With new builders and pilots discovering MakerPlane all the time, we thought it was a good moment to share a quick refresher on what MakerPlane is, why it exists, and who it’s for.
MakerPlane is a volunteer-driven, community-focused platform centred on open source experimental aviation, homebuilt aircraft, and the people who enjoy designing, building, and modifying their own aircraft.
At its core, MakerPlane is about knowledge sharing. It’s a place for builders and pilots to ask questions, document projects, exchange ideas, and learn from one another — whether that’s around avionics or open source software and electronics used in experimental aircraft.
What Do We Mean by “Open Source”?
In the context of MakerPlane, open source means that designs, software, and documentation are shared openly so others can study them, modify them, and build on them.
Open source aviation projects allow builders, developers, and pilots to understand how systems work instead of treating them as black boxes. Whether it’s avionics software, hardware designs, or supporting documentation, the goal is transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement driven by the community.
Who MakerPlane Is For
MakerPlane is built for a wide range of people in the experimental aviation world, including:
- Those curious about open source aviation and avionics
- Builders and pilots who want to explore, modify, or contribute to open source projects
- Developers, engineers, and makers looking to get involved in aviation-related open source work
You don’t need to be an expert, and you don’t need to be mid-build. Curiosity and a willingness to learn go a long way here.
What MakerPlane Has to Offer
MakerPlane provides a mix of community discussion and open resources, including:
- Downloads – Free, open source hardware plans for avionics and related projects
- GitHub – Our public repositories, including open source software such as pyEFIS (Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) written in Python) ‘pyEFIS’
- Forum – A community space for discussion, questions, and project sharing
Everything offered through MakerPlane is intended to support experimentation, learning, and collaboration.
Where to Start
If you’re new to MakerPlane, a good place to begin is by:
- Browsing recent discussions and project updates
- Exploring the Downloads section to see what open source projects are available
- Jumping into a conversation or asking a question of your own
Checking out the Getting Started page if you’re interested in contributing
Where to Engage
Whether you’re actively building, researching a future project, or simply curious about open source aviation and experimental aviation, there’s something here for you.
A Note on the Community
MakerPlane is a volunteer-run initiative and is driven entirely by the community. Projects, discussions, and activity levels depend on the time and energy that members are able to contribute.
This isn’t a commercial or profit-driven venture — it’s a passion project built by people who care deeply about experimental aviation. We do our best to facilitate conversations, support contributors, and improve the platform over time, but everything here is maintained alongside other personal and professional commitments.
We appreciate patience, respect, and understanding, and we encourage everyone to contribute in whatever way they’re able.
Welcome to MakerPlane
Experimental aviation has always been driven by curiosity, creativity, and community. MakerPlane exists to support that spirit, and we’re glad you’re here.
— John Nicol
MakerPlane Founder