Paper Engines

Too good to stay on paper.

Some ideas belong on your screen. I build the apps that get them there.

Construction drawing of the PE monogram on a sheet with a folded corner, with grid, guide lines and dimensions 20 22 R 5

About Paper Engines

Sebastian Lemens

Paper Engines is where I spend my evenings in the engine room. I’m Sebastian Lemens, and IT has been home for over 20 years. These days my job has me leading more than building.

I’ve been skiing for over 30 years, spending most winters in Tyrol. Flying has been part of my life for over 20 years, from gliders to powered aircraft.

“There must be a better way” stays with me. What I build from it, I use myself. Maybe there’s something here for you too.

My apps

AlpiCheck by Paper Engines

More daydreaming about the slopes, less group chat. AlpiCheck suggests open ski areas and shows weather and official avalanche danger levels. Your group votes via a link.

iPhone app, German onlyalpicheck.deDownload on the App Store

AlpiCheck on the iPhone, ski day planner: five suggestions for today, number 1 is Muttereralm with avalanche danger level 2 (moderate), 16 km of slopes, weather and driving time, with the button “Mit Gruppe abstimmen” (vote with your group) at the bottom.
AlpiCheck favourites: St. Anton am Arlberg and Ischgl at danger level 3 (considerable), Sölden at level 2 (moderate), each with snow depth, temperature and fresh snow for today and tomorrow.

Gegenanflug by Paper Engines

Flight operations deserve a proper logbook. Gegenanflug is an electronic movement log for club airfields, including days without an airfield duty officer.

Web app, being trialledgegenanflug.de

Gegenanflug on a PC, airfield duty view with demo data: input line for registrations, three aircraft in the air, one landing fee still open and the day’s latest take-offs and landings.
Gegenanflug on the iPhone, “Heute” (today) page: D-EXAA has been airborne since 13:12, below it the button “Landung eintragen” (log landing).

VFRplan by Paper Engines

Before take-off, run the numbers. VFRplan calculates weight and balance, plus take-off and landing distances for your VFR flight.

Web appvfrplan.de

VFRplan in the browser: sample flight from Hoppstädten-Weiersbach to Worms rated “Passt. Alle Grenzwerte eingehalten.” (all limits met), with tiles for flight time, take-off and landing, weather, fuel and mass.
VFRplan on the iPhone: overview of the sample flight rated “Passt. Alle Grenzwerte eingehalten.” (all limits met), with the tiles for flight time and take-off and landing.

Homemesh by Paper Engines

A home is for everyone. Are the controls? Homemesh is an open-source interface I’m building to make Home Assistant easy for the whole family to use.

Home Assistant add-onIn development

Homemesh on a wall tablet, “Zuhause” (home) start page with demo data: greeting “Guten Tag, Familie Muster”, two notices (kitchen door unlocked, living room light on), rooms with temperature and lights, clock, weather and electricity price on the left.
The same Homemesh start page on the iPhone: notices, greeting, tiles for lights, electricity and outdoor temperature, with the tab bar for home, floors, garden, energy and shopping at the bottom.

Write to me

Got an idea still on paper? Email me. If your club is interested in Gegenanflug, I can put you on the list; it isn’t available to other clubs yet.

sebastian@lemens.de