General Aviation Aircraft Design for Performance Using Small Computers

A computerized preliminary design system for reciprocating engine aircraft has been developed which is applicable to a desk top mini-computer. This system integrates several performance, aerodynamics, and structural weight estimation routines into a procedure capable of investigating a wide variety of aircraft design problems. After the conceptual configuration and performance requirements are established, the mini-computer design system can be used to determine the aircraft and engine size which will satisfy the requirements and be the least expensive to build or operate. Carpet plots can be used to overlay data showing performance relative to a baseline configuration for a hypothetical design case.