Modern aircraft design focuses conceptual and integrated design processes, it is a systematic process drawing together many areas of the engineering disciplines around structures, aerodynamics, propulsion and control. Designing an aircraft requires that these areas are brought together concurrently, and conflicting constraints are managed. You’ll work in teams to develop an aviation solution following a request for proposals project brief. Seminars will guide your team through the design process while your team develops a type specification and preliminary design to be presented to academics and your peers.

Indicative Syllabus for Seminars:
1. General Aspects of aeroplane configuration development, specifications, design process, civil airworthiness requirements.
2. Aeroplane vehicle arrangement, sizing, component locations, unconventional configurations.
3. Fuselage design for airline, general aviation, cargo
4. Flight deck design, visibility
5. Design and performance, weight prediction, drag estimation, performance requirements, synthesis and optimisation
6. Powerplant selection and installation
7. Wing design, wing area and loading, low and high subsonic & supersonic wings, high lift devices, wing structures
8. Aerospace vehicle weight and balance, prediction, centre of gravity location
9. Preliminary tailplane design, longitudinal and lateral stability requirements.
10. Undercarriage layout
11. Aerodynamic and operational characteristics, flight envelope
12. Preliminary design presentation and reporting

Element 1: Group Design Report, coursework assignment weighted 70% assessing learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 (AHEP3: SM3b, EA4b, D1, D4, D5, D6, EL2, EL5, P4, P8, P11b, G3b, G4)
Element 2: Group Design Presentation, 15 minutes team presentation weighted at 30% assessing learning outcome 4 (AHEP3: D1, D4, D5, D6, EL2, EL5, P11b, G4)

This module will enable students to gain understanding, apply knowledge analyse and evaluate problems and create solutions through a variety of activities, including:
- Taught Lectures
- Tutorials
- Student centred learning to included laboratory work, group work, research and example questions and problems.

1. Demonstrate the application of conceptual design processes to the modern aerospace industry. (AHEP3: SM3b, EA4b, D1, D4 P4, P8). Knowledge and Understanding, Learning

2. Determine and develop the general configuration and system specifics of an aerospace vehicle. (AHEP3: SM3b, EA4b, D1, D4, D5, EL2, EL5, P4, P8, P11b, G3b, G4). Problem Solving, Application, Team Working

3. Estimate the operational characteristics of the aerospace vehicle. (AHEP3: SM3b, EA4b, D1, D4, D5, D6, EL2, EL5, P4, P8, P11b, G3b, G4). Problem Solving, Application, Team Working

4. Evaluate and present the proposed preliminary design of the aerospace vehicle. (AHEP3: D1, D4, D5, D6, EL2, EL5, P11b, G4). Reflection, Communication, Team Working

Practical Laboratory Facilities, Engineering Software and PCs

Brandt, S. (2015); Introduction to Aeronautics: A Design Perspective (3rd Edition), AIAA

Fielding, John P. (2017); Introduction to Aircraft Design (2nd Edition), Cambridge University Press

Jenkinson, Lloyd R. and Marchman J. (2003); Aircraft Design Projects for Engineering Students, Butterworth-Heinemann

Kumdu, A. K., Price, M. A. and Riordan, D. (2019); Conceptual Aircraft Design: An Industrial Approach, Wiley ISBN: 978-1119500285

Raymer, Daniel P. (2018); Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach (6th Edition), AIAA

Sadraey, M. H. (2012); Aircraft Design: A Systems Engineering Approach, Wiley

Torenbeek, E. (2013); Advanced Aircraft Design, Wiley

Torenbeek, E. (2020); Essentials of Supersonic Commercial Aircraft Conceptual Design, Wiley

Modern aircraft design focuses on conceptual and integrated design processes, it is a systematic process drawing together many areas of the engineering disciplines around structures, aerodynamics, propulsion and control. Designing an aircraft requires that these areas are brought together concurrently, and conflicting constraints are managed. You’ll work in teams to develop an aviation solution following a request for proposals project brief. Seminars will guide your team through the design process while your team develops a type specification and preliminary design to be presented to academics and your peers.