I built a digital twin of my amateur-built airplane

Bryan Nairn shares his journey of building a digital twin for his amateur-built airplane, illustrating how this technology, often associated with large-scale industrial applications, can be adapted for personal projects. Initially skeptical, Nairn embraced the idea to streamline maintenance and enhance understanding of his aircraft, which he describes as a network of interconnected components similar to a graph. By organizing diverse data sources, including flight telemetry and maintenance records, into a Neo4j graph database and a PostgreSQL time-series database, he created a system that allows him to query and monitor his aircraft's performance and maintenance needs intuitively. This digital twin not only saves him time by simplifying data retrieval but also provides insights into trends like oil consumption and engine performance, transforming his relationship with his aircraft. The project highlights the potential for individuals to apply digital twin technology to personal assets, suggesting that the benefits of real-time data integration and analysis are accessible beyond industrial contexts.