MakerPlane

🚨 Screens are Back! 🚨
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The MakerPlane store has just received a fresh supply of the highly sought-after sunlight-readable touchscreen 5" display. Better act fast, because these won't last long!
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Key Specifications:
• Brightness: 1100 cd/m² (compared to 300-400 nits for typical screens)
• Aspect Ratio: 16:10, IPS screen
• Resolution: 800 x 480, delivering crisp and clear visuals
• Screen Dimensions: 111mm x 68mm (120mm x 76mm including bezel)
• Compatibility: Supports Raspberry Pi, BB Black, Banana Pi, and other MINI PCs
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Don’t miss out—head over to the MakerPlane store and grab yours before they’re gone!
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👉 Full details at https://store.makerplane.org/5-sunlight-readable-touchscreen-hdmi-display-for-raspberry-pi/
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pyEFIS and FIX-Gateway in Flight Test
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Ulbuilder (Eric) recently tested the Flight Data Recorder feature in FIX Gateway during a landing in his Minimax. Using his insta360 camera, he captured the entire journey. Back home, Eric replayed the flight data and recorded a screencast of iFLY EFB and pyEFIS to compare their output with the video. ​ Note that the playback isn’t as smooth as the actual real in-flight performance due to the data capture rate. ​ Check out the resulting video to see how it all turned out!
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Stay updated with the latest pyEFIS developments from the MakerPlane community on GitHub https://github.com/makerplane/pyEfis
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Test Makerplane Virtual VFR in flight Loaded up a PI5, Gyros and GPS into my Minimax and took a flight over to 4I3. I used the flight data recorder feature in fixgateway and my insta360 camera to...

MakerPlane Airventure Sale‼
Your support helps open source aviation development

🔴Save 10%🔴off storewide until July 31st when you use the code: OSHKOSH24 at checkout

🛒Visit: https://store.makerplane.org/
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Happy 4th of July everyone from the MakerPlane team.

Happy Canada Day everyone from the MakerPlane team.

EAA celebrates its 31st International Young Eagles Day🎉

Launched in 1992, the Young Eagles program has dedicated 30 years to giving youth ages 8–17 their first free ride in an airplane 🛩
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MakerPlane pyEFIS 2.0 beta is now available!

MakerPlane needs your help! We're asking the community to assist our development team volunteers by testing and providing feedback on the MakerPlane pyEFIS forum page.

Download pyEFIS 2.0 beta: https://github.com/makerplane/pyEfis

Submit bug reports and requests on github.

Your insights are crucial as we work to improve our software. Share your feedback on our forum: https://www.makerplane.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=33&sid=f252fa9c4185cebdc02ee0a29ed6f9ed

Hi Everyone, We are looking to kickstart the development of the MakerPlane Open Source LSA again. This was stopped a few years ago due to the retired aerospace engineer maintaining the project start to teach again and then we lost momentum. We are getting assistance from an aerospace systems engineering company to help out with the back end documentation and organization and optimization of the design. We also have a bunch of keen current aerospace engineering students and recent grads that want to help. They are inexperienced with experimental aviation in general, but happy to get stuck in and with direction will be able to contribute well. If you haven't already seen it, we started a Slack group for MakerPlane which is broken down into various interest groups so that communication can be optimized. I am looking to have a kick off meeting for the project in a couple of weeks, probably on Google meetings. If you are interested in attending, listening in, or contributing let me know. I am currently looking at 18th April at 16:00 EST. It is a bit early but a lot of the crew are in Europe.

Send a message to learn more

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force 🍁🎉

Today, April 1, 2024, marks a century of remarkable achievements for the Royal Canadian Air Force as an independent military element.

On March 31, 1903, Richard Pearse, a New Zealand farmer and inventor, performed the first fight with a heavier-than-air machine. Though uncontrolled he flew some 50 metres before crashing on top of a hedge. His flight occurred some 9 months before the Wright brothers flew their aircraft.

Unfortunately, the documentary evidence to support such a claim remains open to interpretation, and Pearse did not develop his aircraft to the same degree as the Wright brothers, who achieved sustained controlled flight. Nevertheless, Richard Pearse was one of the first experimental aviation pioneers in the world. This memorial in Waitohi, South Canterbury, New Zealand is in memory and honour of his achievements.

huVVer AVI Glareshield Mount

This is a mounting base and sun shade for the huVVer AVI instrument from MakerPlane. It is designed to mount to the glareshield of an aircraft. This was designed and contributed by David M.

Thingiverse Download: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6506282
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A few months ago, we posted work that ulbuilder (Eric) has been doing with the MakerPlane pyEFIS and FIX-Gateway.

