Slow,
Yep, teams of engineers have been designing very complicated products working together from different corners of the globe for many years now and with the recent improvements in the internet (i.e. widespread adoption of broadband) then large files and data can be shared very easily over the internet.
I guess the way to work together on a project like this would be a very interesting project in itself. Much of the communication software is available free from the GNU project
www.gnu.org so communication software, i.e. Forums, bulletin boards, web phone, web-based video conferencing etc is all available essentially cost free. Results, work-in-progress and data can be shared easily through the web using an FTP server.
Once you have assembled a team of people with the necessary capabilities, I’m sure that by default you will have 'gained access' to all of the necessary software and computer resources to actually do the work.
With a 'by-the-people-for-the-people' project like this then there is enormous scope to develop something very impressive since the project need not be limited to the aircraft design. With a large proportion of the community mobilised it would be possible to review training, licensing and operational issues as well which all contribute the cost of rotary wing flight. In the UK for example, being able to train for an NPPL(H) on a kit helicopter would massively increase the appeal of helicopter flight and be good for everyone.
With regards funding for such a project then my approach would be thus:
NOTE: Kit build machine only.
(1) Assemble a team to design the machine in their own time with their own resources.
(2) Assemble a legal team to handle the legislative side in a similar way; licensing and operational issues.
(3) Publish progress on the web and build-up a broad international following to help steer the project to its intended market.
(4) With a completed design, take small deposits from project supporters (approx. USD1000) to finance the low-budget building and testing of the first prototype.
(5) Complete testing and begin selling kits
This is certainly not a way to make money but it is viable way to develop a high quality product that meets the needs of the current market at very low cost. By means of a validation of the approach one could use the Linux project (
www.linux.org) as an example of people power over the industrial titans.
In addition, once designed I now that one of the existing manufacturers of light helicopters would jump at the opportunity to manufacturer the kit components (at low cost) and handle the testing.
Some food for thought.
CRAN