I see DIY aircraft videos on YouTube every now and then. All of them are from Africa. People are building poorly designed, dangerous planes that don't fly (surprise, isn't it?). I get that they have very limited resources, but what bugs me is… why not just implement WWI-era designs? They require no exotic materials (essentially wood, sheet metal and canvas), can be built relatively easily, and they are literally battle-tested. They _will_ fly. I get that for those people flight is a dream, but why skip the quickest, cheapest and safest way to achieve that dream?

That's kind of like saying that people living in a ghetto should build homes like old mansions. Just because something is old doesn't mean it's now cheap or easy. Often it's quite the opposite.

If the knowhow was there, it would be engineering and not DIY. The whole point is that they have no idea what materials were used historically in aircraft designs, which might provide some inspiration.

DIY people look at carbon fibre struts and the plastic coating of telephone lines and see a plausible alternative instead of looking further to steel spacer muscle struts.

@lorentz I have seen traveler videos from some remote Tanzania tribes... Most already have mobile phones. They go into town to recharge them and all. So I think if those guys who hunt and have access to internet, they could just search how those planes were made.

(again, those clans still live in the traditional maasai way. Nothing wrong about that)

@electrineer no. Property is about land ownership, not technology. DIY planes is about technology and engineering. Seeing some of their planes, you realize a lot of work went into building them. Their creators were clearly passionate.
I just offer funneling the same passion and the same resource into the quickest way to achieve the dream they wanted to achieve.
Following your analogy, it’s like telling a ghetto lottery winner to invest in a S&P 500 index fund instead of spending on sport cars, diamond chains and partying.

@Grumm It requires a lot of time and effort to catch up on the first industrial revolution and then 20 years of progress. It's certainly possible, engineers do it generation to generation, but it's a whole profession and not a hobby. Anyone who's that dedicated to engineering would probably try to get into a nearby technical school and become an aerospace engineer for real instead.

@lorentz But why ? I managed to build a quadcopter. by just watching youtube videos for the parts and assemble it.

I cannot believe that when they build those 'airplanes' it is for professional purpose.

@electrineer yeah. People think WW2 planes were handmade by farmers with farming tools.

No, they were product of long R&D, usage of heavy and precise machinery and skilled workforce.

Even if all designs were open sourced, you only complete first step.

Software analogy: expecting bootcamp “graduates” to write an OS like Linux.

@Grumm I'm sure they could assemble a cessna if someone sold ready made parts that you just bolt together

@electrineer Ironically, some of them probably actually do that, only they don't get to fly the product.

(edit)

DIY typically involves using materials readily available, and many of the videos you've likely come across showcase DIY projects created by individuals in Africa who have limited resources. It's unrealistic to expect them to invest heavily in research or expensive materials when they have various other financial priorities.

For these guys, the primary objective isn't necessarily to construct a functional aircraft but rather to express their creativity using the limited equipment at their disposal. Moreover, it's important to note that many of them may not even speak English.

Have you heard about the Nigerian teenager who, around 2018, designed a "Gaming robot with emotions"? His work caught the attention of Apple, leading to a collaboration that made him one of the highest-earning robotics engineers. Interestingly, if he had remained in Africa, this story might have had a different, less fortunate outcome. His parents, recognizing his passion for creating DIY robots, sent him to the UK to pursue further studies when he was around 18 years old.

https://guardian.ng/technology/...

I can keep going on... There is a clear advantage for people residing in developed countries, especially when compared to those in Africa, particularly the underprivileged individuals. Even in Africa, affluence often comes with a range of well-documented constraints.

Hence, it is essential to refrain from making direct comparisons between the individuals you've seen on YouTube and yourself or having unrealistic expectations of them if you do not share the same environment, resources, and support they have. Such comparisons can come across as lacking awareness of the disparities at play.

It took a descended Ancient to build a DIY Stargate at 40% of the diameter and it blew up after a single use.

And it set Lt. Carter back 50 grand.

DIY ain't always easy 😂

Let them have fun

@aviophile WWI, not WWII. There are also Wright Brothers’ designs.

@kiki sorry then(I hate roman numbers), but still: it is better for their health I assume. There would be loss of life/health every week until all hobbyist die