First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
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Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#2The final cost of an actual airplane usually covers a lot of testing before going to market. It involves special test pilots that are ready to risk their lives while testing it. If we can find/fund a test pilot for this project, the price point can become a reality.
Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#3The final cost of an actual airplane usually covers a lot of testing before going to market. It involves special test pilots that are ready to risk their lives while testing it. If we can find/fund a test pilot for this project, the price point can become a reality.
It's a light sport aircraft, akin to a "kit plane," so the person who builds it is the test pilot who is holding the risk.
Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#4I was wondering if the word "open source" is being used correctly in the context of aeroplane parts.
Dictionary.com has 2 definitions:
1. Computers. pertaining to or denoting software whose source code is available free of charge to the public to use, copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute.
2. pertaining to or denoting a product or system whose origins, formula, design, etc., are freely accessible to the public.
I guess the latter definition could apply, where the components can be produced (e.g. 3D printed) from detailed "open source" blueprints? However, I dont think the plane will be built from 100% "open source" rendered components. Generic or branded components may need to be purchased as well.
Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#5This is great, I've been wanting to get into aviation for some time but the barrier of entry is steep.
Using their plans as a guideline for building an ultralight instead of a light sport aircraft would reduce the cost dramatically. Ultralights have much lower limits but don't require any formal training/licenses.
In the end you could probably build an ultralight for the cost of a pilots license.
Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#6For those unfamiliar with planes, you can buy a used ultralite plane for under $10,000 in working condition. Something that has been proven to fly reliably.
Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#7For those unfamiliar with planes, you can buy a used ultralite plane for under $10,000 in working condition. Something that has been proven to fly reliably.
In the United States, the restrictions on an "ultralight" are rather severe:
> The governing regulation in the United States is FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles, which specifies a powered "ultralight" as a single seat vehicle of less than 5 US gallons (19 L) fuel capacity, empty weight of less than 254 pounds (115 kg), a top speed of 55 knots (102 km/h or 64 mph), and a maximum stall speed not exceeding 24 knots (45 km/h or 27.6 mph). Restrictions include flying only during daylight hours and over unpopulated areas.
Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#8This is great, I've been wanting to get into aviation for some time but the barrier of entry is steep. Using their plans as a guideline for building an ultralight instead of a light sport aircraft would reduce the cost dramatically. Ultralights have much lower limits but don't require any formal training/licenses. In the end you could probably build an ultralight for the cost of a pilots license.
> In the end you could probably build an ultralight for the cost of a pilots license.
...but not know how to fly it.
Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#9For those unfamiliar with planes, you can buy a used ultralite plane for under $10,000 in working condition. Something that has been proven to fly reliably.
In the United States, the restrictions on an "ultralight" are rather severe: > The governing regulation in the United States is FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles, which specifies a powered "ultralight" as a single seat vehicle of less than 5 US gallons (19 L) fuel capacity, empty weight of less than 254 pounds (115 kg), a top speed of 55 knots (102 km/h or 64 mph), and a maximum stall speed not exceeding 24 knots (45 km/h…
My point was, the biggest barrier to flying is not the price of the plane, but the desire to jump through all the hoops to get the license, to spend time/money on maintenance, to spend time on driving to the airport.
Re: First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
#10If bugfixing those planes will be as rigidly pursued as with some open source software, maybe the phrase 'buying a ticket' gets a totally new meaning ;-)