Richard Riley wrote:snip


When the cow's giving birth at 3 AM some freezing winter morning
someone has to go help. If it's the "community" cow and not mine, I
might just stay in bed.

How did cows produce calves before there were humans?

Anyway, there are a lot of aircraft designs that for all intents and
purposes are in the public domain. Their designers have passed on
without a clear trail of inheritance. The FAA has allowed aircraft
built in conformance to these Type Certificates to be issued Standard
Category C of A's.

The cost of R&D of basic light aircraft, in any event is not a deal
breaker if you can get some amortization, as a previous poster said.

One necessary step is for the use of a powerplant, also as another
poster said, NOT specific to light aircraft. There simply is not the
volume necessary. An engine built around an existing auto, motorcycle
or similar powerplant WITHOUT the direct involvement of the original
engine manufacturer is pretty much a necessity. If the core engine
manufactuirer has to get involved they will jack the price to Lycoming
levels or worse (PFM).