As some may have guessed, I have a background in the tech industry as a software developer. I have been a part of a many software startup companies and have been a daily user of Linux for over 30 years. Most of my favorite software packages are open source packages, and one of my proudest professional achievements was the transition from one well known commercial embedded operating system over to a hand-rolled flavor of embedded Linux.
To say I love open source software is an understatement.
Physical components do not often lend themselves well to the open source model, but in a few aspects the model absolutely shines: longevity & low barrier to entry.
Software repositories are inexpensive and can remain dormant for years and years until someone stumbles across it, downloads the source, and uses it for their specific purpose. The maintainer of the repository may have changed or the project may have been abandoned long ago. The users of that software can still dust it off and utilize it, or even improve on the original idea long after the maintainers have moved on.
What if a repository of parts that can be 3D printed existed independent of a corporate entity reliant on profits to support it? Little parts that are just so useful, we would bookmark the site for future reference? Just like Thingiverse, but for airplanes?
I busted a vortex generator off my airplane while refueling last week. My VGs were purchased 15 years ago and the original manufacturer no longer exists (or no longer makes these particular VGs). I could buy and install a similar VG and tolerate the visual mismatch. Or, I could tear off all of the existing VGs and replace with current models, but I am just kicking the same problem down the road.
What if the manufacturer of the vortex generator had provided you with a 3D model that you could print at home long after the initial purchase and install?
Possibly this is a bad business model, but so was the Linux operating system. Linux and its supporting ecosystem survives for many reasons, but two that stand out: Linux is very useful to many people and has a low barrier to entry.
Some software I write makes money. Some software I write never earns me a dime. I don't write software only to make money, I also write software because it is useful, and an inexpensive digital repository of airplane parts lowers the barriers to entry.
At least, that is the idea.
http://www.OPENSOURCEAIRPLANE.org
Want to contribute part designs? Email dave@ColoradoCub.com and we will get you write permissions to the repository.