There is nothing new in attempting to design an aircraft to give trouble-free service. This has always been one of the major parts of a designer's job. In recent years there has been a lot of talk about improving design from the maintenance point of view and suggestions for “maintenance cells” in drawing offices. I would suggest that if aircraft have become too difficult to maintain, it is not entirely due to lack of appreciation of the problem in the drawing office, but mainly to the great increase in complexity of the modern aircraft, particularly in the past 10 years.