Eric is still at it and in this latest video, he shares his latest progress. Though this video may be for a more technical audience, skimming through gives you a good idea of what's coming up. There are some very impressive additions to the code base and a lot of changes are being folded into the main github repo. As such we are going to be releasing a new pyEFIS 2.0 very soon to the community and would like your assistance in testing and providing us feedback. We are also looking at ways to make it easier to install and get up and running. I have created a new sub-topic in the MakerPlane Forums for pyEFIS 2.0 for people to post their comments also so encourage you to sign up if you haven’t already done so. https://www.makerplane.org/forum/

Stay tuned. MakerPlane pyEFIS 2.0 beta will be available for testing soon!

Makerplane EFIS progress In this video I go over the numerous changes I've made to the Maerkplane pyEFIS and FIX-Gateway code over the last few months. Demonstrated using the actual ...

🛩️🚁Happy ! 🍁🎉

Today we celebrate National Aviation Day in Canada. The day was established to commemorate the past, celebrate the present, and advance the future of aviation in Canada. It’s recognized every year on February 23, the day in 1909 when J.A.D. McCurdy piloted the first flight in Canada.

Happy New Year everyone from the MakerPlane team.

Merry Christmas everyone from the MakerPlane team.

Happy Wright Brothers Day! 🎉

On December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully made the first controlled, sustained flight in a powered airplane, the Wright Flyer.

On September 21, 1959, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared December 17 to be Wright Brothers Day.

Celebrating International Civil Aviation Day! 🎉

Every December 7th the day aims to create global awareness about international civil aviation. The day also acknowledges the unique role played by Montreal based organization ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) in providing global aviation safety, efficiency, uniformity, and promoting social and economic development.

Fantastic beta addon to pyEFIS is the ability to run an Android window within the application. Eric has managed to do this so that he can run the iFly EFB inside pyEFIS. (Wow!) See the results of his work on his YouTube channel with the link below.

It isn't a perfect solution and he indicates the following:

"A better way to do this would be to use the QtWayland compositor but it does not have python bindings.
Figuring out how we could embed the QtWayland compositor in pyEFIS is beyond my skill set at this time, maybe someone else could figure that out?
Until then at least we do have this clunky solution."

So if anyone can help, that would be great. Post here, join the MakerPlane forums and/or help out on the github repo.

Android inside pyEFIS to run iFly GPS Managed to embed Waydroid inside pyEFIS using weston.

🆕 pyEFIS Updates 🛩️

A new developer has stepped up and is making significant contributions to the pyEFIS github repo. Eric is doing a fantastic job and making the application even more stable with some great changes to the way in which users can configure and customize the various screens and lots of other changes. He has made updates to gauges and there are also new plugins for iFly and mavlink. I am travelling at the moment and unable to download and show screenshots but if someone wants to do that then feel free.

Hats off to Eric for taking this on and making a significant contribution to the code base!!

GitHub: https://github.com/makerplane

PX4 Integration Effort🛩️

A developer in the aviation community, Jerry, has been quietly working an interface that to connect the ArduPlane PX4 MAVLink with pyEFIS. The ArduPlane PX4 is a widely-used open-source autopilot system for drones and although not perfect is something that a few people have asked about integration in the past.

This project also ties in with the Blauret PyG5, and for those who love to dig into code, you can find more about it on GitHub https://github.com/blauret/pyG5. I didn’t know that there was an open source G5 instrument so this was a cool discovery! It's a good example of how open-source enthusiasts can enhance existing projects, adding layers of functionality.

Jerry hasn't been shouting from the rooftops about his work, but he has been sharing his progress. He's got a series of videos on his YouTube channel that are worth a watch for anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of software integration in aviation tech. Check out his channel and specifically his demonstration of the PyG5 to MAVLink Python interface.

📹"PyG5 to MAVLink Python Interface Demo"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nte11aX24PU&ab_channel=JerryFat

🎞️YouTube Channel: “Jerry Fat" https://www.youtube.com/
PyG5 to MAVLink Python Interface Demo

Jerry's project is a reminder that in the open-source world, progress often comes in the form of small, practical steps by individuals. It’s these contributions that collectively push the boundaries of what’s possible in our little corner of the DIY aviation tech space. I am sure that he would enjoy your support and let us know of any projects that we can mention here.

Celebrating the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller! 🎉

These professionals ensure our journeys are safe and seamless, managing countless flights daily with precision and dedication. Thank you for guiding us safely to our destinations and for the crucial role you play in aviation. Here's to clear skies and smooth landings always!

Introducing SUAVE: a conceptual aircraft design environment.

SUAVE has been crafted to analyze and fine-tune both traditional and innovative aircraft models. Developed by Stanford University, it’s an all-encompassing suite tailored for aircraft and spacecraft design. With a strong emphasis on open-source collaboration, SUAVE stands out as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and institutions seeking advanced tools to streamline and enhance their aerospace design processes.

We at MakerPlane are always keen to hear your experiences. Have you tried Suave? Share your thoughts below!

