Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Why should we design a new aircraft?
- 3 Why is it that shape? – Civil aircraft
- 4 Why is it that shape? – Other types
- 5 What's under the skin? – Structure and propulsion
- 6 What's under the skin? – Airframe systems
- 7 What's under the skin? – Avionics, flight control and weapon systems
- 8 Why do aircraft cost so much?
- 9 What help can I get? – Bibliography and computer-aided design
- 10 The shape of things to come – Should the project continue?
- 11 What can go wrong? – Some lessons from past aircraft projects, and a glimpse into the future
- Appendix A Useful aircraft design data
- Appendix B A–90 parametric study. Example – the A-90 500-seat airliner
- Appendix C The prediction of aircraft reliability and maintainability targets
- References
- Index
1 - Introduction
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Why should we design a new aircraft?
- 3 Why is it that shape? – Civil aircraft
- 4 Why is it that shape? – Other types
- 5 What's under the skin? – Structure and propulsion
- 6 What's under the skin? – Airframe systems
- 7 What's under the skin? – Avionics, flight control and weapon systems
- 8 Why do aircraft cost so much?
- 9 What help can I get? – Bibliography and computer-aided design
- 10 The shape of things to come – Should the project continue?
- 11 What can go wrong? – Some lessons from past aircraft projects, and a glimpse into the future
- Appendix A Useful aircraft design data
- Appendix B A–90 parametric study. Example – the A-90 500-seat airliner
- Appendix C The prediction of aircraft reliability and maintainability targets
- References
- Index
Summary
Why another aircraft design book?
Aircraft design is a complex and fascinating business and many books have been written about it. The very complexity and dynamic nature of the subject means that no one book can do it justice.
This book, therefore, will primarily act as an introduction to the whole field of aircraft design leading towards the subjects summarized in Fig. 1.1. It will not attempt to duplicate material found in existing design books, but will give information about the whole aircraft design environment together with descriptions of aircraft and component design. It also presents otherwise unpublished data and design methods that are suitable for aircraft conceptual, preliminary and detail design activities.
Topics
The following chapters are arranged as a series of questions about aircraft design, the answers to which give largely descriptive overviews of all aspects of aircraft design. This will provide an introduction into the conflicting requirements of aircraft design specialists in a design team, with a view to improving understanding, and the integration of a sound overall design.
The book is divided into chapters which answer a number of significant design questions.
The question ‘why design a new aircraft?’ is answered in Chapter 2 which shows the derivation of aircraft requirements for civil and military aircraft from market surveys, and gives examples of operator-derived specifications.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Introduction to Aircraft Design , pp. 1 - 6Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1999