Conceptual Design

1. Perform the market survey to establish aircraft specifications from customer

Requirements; information is extracted from year-round exploratory work.

2. Lay out candidate aircraft configurations starting with fuselage, followed by

Wing, undercarriage, power plant, and so forth.

3. Establish wing parameters because they will acquire prime importance in syn-

thesizing aircraft design; the parameters include the wing reference area, aspect ratio, wing sweep, taper ratio, aerofoil thickness-to-chord ratio, wing twist, spar

Location, flap area, flight control, and wing location with respect to fuselage.

4. Initiate CAD 3D surface modeling.

5. Conduct preliminary CFD analysis to establish pressure distribution and loads

On aircraft.

6. Conduct preliminary wind-tunnel tests.

7. Determine preliminary weights and CG estimates.

8. Determine aircraft preliminary drag estimate.

9. Size aircraft and match engine.

10. Establish engine data.

11. Conduct preliminary aircraft and engine performance tests.

12. Freeze the configuration to one aircraft.

13. Lay out internal structures and arrange fuselage interior.

14. Complete mock-up drawings, construction, and initial evaluation

15. Complete the control system concept layout in CAD.

16. Complete the electrical/avionics systems concept layout in CAD

17. Complete the mechanical systems concept layout in CAD.

18. Complete the power plant installation concept in CAD.

19. Create a database for materials and parts.

20. Establish a plan for bought-out items and delivery schedule.

21. Plan for outsourcing, if applicable.

22. Provide the preliminary cost projection.

23. Obtain management’s go-ahead. Duct preliminary aircraft and engine performance tests.