Cargo Aircraft Conceptual Design Optimisation Using a Flexible Computer-Based Scaling Approach

In the early design stages of a new aircraft, there is a strong need to broaden the knowledge base of the evolving aircraft project, allowing a profound analysis of the solution concepts and of the design driving requirements. The methodology presented in this paper provides a tool for increasing and improving in an exemplary manner the necessary information on cargo aircraft. By exchanging or adapting a few particular modules of the entire program system, the tool is applicable to a range scale of different aircraft types. In an extended requirement model, performance requirements are represented along with other operational requirements. An aircraft model is introduced in sufficient detail for conceptual design considerations. The computer-aided scaling methodology is explained, which, controlled by an optimisation module, automatically resizes the aircraft model until it optimally satisfies the requirements in terms of a selectable figure of merit. Typical results obtained at the end of the scaling are discussed together with knowledge gained during the process, and an example is given.