MakerPlane Article: https://makerplane.org/highlighting-open-source-aviation-projects-part-2/

SUAVE:
Website: https://suave.stanford.edu/
GitHub: https://github.com/suavecode

Highlighting XCSoar: an evolved tactical glide computer.

XCSoar was originally designed for Pocket PC, but in 2005 was given to the open-source community.
Now a multi-platform application currently running on Linux, Android, and Windows. A glance at XCSoar's website reveals a robust and pragmatic solution for glider pilots. With features such as task planning, airspace visualization, and real-time weather, coupled with sophisticated algorithms for optimal route planning. Compatible with a range of devices, from dedicated flight computers to everyday smartphones, XCSoar democratizes access to top-tier flight analytics for pilots of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Have any experience with XCSoar? We would love to hear below.

📃MakerPlane Article: https://makerplane.org/highlighting-open-source-aviation-projects-part-2/

XCSoar:
🌐Website: https://www.xcsoar.org/
⚙️GitHub: https://github.com/XCSoar

Introducing OpenVario: An open source flight computer.

OpenVario's primary mission is to craft a sunlight-readable, panel-mounted glide computer that can be constructed by individuals or gliding clubs with minimal investment. The OpenVario design stands as a fully integrated system, equipped with on-board differential pressure, static, and orientation sensors. Diving deeper into OpenVario’s ecosystem, their website reveals an array of resources: comprehensive technical documentation, genuine user testimonials, and insights into the device's implementation in aircraft.

MakerPlane community: Have you experimented with OpenVario's system? Share your insights below!

📃MakerPlane Article: https://makerplane.org/highlighting-open-source-aviation-projects-part-2/

OpenVario:
🌐Website: https://www.openvario.org/doku.php
⚙️GitHub: https://github.com/Openvario

Introducing Airball: a solution tackling in-flight Loss of Control.

Beyond traditional indicators, Airball offers precise data, unaffected by variables like bank angles. The blend of hardware and software brings a unique user interface, translating Angle of Attack with a symbolic ball display. The core of the tech is a combination of hardware and software. All intricacies, including code and hardware specifics, are available on their GitHub.

Have you navigated the skies with Airball’s innovations? Share your experiences below!

📃MakerPlane Article: https://makerplane.org/highlighting-open-source-aviation-projects-part-2/

🌐Website: http://www.airball.aero/p/welcome-to-airball.html
⚙️GitHub: https://github.com/airball-aero

🛩️✨MakerPlane, is highlighting another four stellar open-source aviation projects, delving into their objectives and contributions to the flying community 🤝🌍.

-AirBall
-OpenVario
-XCSoar
-Suave

Click here to read the full post: https://makerplane.org/highlighting-open-source-aviation-projects-part-2/

🛩️✨Just one day to go! MakerPlane is buzzing with anticipation for the Gatineau-Ottawa Air Show tomorrow!🍁 It's not just any airshow for us - it's the local Air Show for several of our MakerPlane members!

Will we see you there? And which display are you most looking forward to?
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Highlighting Experimental Avionics - open source resource for experimental aviation enthusiasts! 🛩️

Dedicated to open-source avionics in experimental aviation, this online hub is a treasure trove for those with a passion for crafting LCD-based instruments using Arduino controllers. From EFIS and AHRS to Flight Data Recorders, they've got it all. Their project guides are insightful, and the list of completed projects is genuinely inspiring. Check out their GitHub for a deep dive into the source code.✨

To our MakerPlane community: Have any of you embarked on a project using resources from Experimental Avionics? How was your experience? We'd love to hear your stories and insights below!

📃MakerPlane Article: https://makerplane.org/highlighting-open-source-aviation.../

Experimental Avionics:
🌐Website: https://experimentalavionics.com/
⚙️GitHub: https://github.com/ExperimentalAvionics

🛩️ Hey MakerPlane community!

Looking for a space to dive deeper into open-source aviation discussions, share your projects, and connect with like-minded enthusiasts? Head over to our MakerPlane Facebook Group! It's where the magic happens - a hub for ideas, collaboration, and home to the only Open-Source Aviation dedicated Facebook group.

Click, join, and let's soar together!🛩️

🔗Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makerplanegroup

Meet Stratux: the open-source solution powering affordable DIY ADS-B receivers.

Their audacious goal? To make real-time flight data accessible to ALL, sidestepping the barriers of high-priced gear. With detailed guides and a robust community on Slack, Stratux invites the bold to embrace the DIY spirit and craft ADS-B receivers tailored to individual needs. Their open-source approach on GitHub resonates with our values, emphasizing collaboration and constant improvement.

Have any of you ventured into the world of Stratux? What's been your journey? Share your stories below! 🤔

📃MakerPlane Article: https://makerplane.org/highlighting-open-source-aviation.../

Stratux:
🌐Website: http://stratux.me/
🔨Build Guide: https://stratux.co/
⚙️GitHub: https://github.com/cyoung/stratux