, 2013</ref> The first prototype was expected to be flown in 2015 and shown at the AirVenture OshKosh shows in 2014 and 2015<ref name="wired" /><ref>{{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|access-date=2013-08-22|archive-date=2013-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915035855/http://www.techhive.com/article/2045873/makerplane-is-an-open-source-airplane-you-could-build-at-home.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Events== In 2013, MakerPlane initiated a Kickstarter campaign<ref>[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)<!-- Bot generated title -->]. ''Engadget''</ref><ref>[http://www.golem.de/news/crowdfunding-makerplane-fliegt-quelloffen-1307-100683.html Crowdfunding: Makerplane fliegt quelloffen - Golem.de<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and an Indiegogo campaign to fund development of its plane.<ref>[http://www.pro-linux.de/news/1/20073/open-source-flugzeug-makerplane-sucht-finanzierung.html Open-Source-Flugzeug MakerPlane sucht Finanzierung - Pro-Linux<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20140901233728/http://www.airventure.org/news/2013/130728_makerplane-launches-indiegogo-campaign.html Open-Source Aircraft: MakerPlane Launches Indiegogo Campaign<!-- Bot generated title -->]. ''Air Venture''</ref> During the first few months, these campaigns did not succeed in raising a significant amount of money.<ref>[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</ref>
In January, 2014, MakerPlane successfully flew its first scale model.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In June 2019, after 5 years with no news, the project exhibited at AirVenture.<ref>[https://makerplane.org/?cat=7 News on Makerplane.org from June 2019]</ref>
==See also == * Electric airplane
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.makerplane.org MakerPlane website]
Category:Open-source hardware Category:Aviation in Canada Category:Aviation organizations based in Canada Category:Organizations based in Toronto